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Foam Guide
Your Evidence-Based Safety Guide to Polyurethane, Memory Foam, Organic vs Natural Latex, EVA, TPU, and More.
Updated December 2025
Meg is the founder and owner of Interior Medicine. She provides evidence-based guidance on creating healthier homes through transparent material analysis and peer-reviewed research to help you make informed decisions about household products.
Foam Rating Scales
These scales are a summary of all the information below. They also keep me consistent and unbiased as I rate and rank products for their potential impact on your health in the Interior Medicine Shop, and they’re meant to organize the information in a straightforward way for you, too. Your situation and risk tolerance may differ—these are guides, not absolute rules.
Having two scales captures a more complete picture of foam’s level of material health by considering two things: first, what the starting material was, and then, how it was processed. Keep reading for the full breakdown on the reasoning behind these scales, and how to make smart decisions about foam in your home.
Foam Types
Foam Processing
Understanding Foam Composition
What is foam made of?
Foam, also called polyurethane foam, is made from petroleum-based chemicals. The two primary ingredients are polyols and isocyanates, which react together to form the basic foam structure, then many chemical additives are mixed in to make it easier to work with in the factory, and more comfortable for people to sit on.
Polyols + Isocyanates + Chemical Additives = Foam
What are polyols and isocyanates?
The two main building blocks of foam are polyols and isocyanates:
Polyols are small molecules that typically come from petroleum, though plant-based sources have emerged recently.
Isocyanates are highly reactive compounds like toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI).
Are polyols and isocyanates toxic?
Polyols: Relatively harmless to you. Beyond their reliance on petroleum refineries, polyols in finished foam products won't directly impact your health through normal use.
Isocyanates: These compounds are well-documented to cause asthma and lung damage in workers when exposure occurs without proper protection, and accidental release of isocyanate gas from factories has killed many people. The National Toxicology Program and International Agency for Research on Cancer have both declared TDI, the isocyanate used in mattress production, a possible carcinogen. MDI is considered safer. All that said, if isocyanates are properly reacted with polyols to make foam, they should not be very harmful to you, the user of the foam.
Polyol + Isocyanate mixture: These should be mixed in the correct ratio during foam manufacturing, and if they are, they undergo a chemical reaction called "curing" that makes them chemically inert. (An analogy that might work well for you— think of curing like water: hydrogen and oxygen are highly reactive on their own, but once combined as H₂O, they're stable and harmless.) However, if the foam mixture isn't perfectly balanced during production, unreacted isocyanates can remain in the finished mattress and off-gas over time, potentially causing respiratory irritation or allergic sensitization.
Industry-funded study (2012): Researchers assessed whether sleepers were exposed to unreacted isocyanates from mattresses. The results showed no health effects—but the study was conducted by employees of Dow Chemical Company, the International Isocyanate Institute, and BASF Polyurethane (major foam manufacturers). Read the study here.
Independent study (2015): University of Texas researchers tested 20 crib mattresses and found that many contained unreacted isocyanates along with other volatile chemicals. Read the study here.
I'd love to see more unbiased studies on isocyanate levels in finished mattresses and long-term exposure effects and will update this information if and when that occurs.
What chemicals are in foam?
Mixing just polyols and isocyanates creates 1 type of relatively rigid foam (see my 60 second video here), so chemicals are needed to soften it and give it different textures. And, foam is made in huge quantities in a factory, so more additives are added to make foam manufacturing a smoother process.
Performance-modifying chemicals are added to change how the foam feels and functions:
Softening agents: make memory foam plush
Gel beads or phase-change materials: for "cooling" foam
Flame retardants: to meet fire safety standards, linked with endocrine disruptors, hyperthyroidism, cancer
Antimicrobial treatments: used to appeal to our need to be clean, but are endocrine disruptors
Colorants and dyes: for different colors of foam, linked with reproductive hazard, neurobehavioral changes
Density modifiers
Proprietary additives: Manufacturers aren't required to disclose all chemicals used in foam production.
