Experts Explain The Top Mattress Certifications: What They Mean + Why They're Important

There's something reassuring about seeing a mattress with a bunch of certifications. These labels instill trust and make you feel good about your purchase—but what do they all mean, and which ones should we actually be paying attention to?

We spoke with Samantha Radford, Ph.D., an exposure scientist and owner of Evidence-Based Mommy, and Lindsay Dahl, a clean living expert, to break down what you need to know about how to decode labels on the hunt for your nontoxic sleep space.

This certification means at least 95% of the natural latex used in your mattress is certified organic, with restrictions on the use of certain substances for the other 5%.

It also ensures the product is socially justifiable, environmentally friendly, and traceable throughout its value chain. It prohibits the use of substances such as phthalates, heavy metals, chemical flame retardants, formaldehyde, VOCs, and polyurethane foam.

This is the leading textile processing standard for organic fibers, backed by independent third-party certification of the entire textile supply chain.

This certification means that your mattress products are made of a minimum of 95% organic fibers. It prohibits the use of substances such as phthalates, heavy metals, chemical flame retardants, formaldehyde, VOCs, and polyurethane foam.

This standard focuses on how textiles are processed and what dyes and finishes are used on them. Synthetic fabrics can be OEKO-TEX certified, and not all OEKO-TEX certified products are organic. But if a textile carries the label, you can be certain that every component (thread, button, zipper, etc.) has been tested for substances that could harm human health (such as heavy metals, flame retardants, phthalates, and formaldehyde).

GOLS, GOTS, and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certifications are Radford's top recommendations, though they can often be pricier than the others.

Greenguard certification means that a mattress has been tested for specific chemical emission limits of phthalates, flame retardants, formaldehyde, and other VOCs.

Greenguard Gold includes health-based criteria for additional chemicals and has more stringent VOC emissions limits. It doesn't, however, guarantee that nonvolatile contaminants (such as lead or cadmium) aren't in your mattress.

This certification means that the mattress has been screened to ensure that over 6,500 banned/restricted substances have been avoided or constrained, thereby eliminating the worst hazards commonly found in products used in our homes and daily routines. Certification requires manufacturing transparency and detailed disclosure of substances and specifications.

In Dahl's opinion, this is one of the most impressive certifications since it ensures a mattress is completely free of toxic chemicals and treatments.

This certification means that the polyurethane foam in your mattress is made without certain flame retardants, formaldehyde, lead, and other heavy metals, and it's low in VOC emissions.

In Radford's view, CertiPUR-US is the lowest-regarded certification on the list, for two reasons. "Firstly, it is administered by the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, who likely has a vested interest in passing products, and secondly, it does not certify the entire mattress; it only certifies the foam inside the mattress," she says.

In other words, if a product has CertiPUR-US foam but also has a layer of vinyl, it likely will still off-gas phthalates and other potentially toxic chemicals.

This certification measures a company's entire social and environmental impact. It ensures that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.

Dahl always prioritizes shopping with Certified B Corporations when possible. "While the B Corp logo doesn't mean a product is necessarily fully sustainable or nontoxic, couple that with MADE SAFE or Greenguard and you're going to be making a great choice," says Dahl.

This certification means that the safety, circularity, and responsibility of materials and products have been assessed across five categories: material health, product circularity, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship, and social fairness.

The Climate Neutral standard is focused on eliminating carbon emissions by making climate neutrality a priority for businesses and consumers. To become Climate Neutral Certified, a company must show that it is working to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from making and delivering its products and compensate for them through carbon offsets every year.

Many synthetic mattresses contain chemicals that are toxic, such as flame retardants, phthalates, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). According to Radford (and scientific research1), these chemicals can off-gas into the environment for years, meaning you'll be continually exposed to them.

VOCs, flame retardants, and phthalates all have subtle but potentially serious long-term effects on our health, and according to Radford, they primarily affect the endocrine (hormone) system2.

"Flame retardants have been nicknamed 'the new lead' given how toxic they are to the brain, hormone system, and organs like the liver," adds Dahl.

Though there is local legislation prohibiting some of these chemical additives, there are no nationwide bans in the U.S.

"First and foremost, consumers should ask the manufacturer to confirm that there are no chemical flame retardants used in the mattress," says Dahl, adding that there are safer options like wool barriers that have flame-resistant properties without harmful chemical exposures.

Secondly, experts agree that ideally, consumers should choose a mattress made from something other than polyurethane foam (including memory foams), which are the primary source of toxic chemical exposure and off-gassing.

Alternatives include a combination of natural latex (if you don't have an allergy), cotton, kapok fiber, and/or wool.

It's important to note that certifications aren't a one-and-done exercise; they need to be updated. Don't shy away from asking brands to see updated documentation if you want to be sure.