Why you should be sleeping on Natural Latex
Research says 1 in 3 Australians suffer from poor sleep. Considering we spend a third of the day in bed, it is crucial that we get the sleep formula right to set us up properly for the rest of the day. A good night’s sleep is essential for high-level functioning which then leads to a better quality of life.
There are many ways to promote better sleep, and one of the easiest ways that will pay off long term is investing in a quality mattress designed for healthy sleep. The reality is, some mattresses are actually doing you more harm than good due to insufficient body support, use of synthetic polyurethane-based materials that can off-gas harmful chemicals, and having overall poor quality resulting in non-sustainable, throwaway bedding. The combination of comfort and support can be found in natural rubber latex, a material that whilst becoming increasingly popular, has been in production since the early 1900s.
What IS Latex exactly?
Latex is made from the sap of rubber trees. Liquid rubber sap is harvested through hand-tapping. Think of rubber sap as the trees’ way of protecting itself as a reaction to small incisions made in the trunk. Rubber trees are highly efficient at absorbing carbon emissions and can live and be tapped for up to thirty years – one acre of rubber trees can remove up to 15 metric tons of carbon dioxide! This production process already starts off being very environmentally friendly and sustainable. Liquid rubber sap is then compounded by adding a small percentage (~4%) of chemicals like zinc oxide and sulphur which allow it to become a solid material. The latex is poured into moulds, cured with biomass boilers and then washed and dried. This is the Dunlop process, the most energy and resource-efficient way to produce latex bedding.
Aside from being a natural product, latex has many benefits including the following:
A Natural Wonder Material
Latex retains the key qualities of rubber such as resistance to microbes and high resilience. A latex mattress, because of its open cell structure, allows for good airflow that prevents the formation of mould and mildew. This ventilation makes it harder for dust mites, mould and other bacteria to thrive – so they tend to stay away. This breathability also means no annoying heavy mattress flipping every few months.
Toxic Chemical Off-Gassing? NOT with Latex
Another key advantage of latex is that it does not produce volatile organic chemical (VOCs) off-gassing. VOCs are carbon-based chemicals that evaporate or off-gas at room temperature, that come from synthetic or man-made products. VOC emissions continue throughout the lifetime of an item as it continues to break down. which can be detrimental to people and the environment. Poor indoor air quality from off-gassing can cause or contribute to the development of infections, lung cancer and chronic lung diseases such as asthma. With latex mattresses, you can fully enjoy your sleep without harm to your health.
Latex is Heavy Duty – Literally!
The innate resilience of rubber translates to latex durability – it will take decades for a latex mattress to degrade and it will not sag. But it also means the material is heavier and denser and will take longer to breakdown. So, expect a latex mattress to last at least 20 years. Some all-natural latex mattresses have been reported to last up to 40 years or more! Imagine keeping a mattress for that long with a durability guarantee instead of the usual 8 to 10 years you can expect from other synthetic mattresses.
One of the most common mistakes when mattress shopping is buying one without testing it. Another is not doing enough research and being swayed by flashy jumping-on-a-mattress-and-my-wine-won’t-spill ads that do not show the bigger, health-centric picture. Try out a mattress in your sleep setting, to make ensure it is suitable. It is in your best interest to find a mattress that will deliver the features needed for blissful sleep, will not break the bank, but is as natural a product as it can be. Your bodies will thank you for it!