Factory processing chemical additives are added to make foam puff up and move out of molds quickly:
Surfactants: Control bubble size and foam texture
Blowing agents: Create air pockets that puff the foam into its fluffy structure
Catalysts: Speed up the chemical reaction between polyols and isocyanates. Stannous octoate is the most commone one and is a reproductive hazard
Curatives: Help the foam set into a stable, moldable shape that releases from factory molds
The final product is a complex chemical mixture that off-gasses volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for months or years, like benzene, toluene, styrene, vinylcyclohexene and others. These are linked with headaches, drowsiness, and are small enough to pass into blood stream. Aromatic hydrocarbons are linked with lung cancer, heart disease. This is why new foam mattresses have that strong "new mattress smell"—it's synthetic chemicals releasing into the air.
Is foam toxic?
Yes, most likely. I would love to say with certainty that all polyurethane foam poses risks, but the ingredient lists used in foam remain proprietary secrets. This is so different manufacturers can create distinct foam textures without revealing their formulas.
What we've discovered about these hidden ingredients over time is consistently concerning, and they keep shifting, not from a health-forward stance, but in response to people’s complaints and updated regulations. A few examples:
Blowing agents switched from hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) in 2020 after environmental concerns arose. Now some states may ban HFOs as forever chemicals.
The catalyst stannous octoate was identified as reprotoxic 1B—potentially damaging to fetuses—prompting some (not all) manufacturers to eliminate it starting in 2023.
Flame retardants have been restricted in certain states as research revealed their harm to human health and ecosystems.
VOC levels decreased because consumers complained about strong chemical smells from off-gassing toluene, xylene, and acetone.
All of this history qualifies foam as toxic in my assessment. But, if you select foam manufactured without these specific problematic ingredients, is it still harmful? Probably, but we don’t know. There are very likely additional concerning chemicals currently in use that we'll only discover and regulate years from now. Without knowing their identity and biological interactions, I can't declare this definitively. This is why I apply the Precautionary Principle with foam and minimize exposure whenever feasible. I recommend starting by replacing your pillow, if it’s made of foam, then your mattress and couch as finances allow. Read my Top 5 Priorities for Detoxing Your Home Guide for my rationale.
Is memory foam toxic?
Yes, most likely. Memory foam uses the same base chemistry as standard polyurethane foam but incorporates additional proprietary additives to achieve that signature slow-recovery texture.
Exposure Routes
How do foam chemicals get into your body?
Chemicals exit from foam in two main ways, and enter your body through three pathways: inhalation (breathing), ingestion (swallowing dust), and dermal absorption (through skin).
How chemicals leave foam:
Polyurethane foam (including memory foam) is made from two tightly bonded chemicals: polyols and isocyanates (see more above). However, the dozens of additives mixed into foam—flame retardants, catalysts, plasticizers, and other proprietary chemicals—are not chemically bonded to the foam structure. Over time, as foam degrades from friction, body heat, and age, these additives fall out.
Two pathways for chemical release:
1. Into the air (VOCs - Volatile Organic Compounds)
Lightweight chemicals evaporate from foam and adhesives as gases. This creates the "new foam smell"—VOCs off-gassing into your air. This continues for months or even years as foam slowly releases volatile chemicals like formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and styrene.
2. Into household dust
Heavier chemicals (especially flame retardants like PBDEs) can't evaporate, so they fall out of degrading foam as particles. Lightweight particles suspend in air as dust, while heavier particles settle onto floors, furniture, and bedding. Flame retardants are particularly persistent in household dust because they're designed not to break down.
Three ways chemicals enter your body:
After these are released from foam, they find their way into your body through the three primary exposure routes.
1. Inhalation (breathing)
You breathe in VOCs and lightweight chemical particles suspended in indoor air. VOCs are absorbed directly into your lungs, and some enter your bloodstream.
