Increased consumer interest in sustainability has largely driven the expansion of new organic product lines. It's this combination of consumer consciousness and evolved eco-friendly products that has people searching for the best organic mattress, and Avocado mattress reviews indicate it's one of the top companies in the industry.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at the Avocado mattress, which we think is the best eco-friendly mattress available online. We'll explore what makes it such a popular pick in the eco-market, it's use of organic cotton, what makes latex different from innerspring and memory foam—and more.
What makes Avocado the most popular organic mattress?
There are two groups that most people will turn to while researching a product: Expert reviewers and fellow consumers. When it comes to picking the best organic mattress, both the pundits and verified customers agree that an Avocado mattress is at or near the top of the list.
U.S. News & World Report recently gave Avocado a nod in the categories of best mattress, best for back pain, best for stomach sleepers, best firm mattress and best hybrid mattress, citing its ability to provide a more restful night's sleep.
Avocado mattresses were also named best healthy mattress and best organic mattress in Health.com's Healthy Home Awards, best mattress in a box for the environmentally conscious by Shape magazine and best organic mattress by Good Housekeeping.
The brand has also received a certificate of endorsement from the American Chiropractic Association and been consistently lauded by Consumer Reports. What's more, there are more than 18,000 5-star Avocado mattress reviews from verified customers.
Avocado corporate stewardship
Peeling the curtain back on the company's operations and mission, it's easy to see why so many Avocado mattress reviews consider it to be the best in the business.
The brand's products are American-made, designed in Hoboken, New Jersey, and manufactured by hand in Los Angeles.
Its factories are powered by renewable energy, and Avocado produces its own natural latex and ethically harvests wool from sheep that the company raises itself.
It's because of that commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices that the Avocado mattress became the first in the world to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. And earlier this year, the company announced that it now offsets more carbon than it generates.
It's also important to mention that Avocado is certified organic by the USDA, as well as being GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified and GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certified.
Beyond its goal of providing superior products that promote healthy sleep, Avocado believes in the power of sustainability and social responsibility—a belief it backs up by donating 1% of all revenue to environmental nonprofits.
Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Top Avocado products
Here are a few of Avocado's highest-rated products.
Avocado Vegan Mattress
Avocado
- GOLS organic certified latex
- GOTS organic certified cotton
- 1,000+ pocketed support coils
- No polyurethane foams, polyester, or toxic fire retardants
- Replaces all cotton with wool
- Vegan certified
- PETA-approved
- Over 750 Avocado mattress reviews give this product a 4.6-star rating
This breathable latex foam mattress has a reduced carbon footprint and is super comfortable. Instead of the organic wool some mattress brands use, the cotton covering composed of eco friendly cotton materials.
It's a latex mattress—not a memory foam or innerspring. Latex foam is bouncier than memory foam, hugs your body more, and is quick to recover it's shape. This bed is firm to medium firm.
Off-gassing is a familiar trait among most new mattresses that com in a box. When you open the Avocado you will smell something like formaldehyde—but don't fret. It goes away as you let the organic cotton cover air out.
Alpaca Wool Plush Mattress Topper
Avocado
- Certified organic and natural materials
- Natural alpaca and GOTS organic certified wool and cotton
- Soft, plush feel that's more "luxurious" than most common products
- Elastic straps to hold it in place
- Over 100 reviews give the product a 4.1-star rating
Unlike some other pillow tops designed to provide support, this top layer is designed to provide pressure relief. Made with raw materials that are certified organic, the organic wool topper is an eco-friendly way to add a bit more comfort to your natural mattress.
Avocado Green Pillow
Avocado
- GOLS organic certified latex and GOTS organic certified kapok
- Organic jersey cotton liner that's machine washable
- GOTS organic certified quilted cotton cover
- GREENGUARD Gold certified, vegan, and handmade in Los Angeles
- Nearly 4,500 reviews give this product a 4.5-star rating
Organic Superfine Suvin Cotton Sheets
Avocado
- GOTS organic certified Indian Suvin Cotton
- 1,000 thread count per inch weave
- Sateen finish
Most mattress companies also have pillows, sheets, and sleep accessories to go with their product line. Avocado sheets stand out for their organic certification. These sheets are made completely with GOTS certified organic cotton. They're a cool, comfy way to cover that new mattress.
Beyond just its top-selling mattresses and bedding, Avocado manufacturers ancillary bedroom products like bed frames, dressers and end tables.
