Sustainable Living

Are Amerisleep Mattresses Eco-Friendly & Sustainable? A Life-Cycle Assessment

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Are Amerisleep Mattresses Eco-Friendly & Sustainable? A Life-Cycle Assessment

By
Quynh Nguyen

Read Time:13 Minutes

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Amerisleep incorporates plant-based materials in their foam mattresses, showing their environmental commitment. Yet, are Amerisleep mattresses truly “green” or somewhat “greenwashed”? So, we had to ask: How sustainable are Amerisleep mattresses?

Amerisleep mattresses can be sustainable, depending on the materials used. Their Oganica line is sustainable with predominantly natural and organic materials. Yet, other Amerisleep mattresses constructed with synthetic foam layers are generally unsustainable.

Read on as we walk through the life-cycle of Amerisleep mattresses. We will evaluate their sustainability, potential, and shortfalls in each life-cycle stage. And in the end, we’ll show you tips for buying and using Amerisleep mattresses more sustainably.

TL;DR: Here are the Amerisleep mattress models that we found to be the most sustainable:

Here’s How We Assessed the Sustainability of Amerisleep Mattresses

Amerisleep is appreciated for their accommodation of all styles of sleep. Comfort aside, though, how sustainable are their mattresses?

“Sustainable: The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level | Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance”

Oxford Dictionary

To understand the sustainability of Amerisleep mattresses, we must assess their life-cycle and each stage’s sustainability. This life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a method to evaluate the environmental impacts of products and materials. Over the years, companies have strategically used LCA to research and create more sustainable products. So, let’s have a look at the LCA of Amerisleep mattresses!

The life-cycle stages of Amerisleep mattressesEach stage’s sustainability
Production of Amerisleep mattressesSourcing: Amerisleep mattresses use various materials, the sustainability of which varies. On the one hand, they have a mattress line, the Organica by Amerisleep, made mainly with natural and organic materials. Specifically, these mattresses (Organica and Organica Plush) use natural latex and organic cotton, which are highly sustainable to source as plants sequester carbon and lessen the climate crisis. But they also contain organic wool which can have relatively high environmental impacts, especially when compared with plant-based materials. On the other hand, other Amerisleep mattresses use a variety of polyurethane foam. Sourcing fossil fuels for polyurethane foam is generally unsustainable because of their nonrenewable nature, their energy-demanding and polluting processes of extracting and refining, and their carbon footprint. However, the company sources a percentage of plant-based materials in their Bio-Pur® foam, lowering the overall environmental impact of using foam.
Manufacturing: The sustainability of Amerisleep mattress production varies, depending on the materials used. On the one hand, organic layers, such as natural latex or organic wool (in Organica and Organica Plush), are relatively eco-friendly to produce, with harsh synthetic chemicals controlled and eliminated. On the other hand, synthetic materials based on polyurethane foam are generally unsustainable to produce, with the intensive use of energy and chemicals.
Transporting: Transporting Amerisleep mattresses can have a relatively high carbon footprint because of the bulky nature of the product. However, manufacturing locally in the US helps reduce the transporting distances. 
Certifications: All Amerisleep foam-based mattresses are certified with CertiPUR-US, while the line Organica by Amerisleep is certified with OEKO-TEX®, Rainforest Alliance, and eco-INSTITUT.
Usage of Amerisleep mattressesLifespan: The sustainability of using Amerisleep mattresses can be sustainable, depending on the materials used. Latex-based Amerisleep mattresses can have a long lifespan and are sustainable to use. Foam-based Satva mattresses tend to have a relatively shorter lifespan and are generally not sustainable to use. 
Quality reviews: Amerisleep is rated “Poor” with 2.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot. 
End-of-life of Amerisleep mattressesCircularity: There are no circular mattresses in Amerisleep selection and we couldn’t find any information about plans to make their mattresses circular in the future.
Recycling: At the end of their life, Amerisleep mattresses are difficult to recycle because they often contain many layers. 
Waste: Amerisleep mattresses that contain primarily biodegradable components, such as Organica and Organica Plush, can break down naturally in landfills. In contrast, Amerisleep mattresses that contain synthetic foam would clog up landfills for a long time due to the lack of take-back programs from the company.