2. Ingestion (swallowing dust)
Adults ingest approximately 50mg of household dust daily through normal hand-to-mouth contact—touching dusty surfaces, then touching your face, eating, or drinking. Children ingest 100mg of dust daily because they spend more time on floors and have more frequent hand-to-mouth behavior. Flame retardants and other mattress chemicals in this dust are swallowed and absorbed through your digestive system.
3. Dermal absorption (through skin)
Some foam chemicals are small enough to pass through skin—especially when you're in prolonged direct contact. Flame retardants and other additives that have migrated to the foam surface are dermally absorbed through your skin and enter your bloodstream.
Why this matters for long-term health:
Most people spending a lot of time on foam: 8 hours per night on a mattress, 8 hours a day in a padded office chair, during the commute on the seats in the car, on upholstered padded dining chairs during meal times, and even on errands, like in the dentist’s chair. This is additive, creating significant chemical exposure.
Bioaccumulative chemicals like flame retardants build up in your body fat over years
Children are at higher risk due to higher dust ingestion rates and developing bodies
In short, chemicals don't just stay in the foam—they continuously migrate into bedroom air and dust, entering your body through breathing, dust ingestion, and skin absorption. This is why choosing healthier foams whenever possible is a good way to eliminate hours of daily chemical exposure for your entire lifespan.
How long does foam off-gas?
Conventional polyurethane foam and memory foam off-gas for at least one year—though some continue releasing VOCs for several years. The intensity of off-gassing decreases over time, but never stops completely as long as the foam continues degrading.
Why foam off-gases for so long: Polyurethane foam contains dozens of volatile chemicals—formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, styrene, and others—embedded throughout the material. These VOCs are released in two phases:
Initial off-gassing (first few weeks to months): The strongest "new foam smell" comes from surface-level VOCs and residual chemicals from manufacturing. This is when off-gassing is most noticeable and intense.
Long-term off-gassing (1+ years): As foam degrades from body heat, friction, and humidity, chemicals deeper inside the foam migrate to the surface and continue off-gassing. This happens throughout the foam’s entire lifespan, just at lower levels than the initial period.
Factors that speed up off-gassing:
Heat: Body heat and warm temperatures accelerate chemical release from foam
Humidity: Body moisture breaks down foam structure faster, releasing more VOCs
Friction: Movement causes foam degradation and chemical release
Age: Older foam can off-gas as it breaks down structurally
This is why I recommend using an organic mattress topper on top of a standard foam mattress if now isn’t the right time to upgrade to an organic mattress made without foam.
Is foam smell toxic?
Yes, that new foam odor indicates volatile organic compound release, which includes chemicals like toluene, xylene, and acetone that can affect your health through inhalation.
Health Risks Associated with Foam
Does foam cause cancer?
Certain foam ingredients may contribute to cancer risk. Specific flame retardants commonly added to foam for fire resistance have been linked to cancer. In 2021, Philips Respironics voluntarily recalled CPAP machines made with polyurethane foam after discovering the foam contained diethylene glycol, toluene di-isocyanate isomers, and toluene diamine isomers associated with possible carcinogenic effects.
I've read studies claiming foam chemical levels are too low to cause harm
This is partially accurate, but the statement applies better to one foam item over a short timeframe rather than realistic accumulated lifetime exposures. When this defense is used for a foam mattress, consider how much additional time you spend on foam throughout your day: car seats during your commute contain foam padding. Your office chair and possibly keyboard wrist rest have foam. The gym equipment or dentist's chair you encounter during the day exposes you to more foam. Your evening couch has foam cushions. Foam is ubiquitous in American homes and workplaces. Across your lifetime, exposures accumulate, and because many foam chemicals (like flame retardants) bioaccumulate or create effects even at low concentrations (like endocrine disruptors such as BPA), I think dismissing cumulative exposure is shortsighted.
Foam Certifications Explained
What is CertiPUR foam?
CertiPUR foam is polyurethane foam certified by the CertiPUR-US program, which prohibits, or limits, a handful of harmful chemicals while allowing most other toxic mattress additives (that remain undisclosed.) See their latest 2025 standards update here.