What should I look for when buying an organic mattress?
Whether it's an Avocado mattress or another product from a reputable manufacturer, there are a few things to consider before making a purchase.
The first thing to know is that accreditation gets a little fuzzy.
The reality is that not all mattresses claiming to be "natural" or even "organic" will qualify for an official organic label from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In order to do so, mattresses must be made up of 95% certified organic materials.
In addition, no harmful chemicals can be used in the processing or production of the mattress, which is considered a complex finished textile product.
As you research, you may find that some mattress manufacturers will call their products "organic" because they use a smattering of organic products—but not enough to carry the USDA seal, a practice that's known as greenwashing.
To find a mattress that has been certified organic, you'll want to look for accreditations like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard).
You can also look for the GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) logo.
These two standards help to uphold the 95% organic rule.
Once you're squared away with certifications, the rest of the buying process is similar to purchasing a traditional mattress.
First, you'll want to find one that satisfies your desired level of comfort.
As a rule, many organic mattresses tend to be a bit stiffer, so testing its firmness—either before purchase or during a trial period after you get it home—is in your best interest.
Do I pay more for an organic mattress?
As with most purchases—especially in the organic space—cost is a factor. A goal of bringing home the best eco-friendly mattress money can buy can price some consumers out of the organic market entirely.
Like any consumer good, organic mattresses come in a variety of price points based on size, comfort level, materials used and amenities. However, generally speaking, you will pay more for an eco-friendly mattress than you might for a traditional mattress.
What am I paying for with an organic mattress?
Perhaps the biggest reason why someone would purchase an organic mattress is because of its sustainability.
In a recent survey by Southern Cross University, more than three-quarters of all participants said they wanted to learn more about sustainable lifestyles. And for at least some of those people, supporting the environment meant altering their habits of consumption.
Further, statistics show a substantial cross-section of consumers across various age ranges who are even willing to pay more for eco-friendly products and services.
One of the reasons why someone might be willing to pay more to purchase the best organic mattress is for their own safety.
Products treated with harsh or toxic chemicals can contaminate the air we breathe, a particularly troubling hazard considering we spend about one-third of our lives in bed. To make matters worse, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that indoor air can be as much as five times more polluted than outdoor air. Air-purifying plants can help rid your home of toxins after you purchase new furniture, including mattresses, but it's best to not introduce them in the first place.
There's also the durability factor of a certified organic mattress. Compared to an organic mattress, there could be several years difference in how long a traditional mattress lasts before wear and tear or loss of support forces a replacement purchase. And because an organic mattress has high-quality materials that maintain its support and shape, you're likely to report better sleep patterns for longer.
Avocado mattress review: Our final thoughts
If your quest to find the best organic mattress has led you to Avocado, it's a good place to start. The brand has a verifiable commitment to sustainability, uses natural and non-toxic materials, and even donates a share of its revenues to nonprofits with a similar mission and vision. Plus, Avocado mattress reviews are overwhelmingly positive.
Whatever direction you go in for your next purchase, we encourage you to think about how your purchases impact the world. Small choices over time add up, and we can all shop a little smarter.
In a new study, my colleagues Anisha Patel, Francesca Weaks and I estimate that approximately 61.4 million people in the U.S. did not drink their tap water as of 2017-2018. Our research, which was released in preprint format on April 8, 2021, and has not yet been peer reviewed, found that this number has grown sharply in the past several years.
Other research has shown that about 2 million Americans don't have access to clean water. Taking that into account, our findings suggest that about 59 million people have tap water access from either their municipality or private wells or cisterns, but don't drink it. While some may have contaminated water, others may be avoiding water that's actually safe.
Water insecurity is an underrecognized but growing problem in the U.S. Tap water distrust is part of the problem. And it's critical to understand what drives it, because people who don't trust their tap water shift to more expensive and often less healthy options, like bottled water or sugary drinks.
I'm a human biologist and have studied water and health for the past decade in places as diverse as Lowland Bolivia and northern Kenya. Now I run the Water, Health, and Nutrition Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University. To understand water issues, I talk to people and use large datasets to see whether a problem is unique or widespread, and stable or growing.
An Epidemic of Distrust
According to our research, there's a growing epidemic of tap water distrust and disuse in the U.S. In a 2020 study, anthropologist Sera Young and I found that tap water avoidance was declining before the Flint water crisis that began in 2014. In 2015-2016, however, it started to increase again for children.
