We spend about one-third of our lives asleep. Sleep is necessary, restorative and so welcome after a long day. But what if your cozy inner sanctum is not as welcoming as you think? Considering the time spent in beds and bedrooms, perhaps more thought should be given to where our weary heads are resting.
Start with the bed itself. What is it made from? If it’s a pressed wood product, then your bed frame is out-gassing urea-formaldehyde from chemicals binding the fibres together. Fibreboard and particle board require binding agents, and these then contribute to poor indoor air quality. If the frame is solid wood, that’s a good start. Is it a sustainably harvested wood? The Forest Stewardship Council encourages sustainable practices, including low pesticide use and other criteria. Another option is buying used furniture or reclaimed wood.
Then there’s the finish. Conventional paints and wood finishes are usually chemical soups, based on petrochemicals, solvents, preservatives, and heavy metals. Environmentally conscious paints have reduced solvent and formaldehyde components, to create a low-emission product. One step further, milk paint uses natural ingredients to create a non-toxic, zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) alternative. Water-based wood finishes contain less solvent, but still use glycol ether. Other wood finishing options include hemp oil, beeswax, linseed oil, and tree resins.
Now on to the mattress. Conventional bed mattresses often use polyurethane foam, a petroleum byproduct, along with formaldehyde and solvents such as benzene and toluene. Fire retardant chemicals are added, raising recent concerns about toxic effects. Selling points often focus on comfort and luxury, but it is difficult to find a list of chemical ingredients. What are the options? Natural latex is an alternative, unless you have a latex allergy. Mattresses can also be made of hemp, organic cotton or wool. As well as being more environmentally friendly, both latex and wool are thought to be naturally hypoallergenic and anti-microbial.
How about that bedding? Mass-produced cotton is one of the most chemically treated agricultural crops, from fertilizers to pesticides. Not only does the cotton contain residue, but conventional fields drain toxic chemicals into waterways, and other plants and animals cannot live around contaminated fields. Organic cotton sheets are increasingly available. Blankets can be organic cotton, wool or bamboo. Consider other options: down and organic cotton duvets, along with pillows containing organic cotton, wool, down, or latex. Many online sites carry a wide range of choices.
If your home is your castle, then help it keep you safe. Even a single change to your sleeping environment will be a positive step. And if consumers demand change, then manufacturers will shift their practices to suit the market. A simple choice could have far-reaching environmental benefits.
