8 Misleading Claims About Organic Mattresses
Misleading Claim #1:
Merchants using organic logos, or statements that use the word "organic," to describe their mattresses as "organic" or partially "organic."
Incorrect Because: Under USDA National Organic Program regulations (USDA/NOP), there are no such categories. There is only "certified organic."
Misleading Claim #2:
Merchants claiming that since they use the same organic materials that are used in certified organic mattresses, why pay more?
Incorrect Because: Without submitting to an independent third-party audit, a consumer has no assurance that whatever organic component is claimed to be used was actually used in making a mattress.
Misleading Claim #3:
Merchants claiming that since the materials they use are the same as those used by true organic manufacturers, what's the difference?
Incorrect Because: Fast food and fine dining can include the same ingredients, but the outcomes are quite different—it's about quality and purity, not just materials.
Misleading Claim #4:
Merchants using someone else's certification to infer it is their own, but somehow doesn't have their name on it for a string of reasons.
Incorrect Because: USDA certification certificates are not transferable.
Misleading Claim #5:
Merchants claiming their mattresses are "chemical free."
Incorrect Because: This is scientifically impossible.
Misleading Claim #6:
Merchants claiming their mattresses are "nontoxic."
Incorrect Because: This is also scientifically impossible.
Misleading Claim #7:
Merchants claiming their mattresses are "free of volatile organic compounds (VOCS)" or have no harmful outgassing.
Incorrect Because: This is also scientifically impossible, and without an independentUL/GREENGUARD™ or similar test for finished-product emissions, no one can possibly know exact outgassing levels.
Misleading Claim #8:
Merchants claiming that their components have been tested for the presence of a long list of chemicals and that none was found.
Incorrect Because: What this means is that the mattress components may have been tested at one point, early in the process, by what is known as a "presence" test. True, these chemicals may not have been present at that time, but it gives absolutely no information as to what is actually emitting from the finished mattress. That is a consumer assurance UL/GREENGUARD™ testing provides.