Our new study found that in 2017-2018, the number of Americans who didn't drink tap water increased at an alarmingly high rate, particularly for Black and Hispanic adults and children. Since 2013-2014 – just before the Flint water crisis began – the prevalence of adults who do not drink their tap water has increased by 40%. Among children, not consuming tap has risen by 63%.
To calculate this change, we used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative survey that releases data in two-year cycles. Sampling weights that use demographic characteristics ensure that the people being sampled are representative of the broader U.S. population.
Racial Disparities in Tap Water Consumption
Communities of color have long experienced environmental injustice across the U.S. Black, Hispanic and Native American residents are more likely to live in environmentally disadvantaged neighborhoods, with exposure to water that violates quality standards.
Our findings reflect these experiences. We calculated that Black and Hispanic children and adults are two to three times more likely to report not drinking their tap water than members of white households. In 2017-2018, roughly 3 out of 10 Black adults and children and nearly 4 of 10 Hispanic adults and children didn't drink their tap water. Approximately 2 of 10 Asian Americans didn't drink from their tap, while only 1 of 10 white Americans didn't drink their tap water.
When children don't drink any water on a given day, research shows that they consume twice as many calories from sugary drinks as children who drink water. Higher sugary drink consumption increases risk of cavities, obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. Drinking tap water provides fluoride, which lowers the risk of cavities. Relying on water alternatives is also much more expensive than drinking tap water.
A4: Choosing to drink fluoridated tap water over sugar-sweetened beverages to quench thirst is vital to protecting… https://t.co/3tm8wuWjeZ— Oral Health Watch (@Oral Health Watch)1600795750.0
What Erodes Trust
News reports – particularly high-visibility events like advisories to boil water – lead people to distrust their tap water even after the problem is fixed. For example, a 2019 study showed that water quality violations across the U.S. between 2006 and 2015 led to increases in bottled water purchases in affected counties as a way to avoid tap water, and purchase rates remained elevated after the violation.
The Flint water crisis drew national attention to water insecurity, even though state and federal regulators were slow to respond to residents' complaints there. Soon afterward, lead contamination was found in the water supply of Newark, New Jersey; the city is currently replacing all lead service lines under a legal settlement. Elsewhere, media outlets and advocacy groups have reported finding tap water samples contaminated with industrial chemicals, lead, arsenic and other contaminants.
Many other factors can cause people to distrust their water supply, including smell, taste and appearance, as well as lower income levels. Location is also an issue: Older U.S. cities with aging infrastructure are more prone to water shutoffs and water quality problems.
It's important not to blame people for distrusting what comes out of their tap, because those fears are rooted in history. In my view, addressing water insecurity requires a two-part strategy: ensuring that everyone has access to clean water, and increasing trust so people who have safe water will use it.
Chart: The Conversation / CC BY-ND. Source: AWWA / Morning Consult. Get the data
Building Confidence
As part of his proposed infrastructure plan, President Joe Biden is asking Congress for $111 billion to improve water delivery systems, replace lead pipelines and tackle other contaminants. The plan also proposes improvements for small water systems and underserved communities.
These are critical steps to rebuild trust. Yet, in my view, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should also provide better public education about water quality testing and targeted interventions for vulnerable populations, such as children and underserved communities. Initiatives to simplify and improve water quality reports can help people understand what's in their water and what they can do if they think something is wrong with it.
Chart: The Conversation / CC BY-ND. Source: AWWA / Morning Consult. Get the data
Who delivers those messages is important. In areas like Flint, where former government officials have been indicted on charges including negligence and perjury in connection with the water crisis, the government's word alone won't rebuild trust. Instead, community members can fill this critical role.
Another priority is the 13%-15% of Americans who rely on private well water, which is not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. These households are responsible for their own water quality testing. Public funding would help them test it regularly and address any problems.
Public distrust of tap water in the U.S. reflects decades of policies that have reduced access to reliable, safe drinking water in communities of color. Fixing water lines is important, but so is giving people confidence to turn on the tap.
Asher Rosinger is an assistant professor of biobehavioral health, anthropology, and demography and director of the Water, Health, and Nutrition Laboratory at Penn State University.
Disclosure statement: Asher Rosinger receives funding from the National Science Foundation on an unrelated project. This work was supported by the Ann Atherton Hertzler Early Career Professorship funds, and the Penn State Population Research Institute (NICHD P2CHD041025). The funders had no role in the research or interpretation of results.
Reposted with permission from The Conversation.
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