What CertiPUR prohibits:
Some flame retardants: DMMP, HBCD, PBB, PCT, and TDBPP (but still allows PBDE flame retardants under certain limits)
Some blowing agents: CFCs, HCFC, and methylene chloride
Chlorinated phenols
What does CertiPUR ban in foam?
CertiPUR still allows many known harmful chemicals in mattress foam. The following must be under certain limits:
Formaldehyde (carcinogen and respiratory irritant)
Benzene, Toluene, Styrene, vinylcyclohexene and other VOCs (headaches, drowsiness)
PBDE flame retardants (endocrine disruptors, bioaccumulative)
Aromatic hydrocarbons (lung cancer, heart disease)
Stannous octoate (reproductive hazard)
Heavy metals: Antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium
13 kinds of phthalates (endocrine disruptors; there are 20+ kinds)
What CertiPUR says "should not be used" (unclear if banned or limited):
Azo-based colorants and azodyes (reproductive hazard, neurobehavioral changes)
The "second-party certification" problem: CertiPUR-US is not a true third-party certification. As far as I understand, it was created by the polyurethane foam industry itself (through the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam) and uses industry-selected labs for testing. This means foam manufacturers essentially set their own standards and test their own products, which is a major conflict of interest.
You could argue that this is still a step in the right direction! But, I’m a little skeptical, and I think the word PUR (pure) is misleading. The stannous octoate limit wasn’t added until 2023, so people were buying mattresses potentially affecting their fertility that they thought were safe, and that makes me pretty prickly!
Is CertiPUR foam actually non-toxic?
No, probably not. While excluding stannous octoate (which can harm fetuses) from CertiPUR foams starting in 2023 was positive, this chemical remained permitted in CertiPUR products until recently. Buyers purchasing CertiPUR foam before 2023 were misled into believing it was "pure" and safe. I understand complete purity isn't always achievable, and phasing out harmful substances gradually—rather than demanding instant bans that would massively disrupt industry—can be practical. Gradual restrictions encourage more companies to adapt over time rather than overwhelming the industry with sudden demands. However, the surprise revelation about stannous octoate demonstrates their health stance is conservative and reactionary rather than proactive and health-centered.
What is MADE SAFE foam certification?
MADE SAFE certification maintains a banned/restricted list of 6,500 chemicals based on combining European Union standards, the Red List, and other international agencies setting human health standards. While this sounds impressive, I've grown more cautious about it as I've learned the details. It applies across many consumer goods including foam, cleaning products, and others. Reaching "6,500 banned substances" becomes easier when including the numerous chemicals potentially present in cleaning liquids and other product categories beyond foam.
More significantly, the list isn't absolute, and we don't know its contents. They state that "Some substances may have category specific allowances or technically unavoidable content, in which case either additional testing or threshold requirements may apply" here, but these limits aren't published, nor is the list itself accessible.
While I'm confident a MADE SAFE product is safer than untested alternatives, I now rate it as "OK" until limits and lists become more transparent.
What is OEKO-TEX foam?
OEKO-TEX typically applies to fabrics but can include foam when it's part of a finished textile-containing product. OEKO-TEX certified foam means the final product has been tested and verified to contain very low levels of specific harmful chemicals. It applies only to finished products, so manufacturers aren't required to disclose every single ingredient throughout the production process. OEKO-TEX can certify organic, natural, and synthetic products—whether pure latex foam or polyurethane foam. You can review OEKO-TEX limits, which update annually, here.
Does OEKO-TEX foam contain flame retardants?
No, OEKO-TEX foam doesn't contain chemical flame retardants. It may include safe, non-chemical fire barriers like wool or graphite. OEKO-TEX requires companies to apply for special exceptions when using flame retardants—for example, firefighters' uniforms require flame retardants but can still achieve OEKO-TEX certification if otherwise meeting health standards.
Is GreenGuard GOLD foam non-toxic?
No, GreenGuard Gold certification does not mean foam is non-toxic or chemical-free. It only means the foam off-gasses volatile organic compounds (VOCs) below a certain threshold—not that it contains no harmful chemicals.
