Natural vs Synthetic

Natural Mattress or synthetic blend?

Testing

In the Talalay process, synthetic chemicals are usually added to make Talalay latex, but not always. It is possible to make natural Talalay, synthetic Talalay, natural Dunlop, and synthetic Dunlop. Unfortunately, there is no law that prohibits manufacturers from saying their products contain “natural” latex—even if in actuality that’s only the 20% in an 80%-20% blend, for example.

We order only naturally processed latex—natural Talalay and natural Dunlop. Our Talalay supplier certifies that no synthetic chemicals are added to produce this latex. On the downside, the CO2 used in Talalay processing is very harmful to the environment as it off-gasses.

We also use only natural Dunlop. We are comfortable with the description for two reasons. First, this process has not changed since 1929, and the harmful chemicals available today were not available then. Secondly, because we know that a small amount of sodium silicofluoride is used as a gelling agent, we made sure to find out what that means. We consulted at length with a chemist at the Umweltsinstitut, the independent testing company in Cologne, Germany that does testing for our Dunlop latex. He explained that sodium is simply a salt and that because the fluoride is a stable molecule, there is no need to test for it. Our complete test results are here.

Our advice

  • Get as much information as you can until you are satisfied.
  • Buy from the company you feel most comfortable with.
  • If you know you are chemically sensitive, request free samples and try them. We believe we have the best materials available, but that doesn’t mean they are the best for everyone all the time.
  • Choosing a mattress is about tuning into the deeply personal needs of your body (or your family) and allowing these to guide your choice.