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The Best Organic Pillows for a Great Night’s Sleep

Organic pillows are now being made by more manufacturers. Check out options for the best organic pillows and learn why this healthy alternative is so popular.

By Sheryl Grassie

Many companies are turning to natural materials for bedding and pillows. Pillows reside in close proximity to your face for eight or more hours every night, and the last thing you want is a pillow full of harmful chemicals to breathe into while sleeping.

Organic pillows have a variety of materials, with one to fit most every need and sleeping style. Common materials for organic pillows include: buckwheat, down, cotton, kapok, natural latex, silk, and wool. Back sleepers, side sleepers, and stomach sleepers can all find what they like in a natural option.

Let’s look at our best picks for organic pillows from each material category.

Our Top Picks for the Best Organic Pillows

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Best Natural Latex: Everpillow by InfiniteMoon

Made in the USA, the Everpillow by InfiniteMoon seeks to cater to all sleepers. Filled with 90% natural latex and 10% kapok, the Everpillow has an adjustable loft and firmness, so you you can get what you need out of the pillow. Simply unzip the side and remove the desired amount of fill. You can place your excess fill into the handy dandy drawstring bag provided with purchase.

The pillow comes in vacuum sealed packaging, that can be resealed for travel. All of the materials are hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and antimicrobial. They are also naturally cool, so you can kiss night sweats goodbye. Still not sure about the Everpillow? It comes with an 100-day, risk-free trial. Sleep on it for 3 months before you make your decision!

  • Price: $89
  • Sizes: The Original (26” x 19” x 6”), The Curve (27.5” x 17” x 5”)
  • Rating and Reviews: 5 stars, 20 reviews

Best Buckwheat: Beans72 Organic Buckwheat Pillow

Buckwheat is one of the oldest pillow materials and has a long history of use in Japan. This pillow is made from 100% pesticide-free, triple air cleaned, USDA Organic buckwheat hulls that are grown in the US.

It is a great alternative to down and natural latex pillows for individuals with allergies. This pillow is on the firm side and naturally forms to any shape. It is great for side-sleepers especially. You can order refills (verses a whole new pillow) when it starts to flatten over time.

The buckwheat hulls allow for circulation of air and keep the pillow cool for sleeping. Supportive, it can relieve common sleep problems like a stiff neck and headaches. These pillows cannot be washed, but if they do get wet, the contents can be put in the sun to dry. Covers should be washed regularly, however.

  • Price: $34.99-$84.99, depending on size
  • Sizes: Japanese Size (14 inches x 20 inches), Twin/Standard Size (20 inches x 26 inches), Queen Size (20 inches x 30 inches), King Size (20 inches x 36 inches), Travel/Child Size (11 inches x 16 inches)
  • Rating and Reviews: 4.3 out of 5 stars, 937 reviews

Best Down: The Company Store Organic Down Pillows

Down pillows are a nighttime favorite and can work well for all sleeping positions. The Company Store is known for its down comforters, and these organic pillows are no different with their premium European down fill. They come in a number of fill densities: soft, medium, firm, and extra-firm pillows. They also come with a lifetime guarantee. Laundering instructions recommend dry cleaning, but they can be machine washed and dried.

  • Price: $104-$169, depending on size
  • Sizes: Standard Size (20 inches x 26 inches), Queen Size (20 inches x 30 inches), King Size (20 inches x 36 inches)
  • Rating and Reviews: 4.4 out of 5 stars, 20 reviews

Best Cotton: Magnolia Organics Organic Cotton Pillow

A 100% organic cotton pillow, with a 100% organic cotton cover, Magnolia Organics is GOTS certified and manufactured in a GOTS certified plant. Magnolia Organics has developed a manufacturing technique that creates an extremely dense fabric cover for the pillow that shields against allergens and mites. The company is committed to environmental stewardship and claims a high customer satisfaction rating on their website.

  • Price: $36.95-$54.95, depending on size
  • Sizes: Toddler (11 inches x 16 inches), Standard Size (20 inches x 26 inches), Queen Size (20 inches x 30 inches), King Size (20 inches x 36 inches)
  • Rating and Reviews: 4.1 out of 5 stars, 87 reviews

Best Kapok: Sachi Organics Kapok Pillows

Kapok is a natural plant fiber, much like cotton except lighter. It grows on the Ceiba Tree in Central America and is a fluffy comfortable material that makes a great pillow.

