SLEEPING REALLY WELL - Dormiente

14 15T h e r i g h t m a t t r e s s i s g o o d F o r m e a n d g o o d f o r t h e p l a n e tH E A LT H A N D S U S TA I N A B I L I T YThe great thing about natural mattresses is not only that they are excellent for healthy sleep but that they are also ‘healthy’ for the environment.Purely looking at it from an environmental perspective, a 100% natural latex mattress is a responsible choice. Compared to mattressesmade from synthetic, petroleum-derived foams 100% natural latex mattresses have the following advantages: they are made from natural rubber,a renewable resource, which is harvested in an environmentally sensitive way. The energy used to make a 100% natural latex mattress is only 10% ofthe energy input needed to make a mattress from synthetic foam. Additionally, natural latex is free from CFCs and solvents, and from plasticiserswhich are suspected carcinogens. Another crucial argument for 100% natural latex is the fact that it is a plant-based, renewable resource of thefinest quality. Natural latex is harvested in rubber tree plantations. These trees absorb the greenhouse gas CO 2and produce oxygen,which we all need to breathe. Almost as a side effect it also creates work and the supply of wood on site. All in all a genuine win-win situation.Energy required for producing natural latexcompared to synthetic latexNatural latexCold foamSyntheticlatexSource: Rubber Developments , Vol 47, No 3/4There is a big benefit also to using cotton from certified organicagriculture. Growing cotton organically not only benefits the actual cottonfibres, it also strengthens and protects the soil and the environment.Even when grown as a mono-culture, organic cotton supports a much richerdiversity of plants and animals in the soil. Furthermore no polluting effluentsare generated, keeping the water clean. Additionally, the guidelines for organicagriculture also encompass social criteria for the workers on the cottonplantations, making their working and living conditions fairer, safer and healthier.Pure wool from certified organic husbandry is extra cosy. Thesheep are kept according to very high animal welfare standards. Thisin turn shows in the superb quality of the wool they produce. Their wool’sexcellent ability to regulate moisture and temperature balance is what youwill notice first. Sheep raised to organic standards are kept and fed naturallywith their well-being in mind. The wool from organic sheep is ‘clean’.Tests by the Eco-Institute in Cologne confirm this.