Would you sleep better in a vegan bed?

Good quality sleep is at the forefront of our minds in 2022. We are faced with the question of how to guarantee a good night’s sleep, whilst also trying to be environmentally conscious. Veganism has now shifted more and more towards a “lifestyle movement.” The increasingly popular lifestyle choice is often due to the claimed health benefits of limiting animal products. Recent research has shown that 14% of the UK now follow a meat free diet. With the growing concern for our environment and demand for sustainability, we are now looking into the changes we can implement within our own bedrooms. Vegan options in retail have increased phenomenally in recent years with everything from restaurant menus to shoe options now having vegan alternatives.

Experts agree that getting a good night’s sleep is one of the single best ways to maintain and improve our health. A mattress is a huge factor in our ability to sleep well, yet many people overlook its importance and keep using the same mattress for years that fail to provide enough support and comfort. Taking the step to invest in a new mattress can help unlock your ability to sleep better. if you’re a vegan or someone who cares about the impact animal products have on the planet, then your new mattress choice will be very important to you.

Plant-based materials 

You no longer need to compromise on comfort in your search for a perfect vegan mattress. There’s now a huge selection of plant-based upholstery fibres. There’s a whole host of plant fibres, some of which have been used for centuries, which allow mattress manufacturers to make animal-free mattresses:

Coir (Coconut Husk)

This is a completely sustainable resource, and it works as a natural spring. The mesh layers of coconut fibers make a coir mattress breathable. It is also naturally resistant to dirt and dust.

Bamboo

A super-soft luxury fibre used in the top comfort layers. The bamboo fibre’s microstructure can enhance coolness and breathability. The fibres can take up to four times more moisture than cotton, to help regulate body temperature throughout the night. Bamboo also boasts natural antibacterial elements with the fibres within the bed helping to keep bacteria away.

Flax

Flax fibres are amongst the oldest fibre crops in the world. Extracted from the bast or skin of the stem of the flax plant, the soft, lustrous, and flexible fibres are stronger than cotton fibre. Due to the wonderful absorption properties of the flax fibre, it is able to release humidity quickly preventing overheating.

Tampico

This hard-wearing, fine, and smooth natural fibre comes from the Agave plants of northern Mexico. When layered between pocket springs, Tampico fibres offer incredible support to help aid body alignment. The fibres are harvested by hand and dried naturally in the sun before being cut size and combed by a custom-built machine.

Hemp

Being ten times more absorbent than cotton, hemp’s hollow structure is excellent at drawing away moisture from the body during the night, meaning you remain cool, fresh, and undisturbed which you sleep. Hemp is also antibacterial and naturally hypoallergenic.

Organic Cotton

Almost pure cellulose, cotton is the world’s most widely used natural fibre, largely because of its softness and breathability. Cotton absorbs moisture readily. Like many natural fibres, cotton is soft, breathable, and very comfortable upon skin contact. A fine fibre which is also strong and durable with excellent absorbency characteristics.

Natural Latex

From the sap of the rubber tree. Used as a comfort or replacement wool layer. A natural latex mattress is an excellent alternative to man-made materials like memory foam. Latex has a naturally springy and breathable texture, which makes it perfect for mattresses.

Plant fibres such as Flax, Coir and Hemp have been used for centuries as resilient natural textiles. They offer a breathable resilient quality to mattress upholstery that far outperforms polyester and foams. They also can help you move away from plastic fibres in vegan mattresses. Plant fibres also help the environment as they store carbon compared to the high carbon usage in foam production.

How to choose a vegan mattress

Your bed should be built to last, and ideally crafted from the finest materials nature has to offer. Synthetic fibres, latex and memory foams can cause overheating and deteriorate over time. When looking for a vegan mattress you should have the same high standards as when looking for a traditional mattress – from the right support to the overall feel and comfort.

Almost all vegan mattresses out there are relying on polyester as their main fibre which, whilst technically vegan-friendly, is man-made and synthetic. Stick to choosing a mattress with as many natural fibres as possible. The benefit of natural fibres is that they are far more breathable and resilient when compared to polyester and foams which compress far quicker.

Savoir

Makers of the world’s most luxurious beds, the latest Vegan Society certified Reformer Nº4v is handmade from sustainable plant fibres that already exist in nature and are free from animal products. Crafted from Tampico, bamboo, organic flax, and organic cotton, all of which are much better at regulating body temperature and quick-drying away moisture. The brand is known for traditional craftsmanship, making fewer than 1,000 beds each year, and uses all-natural, chemical-free materials in production.

John Ryan

The Artisan Latex is 100% plant-based that makes it not just suitable for vegans but anyone who is sensitive or allergic to animal fibres. This entirely plant fibre-based vegan latex mattress takes comfort and responsibility to the next level. Containing coir coconut fibre, organic flax, talalay latex, rebound cotton and natural bamboo, this mattress provides deep comfort for the sleeper. Additionally, this is a two-sided mattress – meaning you can use both sides of the mattress, and count on a far longer life span than cheaper foam beds.

Shopping for a vegan-friendly bed can be difficult. If you know how to avoid mass-produced foam, then you’re on your way to finding your perfect ethical night’s sleep. Plant fibres offer you the luxury of natural fibres without resorting to cheaper polyester. Wherever possible, natural fibres should be chosen as they far outperform synthetic man-made alternatives. They are also less damaging to the environment making them a far more ethical choice.