What GreenGuard and GreenGuard Gold means:
Standard GreenGuard: VOC emissions must be less than 500 µg/m³
GreenGuard Gold: VOC emissions must be less than 220 µg/m³
Why GreenGuard Gold doesn't equal "healthy":
Lower VOC emissions are definitely better than high emissions, but this certification has significant limitations for foam safety. Many harmful chemicals in polyurethane foam don't off-gas as VOCs, so they're not measured by GreenGuard testing. This includes:
Flame retardants (endocrine disruptors)
Plasticizers and stabilizers
Catalysts and blowing agents used in foam production
These chemicals may remain in the foam long-term without off-gassing, meaning you're still exposed through skin contact. Some brands misleadingly claim "It's GreenGuard Gold certified, so it's non-toxic!"—this is healthwashing in my opinion. However, GreenGuard can still be useful, even if it’s limited.
When GreenGuard Gold certification is useful:
If you're choosing between conventional foam mattresses or couches and can't afford an organic version, GreenGuard Gold is a step in the right direction. It ensures lower chemical off-gassing than uncertified foam, making it a better option.
Polyurethane Foam Alternatives
What is EVA foam?
EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) is a plastic that you probably recognize— it’s used to make shower curtain fabric. EVA foam, however, has chemicals mixed into puff it up.
Is EVA foam toxic?
EVA foam is neither toxic nor non-toxic, and lands in the grey area in between.
EVA as a thin plastic fabric is surprisingly non-toxic according to various agencies including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), OSHA, and National Toxicology Program (NTP).
EVA foam, however, is puffed into shape with formamide, which is where the toxicity questions lie. We know that formamide is not safe at the high doses factory workers are exposed to, and can be absorbed through skin, inhaled, and ingested, potentially causing various problems. But, EVA foam in a play mat or yoga mat or other product that arrives at your house likely has very low formamide levels. If it’s confirmed by third-party testing to be low-VOC or has had time to off-gas, it is probably relatively safe.
It’s definitely preferable to polyurethane foam or PVC because it doesn't require phthalates for softness and flexibility, and it doesn't require chlorine in production.
But, aside from formamide, it’s often still difficult to know exactly what else may be present in EVA, so choosing cork or natural rubber latex would be healthier options.
What is TPU foam?
TPU foam is a foamed or expanded version of TPU. Just like EVA foam differs from the relatively non-toxic EVA sheets (like shower curtain material), TPU foam differs from the relatively non-toxic TPU film. That's because they must be expanded, which usually requires chemical reactions.
Regular TPU stands for thermoplastic polyurethane, a thin film often used as waterproofing fabric in protectors. Like PU (polyurethane foam found in mattresses), TPU is also created from the same two basic building blocks—polyols and diisocyanates. When pressure, air (usually nitrogen gas or CO2), and other foaming agents are added to TPU, its volume expands by 5-8x, turning into E-TPU. The resulting foamy material is used in play mats, gymnastic pads, and sneakers.
Is TPU foam toxic?
Probably not, but it's possibly safer than regular PU foam. Here's why:
The two building blocks, polyols and diisocyanate, bond together permanently in a more predictable way when making TPU than when making regular PU. TPU is made firmer or softer based on the softness, hardness, and lengths of the polyols and diisocyanate building blocks themselves— simply adjusting the ratio allows better control of the final result. This is less true for polyurethane foam, which uses additives for changing firmness or softness.
However, the process of making TPU foam from TPU does require foaming. The foaming process is generally considered less intense than making PU foam, which has numerous applications, textures, and marketing techniques to fulfill (cooling gel mattresses, for example). But TPU foam is harder to manufacture than regular PU foam, and one recently developed technique to make it less collapsible introduced nanofillers into the mixture, which are not good for humans or the environment. This results in a non-recyclable version of TPU foam. While no TPU foam manufacturer shares all their ingredients, it's important to know that foamed TPU can still utilize many of the same additives that regular PU foams do—flame retardants, UV stabilizers, and fiberglass.
