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Choosing eco friendly bedding options is a small decision with a big impact. But how can you tell green flags from greenwashing while shopping for the best sustainable bedding? Picking the best organic bedding brands requires careful consideration of several factors. Follow our guide on what “environmentally friendly bedding” means, types of planet-safe sustainable materials, and tips for choosing the best eco friendly bed sheets.
Eco friendly bedding is any sheet set, duvet cover, throw blanket, and beyond made from fabric that’s gentle on the planet.
While there aren’t many hard and fast rules defining eco friendly textiles, it’s all about causing minimal harm to the Earth. Typically, environmentally friendly materials involve:
Overall, the goal is to sustain the planet’s resources. But since there aren’t specific guidelines surrounding environmentally friendly bedding and other garments, it can be tricky to distinguish the good from the bad.
There are endless possible bedding materials around, but how many are genuinely eco friendly? The answer is shockingly fewer than you think! Environmentally friendly bedding materials:
Unlike its conventionally-grown counterpart, organic cotton bedding is one of the best eco friendly bedding types around. This fiber is more widely available than other sustainable options, making it easily accessible to many people. Free from chemical pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, and GMOs, organic cotton sheets are safe for people and the planet. Plus, it takes only a fraction of the water conventional cotton needs.
Flax, AKA linen’s source, is a fast-growing resource naturally thriving on minimal fertilizers and pesticides. And, its water needs are almost non-existent compared to conventional cotton. It nearly gets by on rainwater alone. To add even more to this impressive sustainability profile, the entire flax plant is usable, traps tons of harmful CO2, and linen is incredibly durable, so your linen bedding will be a treat to come home to for years to come.
The high-yielding, low water requiring, carbon footprint negative, hemp plant is an eco friendly powerhouse. Like flax, hemp farming uses minimal pesticides and herbicides, and the fabric is long-lasting.
Some textiles aren’t quite green yet certainly aren’t the worst. These materials are often praised for their sustainability but largely fall flat of the title. Here are some semi eco friendly materials materials:
Rayon producers transform wood pulp into a fabric, which sounds like a great concept, and it would be if not for the excessive chemicals used. But also, wood pulp extraction isn’t a byproduct of the logging industry. Trees are harvested just for cellulose, wasting about 70% of the log. However, rayon is biodegradable, and that’s a win.
While bamboo regenerates incredibly fast, requires little land, and minimal water, things get messy post-harvest. Just like rayon, bamboo sheets production calls for heavy chemical and energy use. The final product includes almost no bamboo and can’t biodegrade. Bamboo bedding may not be the best sustainable bed sheets, the manufacturing process of turning bamboo into fabric and bedding is more complex and can involve harmful chemicals.
Recycling always seems like an environmentally friendly choice, but these textiles made from used plastic bottles aren’t the best. Microplastics remain an issue anytime synthetics are involved. And folks generally do a better job recycling those plastics in bottle form. Recycled fabric garments often go straight to the landfill, removing those plastics from their closed-loop system.
Then, some textiles are complete environmental nightmares. These are the harshest on the planet, and their eco burden heavily outweighs any upsides. They include:
Although cotton is a “natural” textile, conventionally grown varieties have a hefty environmental toll. They’re one of the thirstiest and dirtiest crops, meaning they require excessive water, and their chemical-filled runoff is a massive problem.
Polyester may last a long time, but that’s the issue. Synthetic fabrics are plastic-based and never degrade. Instead, they turn into tiny microplastics that are detrimental to the planet. This chemical-filled, energy-wasting textile is a big environmental no-no.
It can be tricky to detect trash from the treasure in a world filled with greenwashing. Phrases like “natural” and “sustainable” are buzzwords — and brands know it. They claim to be sustainable bedding brands to attract environmentally conscious consumers. So how can you determine whether that gorgeous sheet set is the real deal? Here are some tips for finding the best sustainable bedding that’s easy on the environment and scrumptious on your skin.
The first step in finding the best eco friendly bedding is reading the fabric’s label. Is it made from 100% flax linen? Or a dreaded polyester blend? If it’s the latter, run fast. But as we mentioned, it’s not always easy to spot the environmental red flags. Materials like bamboo, conventional cotton, and recycled fabrics sound like a sustainable dream, but that’s not always the case. Our advice? Go with 100% linen, organic cotton, or hemp to ensure your bedding is as eco friendly as possible.
Certifications never lie (when you know which ones to look for, that is). It’s not enough to trust that a textile is organic just because a company claims it is. Brands that put their money where their mouth is will proudly show off their stamps of approval. It shouldn’t be hard to find. Oeko-Tex’s Standard 100 and the Global Organic Textile Standard are two of the best sustainable fabric certifications. These organizations hold extremely rigorous criteria that prioritize responsible production throughout the entire supply chain for the good of people and the planet.
Do a bit of due diligence and look into the brand you’re buying from. Are they transparent with their practices, or are you finding a whole lot of nothing? Green marketing relies on beautifully-worded vagueness and suggestive imagery. Sometimes, brands feel sustainable without being sustainable. This marketing dupe draws us in by using colors or images that evoke the natural world (think waterways or dense forests) without mentioning environmental protections at all! Keep an eye out for redundant claims, too. For example, if a garment boasts that it’s “free from” a banned substance or one that’s never used in that type of material anyways, then that’s a red flag.
Packaging tells another story all by itself. And we aren’t talking about what’s on the label, but how the packaging is composed. Are there tons of unnecessary plastic? Does it get shipped with styrofoam peanuts? These details can show a company’s true colors. Truly green companies do their best to minimize their footprint throughout all production levels.
It is true that sustainable sheets often come at a higher price than conventional versions. But that with a grain of salt. A key trait of environmentalism is reducing waste, so the best sustainable bedding is always built to last. When quality and durability are priorities, steeper costs make sense. So if a deal seems way too good to be true, it probably is. Of course, not everyone can afford an expensive piece of bedding. Still, it’s wise to consider that an investment upfront can save you tons of cash down the line.
The best sustainable bedding is as fashionable as it is eco friendly. You should never have to compromise your impeccable taste for anything — and you don’t have to. Our environmentally friendly bedding comes in four rich shades that evoke feelings of serenity. Add your personal flair with throw pillows and blankets, or let its natural beauty steal the show.
Like style, comfort is non-negotiable. You deserve sheets fit for royalty. Eco friendly bedding is often softer and more luxurious than conventional options. Plus, it’s safer, so you can curl up in your cozy set knowing you’re protected — and so is the planet.
It may take some time and research to find the best sustainable bedding option for you, but it’s always worth it. You can sleep soundly knowing that your environmentally friendly bedding is helping to protect the planet for future generations. Check out our range of incredibly soft, temperature-regulating fitted, flat sheets, sheet sets and duvet covers crafted from exquisite natural materials and organic fabrics. Pick up eco friendly bedding from Or and Zon today!
