A good night’s sleep and a warm, cozy comforter are the two things in life that truly make me happy, but the cost and selection often turn out to be more of a nightmare than a fantasy. We all desire organic and eco-friendly bedding that is not only cozy and fashionable but also long-lasting, cleanable, and eco-friendly. So cuddle up and continue reading because I have all the information you need to choose an excellent night-time routine. For advice on how to choose one that’s right for you, read the post through to the end.
Although the term “organic” is frequently used in a broad sense to describe sustainable products (no pun intended), it really has a rather specific legal definition. In the United States, organic crops are cultivated in soil that has not recently been treated with artificial fertilizers, chemicals, or other forbidden compounds.
Additionally, organically bred animals were raised “in living conditions permitting their natural behaviors (such the opportunity to graze on pasture). An organic comforter will therefore be composed of materials that can be produced naturally, typically cotton or wool.
Although materials like recycled plastic bottles, which were initially made from petroleum, and bamboo or eucalyptus, which are produced using a process that requires the addition of chemicals, are frequently promoted as having negative effects on the environment, they are not organic and cannot be labelled as such.
Labels to look out for
The main label to look for on an organic comforter is the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which is the primary certifier of organic textiles worldwide. GOTS verifies the organic status of a product’s full supply chain, from farms to final products. The standard was developed 20 years ago in response to a textile market that was becoming more and more international.
GOTS auditors guarantee that no potentially toxic chemicals were added by visiting spinning facilities, weavers, dye facilities, etc. More businesses are looking for GOTS certificates as customer demand for organic and sustainable products increase. Modern organic comforters may also bear the OEKO-TEX 100 and Fairtrade labels, which attest to their testing for contaminants that could be harmful to human health.
Why should you buy eco-friendly organic comforters?
The majority of conventional comforters are made with fluffy feathers or down that is obtained from ducks, geese, or chickens either before or after they die, along with polyester fillers made from petroleum. Additionally, the feathers are typically sterilized using bleach, formaldehyde, and other chemical allergens. Flame-retardant chemicals are another thing to be concerned about. These are extremely harmful to both the environment and humans. Actually, all we really want to do is stay away from them. Both you and the environment will benefit from using sustainable fabrics and materials.
How to choose a comforter that is organic and eco-friendly
The fabrics and materials used, as well as the methods used to source the fabrics and materials, are factors we consider, just like with all sustainable and ethical fashion. To explain further:
1. Materials and Fabrics
Try to avoid using synthetic materials like polyester while you sleep because they are uncomfortable. However, if you don’t mind, synthetics manufactured with virgin materials will never be a better option than polyester that has been recycled. Another material you should avoid is conventional cotton because it uses a lot of pesticides during production, which is not ideal for something you will be using to sleep with every night.
- Bamboo fibre
Fabrics have been made from bamboo for thousands of years, but it is only recently that the process of making this into a fabric for multipurpose use has been perfected. It is a highly breathable fabric. It is easy to weave into fabric with high thread counts, and the resulting textiles are often thinner that their cotton counterparts while retaining high tensile strength.
- Mulberry silk
Mulberry silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the Bombyx Mori Silkworm. The triangular prism-like structure of the fibre allows the fabrics to refract incoming light at different angles, which produces different colours.
The best, most environmentally friendly comforters are produced from natural and biodegradable materials. Additionally excellent choices for the filler are bamboo lyocell and organic cotton. You can pick a comforter made with down, recycled wool, or organic wool if you’re okay with it being made with animal products.
2. Certification
It is also crucial to search for third-party certifications; the greatest ones for bedding are as follows:
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
- Better Cotton Standard
- Global Recycle Standard (GRS)
- Oeko-Tex 100Organic Content Standard (OCS)
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
- USDA-Certified Organic
These certifications are crucial because they guarantee that dangerous chemicals are avoided at all phases of textile production, from the raw material to the finished product, while also taking into account the rights of workers and the effects on the environment. They also assist consumers in avoiding being duped by ambiguous promises.
3. Ethical Purchasing
Ethical sourcing is equally crucial as fabric. It all comes down to the supply chain and the procedures and guidelines established to guarantee that the manufacturing and labor involved are treated and paid fairly. The certifications that their goods and factories have, as well as the degree of production transparency, are also taken into account. There are certifications that can guarantee this, including Textile Exchange, Fair Trade, GoodWeave International, and FLO-certified.
4. Company accountability
This criterion examines the business as a whole, including what steps are being taken internally to reduce energy use and whether any charitable endeavours are being supported. They’re carbon neutral, right? Do they intend to cut back on plastic packaging? Are they a 1% For The Planet member or a certified B corporation? What other environmentally friendly projects are they working on? Only serving as a guide In the end, all the companies listed below are doing an outstanding job of providing eco-friendly comforters to make our nights a little easier.
Although purchasing organic bedding might be costly and comforters frequently cost extra, when you locate the correct one, you will sleep like a baby. I think the expenditure is worthwhile because getting enough sleep is essential to living a healthy life. In the fall and winter, a decent blanket may keep you very warm, allowing you to avoid raising the thermostat. The ideal comforter is like the cherry on top of a sleep-supporting arrangement once you’ve got a super-supportive mattress and a nicely inflated pillow. To make sure it was produced with the environment and your health in mind, look for one that has been certified organic by a reliable third-party organization like GOTS.
