A Vegan mattress should take into account Vegan beliefs and lifestyle. Firstly (and obviously) it’s important it contains no animal product at all. But that is not all!
We also believe it is also just as important to contain no flame retardants or adhesives. No adhesives because they many contain animal products and formaldehyde, which is a highly toxic systemic poison. Many latex, coir fibre and natural mattresses use adhesives in large quantities to glue the mattress fillings together.
Why ban flame retardants? The main reason is somewhat shocking. The chemicals used in flame retardants are almost the same chemicals used in pesticides and herbicides. Chemicals like chlorine, bromine (brominated DecaBDE) and organophosphate. Some of these are now banned in food and farming, but not in furniture. Over time these chemicals leach out of your mattress. They are endocrine disruptors and are linked to a number of different cancers such as thyroid and breast cancer.
No Vegan wants these chemicals on their food, so they definitely do not want kilos of them in their mattresses. Many of these chemicals are banned in mattresses in US and Europe but not here in the UK.
Bear in mind these flame retardant chemicals are skin permeable and, importantly, when you are in bed your skin is not protected. Flame retardants are used on the cover of the mattress, in any foam or latex fillings and in some natural and man-made fibres in order to pass the UK Fire laws. A double mattress may contain up to 5 kilos of these chemicals.
It is also important to know the manufactures do not have to tell you they use these chemicals, even if asked, as the government says it is a safety issue.
Why buy a Cottonsafe® Vegan Mattress?
Cottonsafe® Vegan mattresses do not use any animal products, flame retardants or adhesives in their construction.
Over the last seven years, we have worked with UK Universities and the Fire Brigade to develop materials that pass the stringent UK Fire Regulations without using any fire retardant chemicals. Our honesty and transparency about what we use (and the chemicals we don’t use!) has allowed us to supply many customers with chemical sensitivities.
Unlike other manufactures who simply retail so called ‘Vegan’ mattresses, here at Cottonsafe® factory we make all our Vegan mattresses ourselves. Each one is made to order and is hand stitched with natural flax, so we use no adhesives. We control all the raw materials we use and how we use them. Be aware that other retailers have little (or no) control on the manufacturing process and raw materials used.
How do we achieve a chemical free Vegan Mattress?
- We use our unique ‘Purity’ cover which is made from pure polyester. This cover passes the UK Fire Regulation BS7177 without any additives or chemicals. (See "Polyester - the FACTS")
- We use no foam or latex as they contain huge amounts of fire retardant chemicals due to UK law. Untreated Organic or non-Organic Latex is a very dangerous fire risk so MUST contain fire retardant chemicals so we don’t use it. (See "Natural and Organic Latex Mattresses - The Uncomfortable Truth")
- Our research has enabled us to use natural materials like Bamboo and Hemp in our mattresses without FR treatments to increase comfort and durability.
- All our mattresses are the only UK mattresses to be Stockholm Convention Compliant which means the materials we use in our mattress are either biodegradable or recyclable. (See "Mattress Ingredients")
As a small family company, we are honest and open. We have supplied a detailed account of the provenance and composition of each material used in our mattresses and the construction methods, to achieve the Vegan Society Accreditation. (See "The First Vegan Society Registration Granted for Mattresses") In addition, we are Trading Standards Approved as part of the ‘Buy With Confidence Scheme’ (See "Buy With Confidence Trading Standards Approved") for your peace of mind.
To our customers - a big thank you for supporting us and for your amazing reviews. (See our reviews page).