What people usually mean by non-toxic
When people search for a non-toxic pillow, they're usually trying to avoid a few specific things: foam and the smell that can come with it, synthetic fills made from plastic, and treatments they can't see or pronounce. A label that just says "non-toxic" doesn't tell you which of those a brand has dealt with. A parts list does.
The parts list
| Part | What it is |
|---|---|
| Fill | 100% wild harvested kapok, a plant fiber from the seed pods of the ceiba tree. Nothing blended in. |
| Shell | 300 thread count organic cotton sateen with a hidden zipper. |
| Outer cover (sold separately) | Organic cotton sateen, machine washable. This product has been manufactured in accordance with GOTS. Certified by Oregon Tilth, license GOTS-10229. |
| Made | Handcrafted in the USA. Designed in Hawaii. |
What's not in it
- No memory foam or shredded foam, so there's no foam smell to air out.
- No latex.
- No polyester fill.
- No down or feathers.
That's the point of a pillow with a short parts list: there's nothing in it you'd need to look up.
Where GOTS applies
GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard, covers organic fibers from the farm through processing. Among other things it restricts which chemicals can be used along the way. At MAREA it applies to the separate zip off pillow cover, the washable layer that sits against your face: that product has been manufactured in accordance with GOTS. I explained what the label means in What Does GOTS Certified Actually Mean?
Questions to ask any pillow brand
- What exactly is the fill, and is it 100% that material or a blend? (Why it matters)
- Which product does each certification cover?
- Can you give me the certification or license number?
- Can I return it after sleeping on it?
Plenty of brands can't answer all four. Here are ours: 100% wild harvested kapok with nothing blended in. An organic cotton sateen shell, and a separate cover manufactured in accordance with GOTS, license GOTS-10229. And yes, you can sleep on it for 100 days and still send it back with a free US return label.
Anthony
Founder, MAREA Sleep