New forms of TPU can even be recyclable or biodegradable, if made with B. subtilis, a soil-based probiotic bacteria, or cornstarch, to replace petroleum-derived polyols.
So while it may be safer than regular polyurethane foam, without 100% ingredient transparency or certifications, it's always possible it may contain chemicals with concerning profiles. If you choose TPU foam, verify it doesn't require a Prop 65 warning, and ideally confirm OEKO-TEX certification for a safer choice.
What is safer, TPU or EVA foam?
To be honest, I don’t know, and I’m not sure anyone does yet. You’ll see claims both ways, usually by companies making play mats with one or the other, but the reality is, we never know all of the ingredients involved to transform the relatively safe TPU or EVA into their foam versions. While formamide is a known part of the EVA foaming process, the TPU foaming process has just as much potential for chemicals of concern— I worry that we will find out there is an equivalent of formamide in the TPU process someday. My best guess is that they are both slightly better than choosing memory foam or PVC mats, based on the logic in the answer immediately above this.
Is soy foam non-toxic?
No, most likely not. Soy-based foams contain, on average, 5% soy by weight. The remaining 95% is polyurethane foam. This is a classic example of healthwashing, and currently true of all "bio-based foams." If a company can prove their foam is made with 100% soy or other plant oil, it would be healthier than PU foam.
What is food grade polymer foam?
In home furnishings like crib mattresses, it's often grade 4 low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic, the same plastic used in plastic bags, shrink wraps, and squeeze bottles.
Fresh or virgin LDPE has been classified as one of the safest plastics. (Recycled LDPE can contain unintentionally added pesticide residues, pigments, and flame retardants.) Like polyester, LDPE is created mainly with polymer building blocks, but chemicals are used to change reaction speed or properties of the final product. Some LDPE may have residues remaining, but if it's food-grade, these have been purified or washed away to the point that they wouldn't leach into food in high amounts under expected conditions—meaning even heat and acidic foods couldn't coax them out of the plastic.
But obviously, "food grade" is specific for food contact applications, not home furnishings. While home furnishings are unlikely to be heated or exposed to acidity, I think seeking OEKO-TEX certification is still preferred for plastic fabrics used in mattresses and other home goods. Otherwise, I recommend asking the manufacturer if flame retardants, BPA, or PFAS are present or if they've been tested for.
While it's a petroleum-based plastic with negative long-term environmental effects, it can be an affordable and relatively safe substance for your use if you can't choose an organic alternative. It's probably safer than polyurethane foam.
What is IXPE foam?
IXPE foam is made with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and puffed into a foam texture using electricity.
Is IXPE foam safe?
Maybe. Polyethylene is a relatively non-toxic plastic, and puffing it into IXPE uses electricity instead of cross-linking agents, so it likely has fewer chemicals involved in the process. It’s also odorless, so it won’t off-gas. It’s very stable and resistant to water and chemicals, so it doesn’t require additives or coatings. It’s still plastic-based and there are still foaming agents and potentially other proprietary additives mixed in, so it’s not perfect, but it may be safer than TPU or EVA. Look for IXPE foams that have third party testing confirming it’s free of heavy metals, phthalates and other worst-offender additives. The play mat I recommend made with IXPE is listed on my Non-Toxic Play Mats page, and displays these results, for example.
Natural Rubber Latex Foam
What is natural latex?
Natural latex is natural rubber harvested from the Hevea brasiliensis rubber tree. It starts as a milky white liquid (called latex sap) that's whipped and baked to create a springy, supportive foam-like material used in organic mattresses.
Importantly, natural latex is not the same thing as synthetic latex! They’re often confused because they’re both just called “latex,” but are completely different materials. Natural latex comes from trees and is certified organic through GOLS certification, while synthetic latex is a lab-made chemical product called styrene-butadiene, found in conventional foams.
What is Dunlop vs Talalay latex?
Natural rubber latex serves as the starting material for both Dunlop and Talalay latex. Dunlop and Talalay are names for two different processing methods.
