Test Drive: Avocado Green Mattress

E-Commerce Writer Gabrielle Ulubay tries out a green, certified organic mattress handcrafted in sunny California.

Gabrielle Ulubay with Avocado Mattress
(Image credit: Courtesy)

Fashion Test Drive

(Image credit: Future)

At Marie Claire, we love to be the first to discover what will become the hottest accessories and looks for the upcoming season. But instead of simply identifying the latest It items, we’ve decided to go one step further. Welcome to Fashion Test Drive: our ongoing series where editors demo must-have pieces before they arrive in stores—and in your closet. Next up: The Avocado Green Mattress.

I am a perpetually under-rested individual: I get a second wind of energy around 10 p.m. that keeps me up reading or doing chores until, before I know it, it’s 1 a.m., and I only have a few hours to sleep before work. So when I was given the opportunity to test out Avocado’s Green Mattress, which has received rave customer reviews because of its ethical, eco-friendly standards and its incomparable coziness, I jumped at the chance.

Founded in 2016, the company incorporates sustainable production methods across its supply chain out of its commitment to "safeguard your health and protect our planet." Plus, they promise a luxury rest experience and supplement their popular handcrafted mattress line with other bedding accessories like sheets, throws, pillows, loungewear, and more—all of which work in tandem to deliver the best sleep.

Determined to investigate myself (and always down for a midday nap) I headed to Avocado's New York City location on 5th Avenue for the ultimate comfortable-meets-sustainable experience.

Good for the Planet

Did you know that most mattresses are made using petroleum-based polyurethane foams and memory foams? These agents are devastating to the environment due to both production methods and the chemicals that they release into the air. Avocado's mattresses, however, are made from GOTS- and GOLS-certified organic materials, and the company is a Certified B-Corp and Climate Neutral Certified. All of the latex used to create the mattresses is produced using sustainable methods that prohibit pesticide usage and prevent soil erosion, and their processing facilities employ eco-friendly methods like steam-baking, wind energy, and rainwater collection. Most mattresses are made on-demand, which prevents energy waste and buildup of extra inventory.

Good for Your Health

If the polyurethane in other mattresses is bad for the environment, imagine how much havoc it can wreak on your health! Research by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that indoor air is at least five times more polluted than outdoor air, and that poor indoor air quality can cause health problems like headaches, dizziness, allergic irritation, asthma, and even heart disease and cancer. Avocado's mattresses are among the few mattresses that are MADE SAFE certified–a rigorous certification that verifies products are made with ingredients that aren’t known or suspected to harm human, animal, or ecosystem health. The company also never uses polyurethane-based foams, flame retardants, or glue.

Good for the Soul

The minute I laid down on Avocado's luxurious Green Mattress, I knew I was in serious danger of falling asleep in their store midday. All of their mattresses incorporate several tall layers of organic wool, latex, and cotton held together by button-tufting in addition to 1,414 individually tuned coils, making this particular mattress sit at 11-inches of thickness. The model I tried also incorporated the optional European-style pillow top, which contoured perfectly to my body without being too plush. In perfect bliss, I was able to read, leisurely check my emails, daydream, and even doze a little, all the while thinking of ways I could convince my boss to let me work from the Avocado store for the rest of the day. A 10/10, indeed.

What To Pair With Your Mattress