Natural Latex vs. Synthetic / Polyurethane -What's the difference?
A couple of days ago, I got a phone call from a gentleman who said “well, latex is latex is latex, right?” Well, no, not really… there is a world of difference between natural latex and synthetic foam.
QUICK CRASH COURSE - Basically, natural latex is sap tapped from a rubber tree, then it is either vulcanized (Dunlop method) or vulcanized, then frozen (Talalay method.) I don't want to get too involved in which method is better, because it's really dependent upon the processing facility and a number of other factors. The two most important factors for us have always been (a) the purity of the latex (100% natural, pure latex) and the lack of fillers, etc. and (b) the consistency of firmness levels.
The point is, pure natural latex is an incredibly resilient and long-lasting, clean, supportive material. It is resistant to dust mites, anti-microbial, antifungal, and hypo-allergenic.
The important thing to consider when considering a product made of natural latex is: just how pure is it? What is the percentage of natural latex vs fillers or synthetic material? Look for certification by an independent laboratory such as Oeko-Tex – particularly if it is European made. The testing process will attest to the cleanliness and purity of the product.
Some companies who sell "all natural latex" add fillers (most commonly clays, calcium oxide, or titanium dioxide) to the natural latex to make it go further (like adding water to the last few drops of shampoo in the bottle). How can they call it "natural latex" when the fillers are added? All the things added to the latex are naturally occuring, so it's technically not false advertising. While the finished product will be less expensive, the addition of fillers ultimately makes the latex less durable and more apt to rapid breakdown. It's important that for the customer to ask if there are any fillers in the latex. If so, expect a rapidly decreasing lifespan for the mattress.
Synthetic latex is just that: synthetic. It's made with petrochemicals, sometimes even actually mixed with natural latex. That's where you have to be really careful. There are many manufacturers who tout their product as “natural” latex, when in fact it's a blend of natural AND synthetic. And interestingly, Dunlop and Talalay latex can be either natural or synthetic. Caveat emptor. Do your research.
Synthetic latex, being chemically based, has a tendency to break down very quickly. Have you ever had a body impression in your mattress measured by your friendly local mattress warranty representative and been told that it's “normal wear and tear?” Polyurethane foams/synthetics are actually graded on how quickly they're expected to break down. That's the reason you have to wait until the body impression is at least 1.5 inches (in most cases) in depth to get your warranty to kick in.
Synthetic latex and polyurethanes also have a tendency to off-gas. That is, the chemicals inside the mattress will escape and cause a strange odor. And you're breathing those chemicals in.
There's also an issue with synthetics being unable to absorb and release moisture properly, causing heat problems for you, as well as growth of molds and mildews (along with dust mite proliferation) and rapid deterioration.
What does that mean for you? Well, it means that the mattress made with poly-foam or synthetic latex will not hold its shape: it compacts when confronted with weight and moisture (sweat and breathing—everyone emits about 1 liter of moisture while sleeping. Seriously.)
Take this into consideration also: the average queen-sized polyurethane foam mattress covered in polyester fabric loses HALF its weight over ten years of use. Where does the weight go? Polyurethane oxidizes, creates “fluff” (dust) which is released into the air and eventually settles in and around your home and yes, you breathe in this dust. Some of the chemicals in use in these types of mattresses include formaldehyde, styrene, toluene di-isocyanate (TDI), antimony...the list goes on and on.
Once again, do your research if you're concerned about these things. We suggest reading up on the effects of chemicals on www.epa.gov.
Ultimately, natural latex is more resilient/durable, cleaner/healthier and more comfortable -- anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and hypo-allergenic, as well as being dust mite resistant and biodegradable. You'll pay more for anything made of natural latex, because it's more expensive to obtain and produce, but you get your money’s worth out of the product. Hope this information helps.
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