How is Dunlop latex foam made?
First, latex must come from an organic latex tree farm grown without pesticides. The latex rubber "milk" from the tree is poured into a mold and mixed with zinc, sulfur, and soaps to create a "gel," then baked into shape. It's washed to remove impurities, then baked again to dry. This process has been used for about 100 years, producing a dense foam. To meet the GOLS standard, it must contain at least 95% organic latex.
How is Talalay latex foam made?
To create a less dense, softer latex foam, the Talalay method was developed in the 1940s. Natural rubber "milk" is poured into a mold but only filled partway. Processing agents are added to the mixture, and a vacuum seal is applied so the foam expands and air pockets disperse evenly. Then it's flash-frozen with carbon dioxide to maintain shape, and baked. This process creates an airier foam than Dunlop, producing its characteristic softness.
Talalay latex isn't organic, so it cannot achieve GOLS certification. This can be acceptable—truly natural Talalay is an excellent choice compared to regular polyurethane foam. The only concern is that some manufacturers don't disclose which processing agents and additives they use. Unfortunately and confusingly, this can still be marketed as "100% natural latex" even with additives.
Unless they have third-party certification! Look for ecoINSTITUT or C2C Gold or Platinum certification, which ensures 100% of ingredients have been disclosed and confirmed safe for human health. If you're selecting a product made with Talalay, verify the company states exactly where it's sourced and whether it has legitimate certifications like C2C or ecoINSTITUT.
Finally, because Talalay is less dense than Dunlop, creating a large single sheet (mattress-sized, for example) is more difficult. Instead, several smaller pieces may be adhesive-bonded. This can be avoided by products that come in slabs you stack yourself. Some brands use non-toxic adhesives, sometimes even liquid latex.
To summarize, Talalay can sometimes approach Dunlop's health profile, but you must verify it was processed correctly and that the company isn't using it as a healthwashing technique.
Non-Toxic Foam Certifications
What is GOLS certified latex?
GOLS, the Global Organic Latex Standard, is the gold standard third-party certification for organic rubber latex. Latex with the GOLS-certified organic label means 95% of the final product is organic latex and ensures that processing stages (mixing, baking, etc.) are safe for human and ecological health. Only Dunlop-processed latex can be GOLS certified. To be sold as GOLS latex, the distributor must also be GOLS certified, ensuring they didn't add anything after receiving and before shipping to customers. This can be an expensive certification, so you'll see it more with large companies.
What is GOTS approved latex?
GOTS certifies textiles—fabrics and upholstery—not latex. However, GOTS will accept latex in "GOTS certified products" if it's either organic, organic-in-transition, or sustainable (see the fine print here.) This is somewhat like having OEKO-TEX certified polyurethane foam. While it's legal for a company to advertise their "GOTS certified organic latex mattress" without also having organic certification for the latex itself—which comprises the bulk of the mattress—I think it's somewhat deceptive considering "GOTS" looks so much like "GOLS." GOTS is highly respected, and this may be a healthwashing tactic for customers not examining details closely. Alternatively, depending on perspective, it can represent another nuanced shade of grey in the evolving natural foam landscape. While it's not organic latex, it does help meet rising latex demand overall, and natural latex remains far superior to polyurethane foam.
What is FSC-certified latex?
FSC, or Forest Stewardship Council certification, focuses on responsible forest management. For latex, it means the trees meet forest management standards, indigenous people's rights are respected during harvesting, and old growth forests remain undisturbed. It's an excellent certification for environmental and community impact, but FSC-certified latex can still be mixed with numerous health-harming chemicals like styrene-butadiene rubber (synthetic rubber). I don't consider it any healthier than standard for this reason.
What is C2C certified latex?
C2C (Cradle to Cradle) is a comprehensive third-party certification with four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. For latex foam, it means that:
100% ingredient disclosure required and all ingredients in the latex were assessed for human and environmental health safety. No carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive toxins are allowed.