To know if Amerisleep mattresses are really sustainable, we need to look at their manufacturing practices and determine if they are effectively reducing their impact on the planet. To do that we need to look at:

  • The information they share,
  • data they report to third parties for external review, 
  • their ratings and reviews, and 
  • what sustainable organizations they belong to. 

How Sustainable Is the Production of Amerisleep Mattresses

The production of Amerisleep mattresses varies from sustainable to rather unsustainable, depending on whether they contain primarily natural and organic materials or (partially) synthetic foam. Amerisleep makes their mattresses locally in the US, lowering the carbon footprint of transporting. 

How Sustainable Are the Materials Used for Amerisleep Mattresses

Amerisleep mattresses use various materials, the sustainability of which varies:

  • On the one hand, they have a mattress line, the Organica by Amerisleep, made mainly with natural and organic materials. Specifically, these mattresses (Organica and Organica Plush) use natural latex and organic cotton, which are highly sustainable to source as plants sequester carbon and lessen the climate crisis. But they also contain organic wool which can have relatively high environmental impacts, especially when compared with plant-based materials. 
  • On the other hand, other Amerisleep mattresses use a variety of polyurethane foam. Sourcing fossil fuels for polyurethane foam is generally unsustainable because of their nonrenewable nature, their energy-demanding and polluting processes of extracting and refining, and their carbon footprint. However, the company sources a percentage of plant-based materials in their Bio-Pur® foam, lowering the overall environmental impact of using foam.

Amerisleep sources both natural and synthetic raw materials for their mattresses. While some of their mattress models are made predominantly with natural and organic materials (which makes them sustainable), many other Amerisleep mattresses contain a variety of polyurethane foam (which makes them rather unsustainable).

Specifically, Amerisleep mattresses consist of a comfort system (the soft top layers) and, in the case of hybrid mattresses, a support system (the responsive coils that move and respond to pressure changes). 

Depending on the models, Amerisleep mattress covers are made either with organic cotton fabrics or a synthetic fabric blend, such as a blend of polyester, polypropylene, high-density polyurethane, and a small amount of spandex in the Amerisleep A3. 

The sustainability of your specific Amerisleep mattress depends on the materials they use. So, let’s have a look at the sustainability of all their main materials so that you can make a better-informed decision:

Related: You can refer to our articles for more details on the materials used in Amerisleep mattresses:

How Sustainably Are Amerisleep Mattresses Generally Produced

The sustainability of Amerisleep mattress production varies, depending on the materials used:

  • On the one hand, organic layers, such as natural latex or organic wool (in Organica and Organica Plush), are relatively eco-friendly to produce, with harsh synthetic chemicals controlled and eliminated. 
  • On the other hand, synthetic materials based on polyurethane foam are generally unsustainable to produce, with the intensive use of energy and chemicals.

Manufacturing Amerisleep mattresses typically includes the following process steps for their comfort system (the soft top layers) and, in the case of hybrid mattresses, their support system (the responsive coils that move and respond to pressure changes):

  1. The first step to producing Amerisleep mattresses is to construct the comfort system from one or several layers (synthetic foam, latex, wool). The use of manufacturing chemicals and energy varies depending on the materials used. Producing organic comforting layers is free of harmful synthetic substances while producing synthetic foam is chemically intensive. Some comforting layers, including all the synthetic foam, latex, and wool, can be energy-intensive.
  2. In the case of hybrid Amerisleep mattresses, a support system made of coils is also produced. Producing the steel coils (drawing steel wire and bending wire to create coils) uses a lot of energy, which would have serious knock-on ecological impacts when production depends largely on fossil fuels. 
  3. For all Amerisleep mattresses, a mattress cover made from organic cotton or a synthetic fabric blend is added at the end to bind all layers together. 

Amerisleep states that they use an industry-leading zero-air emissions manufacturing process. However, we couldn’t find the details of the process and how it affects their environmental impacts.

Where Are Amerisleep Mattresses Usually Produced

All Amerisleep mattresses are made in the US.

Consequently, production will likely rely heavily on fossil fuels. According to Our World in Data, only 11.66% of energy consumption in the US comes from renewable sources.

