The Truth About Latex

We have spoken about latex with many people representing many companies. We know how confusing it can be to sort out how it’s processed (Dunlop vs. Talalay), what’s added, how it’s shipped, how it’s tested, and what all the numbers mean.

The Basics

Rubber trees grow only within about 10 degrees of the equator. They grow best on hilly slopes.
The trees are sliced at an angle, and a small amount of the serum is collected daily.
The trees can be sliced about 180 days per year, except during the rainy season and during summer. The cut is about three feet long, and the serum flows for about an hour. Then the tree heals and the serum stops flowing.
Latex was originally cultivated in Brazil, but today the only rubber trees in Brazil are wild. Almost all latex nowadays comes from the far East.
When the serum is harvested, it is about 2/3 water.
Latex serum in its pure state is fairly thick, and needs to be processed. (It’s different from maple syrup making, in which thin sap is boiled down to make thicker syrup.)
All but one company we have asked has told us that a small amount of ammonia is added to the serum so it will not coagulate before processing. (One company said that their factory is next to the farm so they process it right there. However, we err on the side of caution and assume that everyone adds ammonia at first.) Ammonia is a naturally occurring product that is washed out later in processing.
From here the latex needs to be expanded and concentrated. This is done by adding ingredients and whipping or frothing the material in a centrifuge.
Latex contains natural proteins to which some people are allergic. Everyone says that their process, whatever it is, washes out the proteins, and our testing verifies this. The general incidence of latex allergy is low, less than 1% of the U.S. population (workers who wear latex gloves most of the day have a risk of less than 10%). We offer free samples so anyone who needs to check for reactions can.
Is the latex fairly traded? That is our expectation of our producers, but all exporters say their plantation is family owned, uses no child workers, and pays all workers fairly. This is difficult to verify.
What if I want 100% pure, natural latex? You are going to find at most 95% natural latex. If someone tells you that they have 100% natural latex in their finished product, they are misinformed. That material does not exist.
What’s left in the 5% that’s not latex? Of course everyone says it’s harmless, which it probably is. Because this is exactly what manufacturers of memory foam and other synthetic mattresses say, however, we investigate, independently test and require spec sheets. We feel that the purity of the end product is what matters most. That’s why we post our certifications on our site.
How will the 5% other materials affect me? What’s left is likely to be sulfur and other natural stabilizing compounds; their effect should be negligible for almost everyone. In our judgment, the deeper sleep and longer sleep intervals made possible by latex’s pressure-relieving and hypoallergenic qualities have a much greater positive impact on health than any possible effect of a tiny bit of non-rubber material.
How durable is a latex mattress? Whether it’s Dunlop or Talalay, natural or synthetic blend, your mattress is going to last a long time. Many latex mattresses made in the 1950s lasted 30 years and longer. Latex is extremely durable. If you are happy with your mattress for 10 to 15 years or more, you’ve made a great purchase. Our warranty is 20 years; longer warranties for periods such as 25 or 30 years are more about marketing than reality. How long your mattress lasts will depend not only on how it’s made, of course, but also how it’s used.

What to Expect With Natural Latex

See the 4-minute latex story, with lovely sitar and tablas.