The latex foam has very low VOC emissions
Why C2C Gold/Platinum matters for Talalay: Since Talalay can't achieve GOLS organic certification, C2C Gold/Platinum provides the next-best assurance by requiring full ingredient disclosure and safety verification. For example, a mattress or pillow made with Talalay latex that has C2C Gold certification means that 100% of the ingredients its made with have been declared by the manufacturer, and then assessed by C2C to be verified safe for humans and the environment (no synthetic rubber has been added).
C2C vs. CertiPUR-US: C2C is true third-party certification requiring full disclosure and prohibiting harmful chemicals entirely. CertiPUR-US is industry self-certification that allows harmful chemicals under limits.
What is ecoINSTITUT certified foam?
EcoINSTITUT is a German third-party certification for foam products with rigorous standards: What ecoINSTITUT guarantees:
100% ingredient disclosure required
Very low harmful substance thresholds and very low VOC emissions
Independent third-party oversight
Why it matters: EcoINSTITUT certification is valuable for Talalay latex toppers that can't achieve GOLS organic status. It provides transparency about all processing additives.
You'll never see polyurethane foam with ecoINSTITUT certification—disclosing 100% of chemicals would reveal proprietary chemical mixtures, and likely, many harmful substances.
Why is OEKO-TEX a lower standard for foam than C2C and ecoINSTITUT?
C2C and ecoINSTITUT require full disclosure of every ingredient used throughout the entire production process. OEKO-TEX focuses only on the finished product.
What foam certifications should I prioritize when shopping?
For natural latex: GOLS certification is the gold standard. C2C Gold or Platinum, or ecoINSTITUT are second best and still require rigorous testing and disclosure.
For any foam including polyurethane: Look for OEKO-TEX. GreenGuard GOLD is better than nothing but only addresses VOCs. Be skeptical of CertiPUR and MADE SAFE until they improve transparency. Always verify certifications directly rather than trusting marketing claims. I’ve gone through the all of the organic and “organic” mattress brands— see the best non-toxic mattresses here.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions
How can I reduce foam exposure in my home?
Start with not only where you spend the most time, but what you’re in closest contact to—your pillow first, then your mattress, couch, and office chair. Prioritize replacing these with natural alternatives when feasible. For items you can't replace immediately, increase ventilation, use washable covers, and vacuum regularly with a HEPA filter to reduce dust accumulation, which contains microscopic foam additives that have fallen out (like flame retardants.) Consider natural rubber latex, organic cotton batting, or wool as alternatives when purchasing new items.
Can off-gassing from foam be harmful to pets?
Yes, potentially. Pets spend even more time on furniture and beds than humans do, and their smaller body size means they may be more affected by chemical exposures. Additionally, pets are closer to floor dust where heavier chemicals from foam settle. One of the reasons cats get hyperthyroidism so commonly is because they are susceptible to flame retardants in foam, which affects their little thyroids. They are the canaries in the coal mine!
Is old foam more dangerous than new foam?
It depends on how old it is. Older foam has had more time to off-gas VOCs, which is positive. However, as foam ages and breaks down through friction and use, it releases more dust and particles containing additives like flame retardants. If your foam is visibly degrading, crumbling, or generating dust, replacement is worth considering. Foam manufactured before certain regulations may also contain chemicals that have since been restricted. Flame retardants started being phased out in 2013, and stannous octoate started being phased out of CertiPUR foams in 2023.
Do mattress covers or protectors block foam chemical exposure?
Yes, partially. A high-quality organic latex or wool mattress topper can reduce friction and heat from a standard foam mattress, which will slow foam degradation and VOC off-gassing. I often recommend one to reduce exposure when it’s not time to buy a new mattress.
Are there truly non-toxic alternatives to foam?
Yes. Natural rubber latex (particularly GOLS certified Dunlop latex), organic cotton batting, wool, horsehair, coconut coir, and natural kapok are all substantially healthier alternatives. These materials have been used for centuries and don't require the complex chemistry and additives that synthetic foams do. They may cost more initially but offer better long-term health outcomes and often last longer.
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