Using renewable energy (solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass) would significantly reduce carbon emissions at this stage.

How Sustainable Is the Transportation of Amerisleep Mattresses

Transporting Amerisleep mattresses can have a relatively high carbon footprint because of the bulky nature of the product. However, manufacturing locally in the US helps reduce the transporting distances. 

In the life-cycle of Amerisleep mattresses, transportation typically occurs as follows: 

  • from fields/pastures/forests/mines where raw materials are extracted to the manufacturing location in the US, 
  • from the manufacturing location to sorting centers and/or physical shops, 
  • from sorting centers and/or physical shops to the consumer’s home, and
  • from the consumer’s home to the centers for recycling and/or disposal.

Amerisleep manufactures locally in the US, which helps to reduce the transporting distances. The company also states that their packing method allows their van to deliver 300% more, greatly reducing their carbon footprint. 

What Eco-Friendly or Sustainable Certifications Does Amerisleep Have

All Amerisleep foam-based mattresses are certified with CertiPUR-US: 

  • CertiPUR-US: A certification for foam products (polyurethane foam, memory foam, or hybrid foam) that ensures they are made without harmful chemicals and meet rigorous standards for content, emissions, and durability. It verifies that the foam is free from ozone depleters, flame retardants, mercury, lead, and other heavy metals, formaldehyde, and phthalates, and has low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality.

Additionally, the line Organica by Amerisleep is certified with the following sustainable and social standards: 

  • OEKO-TEX®: OEKO-TEX® labels aim to ensure that products pose no risk to human health (i.e., containing banned chemicals). 
  • Rainforest Alliance: This certification ensures that the farms and forests providing raw materials for a mattress meet rigorous environmental, social, and economic sustainability standards. It covers practices that promote biodiversity, improve livelihoods, and ensure the responsible use of natural resources, helping to conserve forests, protect wildlife, and support farmers and forest communities. 
  • eco-INSTITUT: A certification that tests mattresses and bedding products for emissions and pollutants to ensure they meet high indoor air quality and safety standards. The eco-INSTITUT certifies a wide range of mattress types, including innersprings, latexes, synthetic foams, as well as futons.

How Sustainable Is the Usage of Amerisleep Mattresses

The sustainability of using Amerisleep mattresses can be sustainable, depending on the materials used. Latex-based Amerisleep mattresses can have a long lifespan and are sustainable to use. Foam-based Amerisleep mattresses tend to have a relatively shorter lifespan and are generally not sustainable to use. 

What Is the Typical Lifespan of Amerisleep Mattresses 

Organica mattresses are based on natural latex, which tends to have a long lifespan, meaning that they do not need to be replaced as frequently, reducing waste generation and conserving resources. 

On the other hand, other Amerisleep mattresses are based on layers of synthetic foam, which tends not to last as long as natural latex foam, making them less sustainable. 

However, all Amerisleep mattresses are backed with a 20-year warranty. 

How Is the Quality of Amerisleep Mattresses Rated

Amerisleep is rated “Poor” with 2.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

How Sustainable Is the End-of-Life of Amerisleep Mattresses

The end-of-life of Amerisleep mattresses varies in sustainability depending on the materials used. The Amerisleep mattress models made primarily with natural components (Organica and Organica Plush) are sustainable because the main components are biodegradable. However, other Amerisleep mattress models that contain synthetic foam don’t biodegrade at the end of their life and, thus, are generally unsustainable.

How Circular Are Amerisleep Mattresses Made

Amerisleep mattresses (the Organica and Organica Plush models) that contain primarily biodegradable components (latex, wool, and cotton) break down naturally at the end of their life, returning to the earth without leaving a significant environmental footprint. For example, a study showed a substantial decrease in the mass of the latex foam after three months, estimating that it would take one to two years for latex foam to break down completely.

On the other hand, Amerisleep mattresses that contain layers of synthetic foam don’t break down at the end of their life. Conventional polyurethane foam, the base of memory foam and gel foam, will sit in landfills for a thousand years. Consequently, it is crucial to keep this material in circulation for as long as possible.

“Circular economy: The circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling, and composting. The circular economy tackles climate change and other global challenges, like biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, by decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources.”

