last updated: Feb 17, 2017The latest scam the mattress industry is fishing with is eco memory foam mattresses or plant-based foam mattresses. So what are these "soy mattresses" and "soy pillows" all about? Let the truth be known!Only 5-20% of the mattress is actually made up of plant-based ingredients like soy. That means over 80% is still petroleum based chemicals. This would be fine if companies marketed them as eco-friendly mattresses which contain X% of soy. However, companies mislead you, calling them eco memory foam mattresses or plant-based mattresses and pretend they're healthy, safe and natural.I guess saying it's 20% healthier for you wouldn't be as effective.Misleading the public into thinking products are green, natural or eco-friendly is called greenwashing. There is no monitoring of these claims.Natural memory foam mattresses do exist and we're the only ones who make them. They're made from rubber tree sap, NOT petroleum based chemicals. There is very little benefit to putting soy in a mattress.
In fact, the company behind soy-based ingredients called BiOH® polyols, is Cargill.Cargill is widely known for environmental and human rights abuse and is America's 4th worst polluter according to Environment America's 2016 report.Cargill is also the world's largest soybean processor and trader. Their soy-based ingredients are also genetically engineered.Genetically modified foods are still banned in 19 Europen countries and more than 40 countries now require GMO labeling. USA and Canada are not among them.3,800 barrels of oil are saved when 100,000 mattresses are manufactured with soy-based foam. You'd expect considerable savings for the consumer right? Soy-based memory foam mattresses or bio-foam mattresses are actually more expensive than regular memory foam even though they cost less to produce. Companies overcharge since they can promote the “eco-friendly” characteristics.Replacing a portion of the chemicals in foam makes it 5-20% healthier. Is 5-20% good enough?No.
The expansion of soy plantations in countries such as Brazil and Argentina means that rainforests are being completely slashed and burned, eliminating critical habitats for many plants and animal species.Every day 86,400 football fields of rainforest are cut down to mainly make room for livestock, soy, palm, and corn.Genetically modified soy accounts for 94% of all soy grown in the United States as of 2012.People who’ve purchased eco memory foam mattresses are experiencing strong chemicals odors, smells or off-gassing.Soy does not produce this odor, the odor derives from the harsh chemicals used to make these synthetic foams. Green tea extract or industrial perfumes are often added as an attempt to mask the odor.Eco memory foam mattresses are often wrapped in bamboo fabric. The percentage of bamboo is anywhere from 20-60% bamboo.Bamboo fabrics are far from eco-friendly. It takes so much processing the final product is considered man-made, so they're not biodegradable.According to the OTA, Organic Trade Association, "bamboo may be a more ecologically sensitive source of feedstock for rayon production, the rayon itself is not distinguishable from rayon produced from any other feedstock, and uses a lot of toxic chemicals in the process.
So while the bamboo itself may be considered environmentally friendly, the production of rayon is not, and the public should not be misled into thinking that the bamboo-derived fiber can be considered "natural" - it is clearly synthetic. There are a lot of misconceptions about the "natural" label too, whether it is related to food or textile products."Soy memory foam mattresses and soy pillows have been seen on QVC in the U.S. and The Shopping Channel in Canada. Many brands sell eco memory foam mattresses. Chances are your local store probably has a bio memory foam brand. It may also be marketed under plant-based mattress, coconut foam, biofoam, eco foam mattress or eco-friendly memory foam mattress.The foam industry is very small. There are only a handful of companies in the USA making polyurethane foams and memory foam. Almost all mattress companies buy from one of these manufacturers or import foam from Europe or China. The rest is marketing.If you've made it this far, well done. You’re now a little more equipped when the mattress salespersons tell you “it’s plant based memory foam”.
If you want the real deal, check out the only natural memory foam mattresses in the world.We make them in Canada and offer free shipping throughout the U.S.A and Canada.For more information, please visit our Learning Center.The level of comfort and support provided by your mattress can have a profound impact on your sleep. And a mattress topper is an effective way to improve your current set up. Whether you need to revitalize an ageing mattress, change the softness or firmness, or give yourself an extra layer of luxury to sleep on, there’s a topper that will give you what you need. In this review I’ll be looking at the best mattress toppers made from a range of materials: memory foam, latex, wool, down and cotton. Whether you’re looking for comfort, support, pain-relief or temperature regulation, hopefully you’ll find one which gives you a great night’s rest. Memory foam mattress topper that avoids heat retention The Isolus ventilated mattress topper is a luxuriously supportive and comfortable memory foam topper, made by the well-respected bedding company Malouf.
This is a topper which you can sink into, feel cushioned and drift off to sleep safe in the knowledge that you won’t be bothered by pressure points. Impressively for a memory foam topper, you’ll find it has minimal heat retention due to the ventilation tubes running throughout it. Here are the key points to consider: There isn’t much to complain about with this mattress topper. It would be nice if it came with a cover, but it’s the main body which is most important. And despite being superior to most other memory foam toppers in terms of heat and initial smell, you may find that there’s still a little of both. Overall, this is an excellent addition to any bedroom, whether you’re new to memory foam or are looking for a good quality mattress topper. Once you’ve slept on it it’s unlikely you’ll ever want to go back to a normal mattress. This natural bamboo topper by Exceptional Sheets is technically advertised as a pad rather than a topper.
However, the terms pad and topper are often interchangeable, with the end result being what really matters. And the thickness and quality of this pad definitely merit a place among the more heavyweight mattress toppers. The pad is particularly soft and comfortable, feeling like goose down and very popular due to this. It won’t mold to and support your body like a memory foam topper, but it will get you some way towards that fabled ‘sleeping on a cloud’ feeling. Here are the key features: The main downside is that if you’re trying to hide very large lumps or dips in your current mattress, it might not be up to the job. But if your main goal is to provide an extra layer of softness and comfort, this is a very effective choice. It will definitely spruce up your mattress and have you feeling soft and cozy again. Made in the United Stated by the Dreamfoam bedding company, the Ultimate Dream mattress topper ticks the boxes for comfort, support and durability.
It’s 3 inches thick, which will help hide any lumps or dips in your current mattress, and you have three choices of firmness to choose from. The soft version is at the lower end of the scale for firmness, so you’ll sink into it but still receive support for your back. The medium is actually probably in the medium-firm category, so you’ll get plenty of support for your body. And the firm really is quite solid – great if you enjoy a harder sleeping surface, but otherwise perhaps a bit too much. Overall, it’s an impressive mattress topper, solidly constructed and with enough choice to get the exact level of support you need. If you’re looking for a serious mattress upgrade which you’ll sleep comfortably on, the Utimate Dreams latex topper won’t disappoint. The Biosleep Concept is an excellent wool mattress topper, with a lovely balance of luxurious feel, body support and temperature regulation at night. If you’re not keen on the more synthetic materials such as memory foam or polyester, wool should be high up on your shortlist.
If you tend to overheat at night or have allergies, and want a comfortable yet firm, supportive, chemical-free mattress topper it’s a great option. Here are the key points to note: One drawback to wool is that it does tend to compress over time, so if you’re looking for a soft, fluffy, sinking into the bed feeling for years to come, it might not be right for you. You’ll also find you do need to occasionally fluff it or take it outside for a few minutes to breathe. So if you have problems lifting, that could be an issue. Wool toppers are probably the best choice if you need a combination of support for aching muscles or stiff joints and temperature regulation. And this is a carefully made topper with high quality natural materials which does those jobs extremely well. High quality feather mattress topper Having covered mattress toppers which provide firmness and support, it’s now time to focus on softness. And for that there’s nothing quite like lying on a bed of down feathers.