Don't Forget Your Organic Pillow

Okay, so you've done your research on mattresses and learned about the benefits of choosing an organic mattress made of wool, organic cotton, or natural latex rubber. If you want to complete your sleep system set with a pillow that is equally as healthy as your mattress, then you'll need to look for a healthy, green pillow as well.

Choosing a natural, eco-friendly pillow:

As with mattresses, you'll want to steer clear of pillows made from synthetic foam, conventional cotton, off-gassing glues and adhesives, synthetic dyes and pesticides, and toxic flame retardants. But in the case of pillows you may also wish to choose a humane option that's free of down or feathers. Though some of the down used in the bedding industry comes from ducks and geese killed for meat, much of it is plucked from these birds while they are still alive, causing them great pain and discomfort. Since there has yet to be a system that certify down and feathers as humane, your safest option is to go for substitutes.

There are many good, green alternatives to conventional pillows made from synthetic ingredients. Consider, for instance, the following options:

Buckwheat: This is a product made from the leftovers of the buckwheat milling process and is great for keeping your head cool and conforming to your body to provide support where you need it.

Kapok: Much like the feel of down, kapok is created by using a byproduct of the kapok tree. It is lofty and soft - perfect for feather pillow lovers, but much more human than pillows made from down.

Natural latex: If you need a bit more firmness and support from your pillow, go for one made from natural latex rubber which has been tapped from rubber trees common in Brazil, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Organic cotton: Grown without pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, cotton is not only biodegradable, it is also breathable and soft.

Silk: A luxurious choice indeed, silk pillows are tremendously soft and very sustainable (silk is grown by worms). It is also hypoallergenic.

Syriaca: Another down-like option, this one comes from the milkweed plant and provides a hypoallergenic alternative to inhumane down produced from geese and ducks. It's also completely renewable and biodegradable.

Wool: As with eco-friendly mattresses, wool is a great insulator (yet won't leave you feeling hot), helps absorb moisture, and is naturally fire resistant, mold resistant, and dust mite resistant. Just be sure to look for the PureGrow label to ensure the wool is gathered from humanely-treated sheep.

Remember, we spend easily 8 hours a day sleeping and getting a good night's sleep is so important to long term health. Choosing organic bedding will not only help protect the environment, it will also help keep you healthy.