Ellen Macarthur Foundation

There are no circular mattresses in Amerisleep’s selection, and we couldn’t find any information about plans to make their mattresses circular in the future.

Are Amerisleep Mattresses Made for Recycling

At the end of their life, Amerisleep mattresses are difficult to recycle because they often contain many layers. 

As a principle, products made with one type of material, such as 100% latex foam, are easier to disassemble and recycle than products made with a blend of materials. 

But if your Amerisleep mattress contains multiple layers, then it’s generally relatively difficult to recycle at the end of its life. However, a company specializing in recycling old mattresses would be able to help you. Suppose you are also buying a new mattress. In that case, your seller might be able to help you with responsible recycling or disposing of your old mattress.

Will Amerisleep Mattresses Go to Waste at Their End-of-life

Amerisleep mattresses that contain primarily biodegradable components, such as Organica and Organica Plush, can break down naturally in landfills. In contrast, Amerisleep mattresses that contain synthetic foam would clog up landfills for a long time due to the lack of take-back programs from the company.

We couldn’t find any mention on Amerisleep’s website about any take-back programs for their mattresses at the end of their life. 

Mattresses are bulky waste that take up significant landfill space—often for a long time. 

In brief, Amerisleep mattresses are not yet circular. There are no incentives to promote the recycling of their products at the end of their life.

Why Is It Important to Buy More Sustainable Mattresses

It is important to buy mattresses made of more sustainable materials because such materials generally have lower carbon footprints, put less pressure on natural resources, and are safer for both consumers and workers.

Buying Mattresses Made of More Sustainable Materials Reduces Toxic Chemicals In Your Sleeping Environment 

Many mattresses are made with synthetic materials in chemical-intensive processes, exposing factory workers and end users to health risks, especially regarding the respiratory system. For example, one memory foam model was found to emit 61 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including the known carcinogens benzene and naphthalene. 

In contrast, mattresses made of more sustainable materials, such as plant-based latex or organic wool, are generally safer, as they don’t contain toxic chemicals and are produced in more responsible processes. 

Buying Mattresses Made of More Sustainable Materials Reduces Your Carbon Footprint 

Conventional synthetic materials used in mattresses are fossil-derived and, thus, have a high carbon footprint. On the other hand, mattresses made with more sustainable materials, either organic or recycled, have relatively low carbon footprints. 

Buying Mattresses Made of More Sustainable Materials Reduces Demand for Natural Resources and Waste Management

Buying mattresses made with more sustainable materials, such as organic or recycled ones, means that you can avoid fossil-derived mattress foams, which contribute to the depletion of nonrenewable resources. 

Additionally, using organic materials for mattresses lessens the pressure on landfill space. Keep the following in mind:

Considering that synthetic materials don’t break down for hundreds of years, opting for organic mattresses that are biodegradable and recyclable significantly lowers the pressure on landfills. 

Buying Mattresses Made of More Sustainable Plant-Based Materials Encourages Sustainable Management of Forests and Ecosystems

Sustainable plant-based mattress materials, such as bamboo and hemp, are made with raw materials from forests and plantations that are sustainably managed. 

When you buy sustainable plant-based materials, you discourage unsustainable practices like clearing biodiverse forests for cattle raising. Furthermore, you help reduce deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the effects of climate change.

Final Thoughts

Amerisleep mattresses can be sustainable when made primarily with biodegradable raw materials, including natural latex, organic wool, and organic cotton. However, many Amerisleep mattress models use several layers of synthetic foam, making these products less sustainable in sourcing, manufacturing, and disposal.

As a consumer, you can make your use of Amerisleep mattresses more sustainable by following these steps:

  1. Buy second-hand mattresses
  2. Keep an Amerisleep mattress for as long as possible
  3. At the end-of-life of your Amerisleep mattress, upcycle the material to extend its usage and arrange for it to be recycled or properly disposed of

Stay impactful,



Sources

Photo of author

Quynh Nguyen

Quynh loves to research and write about how we can live more sustainably. She holds a Master's degree in Cross-Cultural Communication and managed communications at the social enterprise Fargreen. And when she's not writing, she likes to run in the woods, dig in the garden, or knit the next jumper.

Find Quynh on

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