In the market for a brand new mattress? You’ve come to the right place.
Here at ES Best we consider ourselves mattress experts. We’ve got roundups and reviews on every conceivable type, from pocket sprung and memory foam to wool-stuffed designs - and even mattresses to help ease back pain.
With recycling front and centre on our collective social agenda, you may be looking for a bed that won’t cost the Earth - in more ways than one. Enter the new wave of mattress: the eco-friendly mattress.
How to dispose of a used mattress in London
Mattresses count as bulky-waste disposal and can be collected from your address for a fee, although some London councils offer this service for free.
Can mattresses be recycled?
While many components will be recycled where possible, there will be some that can’t be processed, and this will end up clogging the Earth in landfill sites.
Mattresses are a long-term investment and shouldn’t need to be replaced too often (unlike, say, fast fashion), but the rubbish that discarded ones create can take eons to break down.
It is widely reported that more than seven million mattresses are thrown out in the UK every year - that’s a lot of waste.
What are eco-mattresses made of?
Banish all thoughts of trying to count sheep on hay bales. Simply put, eco-friendly mattresses are made without materials that could be harmful to the planet.
With new technology, fillings can also be made from things like shredded plastic bottles, turning trash into nocturnal treasure. Covers are typically made from organic cotton and natural latex while fillings can also be formed of textiles like wool and wood pulp viscose.
These materials break down faster and are ideal for allergy sufferers as they usually don’t contain any harmful chemicals or dyes.
If you like the idea of getting an eco-friendly mattress, there are plenty to choose from. We’ve rounded up the best options below.
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Silentnight Eco Comfort Pocket 1200 Mattress
This full recyclable medium-firm mattress is part of Silentnight’s new eco-friendly collection, and it doesn’t skimp one bit on luxury. For starters, there’s a layer of Mirapocket zoned springs that adapt and support your weight. The polyester cover is made from recycled plastic bottles, processed into high performance moisture-wicking fabric.
Buy now £349.00, Silentnight
The Cotswold Company The Stow Double Mattress - 1000 Pocket Spring (Medium Tension)
The English brand has a sizeable collection of all-natural, chemical-free, hand-stitched British mattresses to choose from in its Pure Natural Collection.
Hand-stitched and filled with hand-teased wool from Dartmoor sheep, each piece has been expertly crafted by UK-based master mattress artisans. Mattresses uses pure British wool for the comfortable surface layer, followed by cotton, and then another wool-cotton layer - and that’s all before before the intelligent pocket springs made from British steel.
The collection starts from £549 for The Stow (1,000 pocket springs), from £999 for The Dursley (1,200 pocket springs) and from £1,299 for The Malmesbury (1,500 pocket springs).
Buy now £695.00, The Cotswold Company
Button & Sprung Borderdale Double Mattress
If you don’t want to sacrifice the support of a pocket spring in your quest for a plant-saving mattress, look to Button & Sprung. The sleep specialist rejects foam fillings, instead using naturally-filled chemical-free mattresses to boost sleep quality.
Every bed is made in the UK using fillings like wool, silk and Egyptian cotton - all of which boast temperature-regulating qualities. Sides are finished with wool or cotton, so you can flip for the most comfortable filling as the seasons change. Everything is kept firm and bouncy with the help of high density titanium alloy springs. The cherry on top? Each mattress is totally recyclable as there’s no glue used at all. Win-win.
Buy now £545.00, Button & Sprung
John Lewis & Partners EcoMattress™, Firm Tension, Double
After a 122 per cent surge in searches for ‘recycling’ on its website, John Lewis launched its all-vegan, fully recyclable EcoMattress in 2020. The filling is made with recycled fibres where the king size gives 200 plastic bottles bound for the landfill a new life.
The pocket spring system is installed without the use of glue, while tufting and hand-stitched details make the mattress look almost indistinguishable from a traditional version. Available in firm and medium tensions and in a variety of UK bed sizes.
Buy now £559.20, John Lewis
Una Eco Mattress Delux - UK Double
There are seven zones of support on this all-natural mattress which stands 24cm high. From the organic wool and cotton cover to the adjustable layers (you can pick and mix the perfect compilation for you) to superior support, every element has been carefully considered to ensure your sweetest dreams yet. Una also offers a 100-night trial to help you get a real feel for your new bed. If you're not totally in love with it, you can claim back a full refund.
Buy now £1395.00, Una Mattress
Harrison Spinks Flaxby Nature's Finest 11150 DNAir Mattress
This opulent glue and chemical-free mattress is part of Flaxby's Nature's Finest range. It sandwiches a layer of 9750 highly supportive pocket springs (all recyclable, natch) between fillings that include Yorkshire-sourced wool, mohair, hemp and Egyptian cotton. 100 per cent recyclable.
Buy now £1899.00, Dreams
Signature Crystal 3000 Pocket Sprung Orthopaedic Natural Fillings Mattress
It's a myth that being green is wildly expensive. When it comes to a budget option for a natural bed, Happy Beds is ready to put a smile on your face with this Signature Crystal option. Packed with natural fibres (including cashmere), 3000 pocket springs work to keep your back supported all through the night. A wool-enriched top layer helps to keep you warm in the winter and breathable during the warmer months.
Buy now £214.99, Happy Beds