Sachi covers their pillows with an organic cotton cover; it is a great alternative to cotton when you want a lighter pillow. The kapok pillow is a great down alternative for people with feather allergies and for those concerned about animal cruelty. Numerous websites claim it is a bestseller!

  • Price: $74-$102, depending on size
  • Sizes: Standard Size (20 inches x 26 inches), Queen Size (20 inches x 30 inches), King Size (20 inches x 36 inches)

Best Silk: Lilysilk Silk Pillow with Silk Shell

A slightly more expensive, but very luxurious natural pillow option is silk. The Lilysilk pillow is made from long strand silk mulberry floss from the mulberry tree. OEKO-TEK certified, this pillow has no harmful chemicals or toxic off-gassing. These pillows naturally wick moisture, are cool to the touch, and known for reducing wrinkles on the face and neck.

  • Price: $195-$255, depending on size
  • Sizes: Standard Size (20 inches x 26 inches), Queen Size (20 inches x 30 inches), King Size (20 inches x 36 inches)
  • Rating: 3.6 out of 5 stars, 4 reviews

Best Wool: Lifekind Certified Organic Wool Pillow

Wool pillows are known for being a natural temperature regulator. They wick moisture, keeping you cool in the summer and providing warmth without overheating in the winter. Temperature regulation helps maximize REM sleep.

PlushBeds is an eco-friendly, sustainably focused company that insures they source wool from cruelty-free farmers. Their pillows are extremely comfortable and GOTS certified for a chemical-free sleep.

  • Price: $79-$139, depending on size
  • Sizes: Standard Size (20 inches x 26 inches), King Size (20 inches x 36 inches). Light, medium, and full fill levels available in both sizes.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars, 17 reviews

Organic and Natural Certifications for Consumer Protection

To insure standards around organic, natural, and low-emissions, a number of nonprofits and independent laboratories are offering certifications. Awareness of the effects of harmful chemicals has driven the industry to create standards by which to judge the quality of chemical-free and organic products. Some of the common certifications to look for when buying a pillow are:

  • CertiPUR-US: A non-profit that certifies foams to ensure they are free from flame retardants, mercury, lead, formaldehyde, and phthalates. They also test for low emissions.
  • GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard): To meet this standard, the product must be at least 95% certified organic latex. This certification includes emissions testing for the allowable percentage of non-organic materials.
  • GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): This certification is a world-wide recognition of organic standards in textiles and applies to any textile. It looks at sustainability practices and chemical content of textiles from raw materials through finished product.
  • GreenGuard and GreenGuard Gold: This certification is performed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL Environment) and tests interior air quality in relation to products and their off gassing or VOCs. If products meet certain standards of lower emissions, they can be certified at one of two levels.
  • MADESAFE: Is a non-toxic, chemical seal. It certifies all kinds of products, including textiles and pillows, which are screened for purity against a list of known chemicals.
  • OEKO-TEK: An independent label from the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology, they approve textiles of all types that have been tested for harmful chemicals.

Why Buy Organic?

It used to be that organic products were considerably more expensive than non-organic. This is changing, however, due to demand. People want safe, chemical-free products, especially when it comes to sleep items like pillows. There are two reasons to consider buying an organic pillow.

The first reason is for your health. Toxic chemicals such as flame retardants placed close to the face are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, obesity, and developmental disorders. Various other chemicals used in processing and manufacturing of textiles have detrimental effects on health.

The second reason to consider an organic pillow is because it is better for the environment. Sustainable and organic practices keep our larger environment healthy. Animals are treated humanely, plants are grown without herbicides and pesticides keeping water supplies cleaner, and overall air quality is better when crops are not sprayed with chemicals.

Summary

Linen stores and online retailers now have a large selection of organic pillows to help insure a healthy sleep. Choose from a variety of different materials including buckwheat, down, cotton, kapok, natural latex, silk, and wool. Do your own research or consider our choices for the best organic pillows. Check certifications and find a healthy pillow you love.

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