Last Updated on September 25, 2024
Ideally, we sleep for 8 hours every night. That’s ~240 hours a month we’re pressing our heads into our pillows.
What you sleep on matters – including what kind of pillow you’re using. Many conventional pillows are made out of synthetic materials, like polyester. This can be problematic for numerous reasons.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links; for more information please see my disclosure policy.
For starters, polyester doesn’t breath well. This fabric doesn’t regulate body temperature or absorb moisture well, leaving you feeling too hot or too cold.
Additionally, synthetic pillows shed microplastics over time after wear and tear. Plus, there’s little to no recycling options, so it will likely end up in a landfill.
But perhaps most important is our health: Synthetic materials like polyester can contain carcinogens that may cause skin, lung, and heart cancer, as well as respiratory issues. Polyester can also make existing skin problems worse, such as rashes, itching, redness, eczema, and dermatitis.
If you’re looking to switch to organic pillows, made with natural materials, here are some from brands I recommend.
what is the healthiest type of pillow?
The healthiest type of pillow is one that contains little to no synthetic materials. Synthetic materials, like polyester and memory foam pillows, can do something called off-gassing.
This is when newly manufactured products release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful chemicals into the air after being unwrapped.
This happens because the products absorb gaseous chemicals during production and then release them in the home. You will often smell it right away, but the fumes can linger for months or even years after the smell reduces.
Ethylene glycol is the chemical found in polyester pillows that causes them to off-gas. Memory foam is just another name for polyurethane (PU), which can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
When you sleep on these pillows, you can inhale these chemicals. They can also be absorbed through the skin and can cause a multitude of problems, such as skin and eye irritation, damage to the nervous system and kidneys and respiratory irritation.
On top of this, polyester is also attractive to dust mites, as there are many places the bugs can hide. Their feces can worsen allergy symptoms.
Instead, the healthiest pillow is one made from organic, natural materials, like cotton and natural latex. Organic cotton is pesticide-free and natural latex inhibits growth of mold or mildew all while regulating heat and circulating air.
are organic pillows worth it?
Yes, organic pillows are worth it for your health, wallet and the environment. That’s because organic pillows are made from high-quality ingredients that won’t degrade as quickly as synthetic materials.
Several brands also offer various different styles of organic pillows to fit your needs. For example, Avocado Mattress (listed below) offers four different styles of pillow and even has a pillow-finder quiz to help you make the best choice based on your preferences and needs.
So, you will not only be getting higher quality ingredients, but better designs and support to meet your needs.
Upfront organic pillows may be pricier, but over time they will pay for themselves because they are designed to last.
what makes a pillow organic?
What makes a pillow organic is if it’s made using certified organic materials. Organic pillows tend to be made using natural materials for both the shell and the filling.
The fill can be shredded latex, cotton, wool, silk, kapok fibers, down, feathers (from geese or ducks), or buckwheat hulls. Not all these options are vegan, so make sure to inspect the materials used carefully before making your selection. Many brands create organic vegan pillows as well.
gzw approved organic pillows
Here are some brands that sell organic pillows and get the Going Zero Waste seal of approval. Most of these brands also sell sustainable bedding options like mattresses and/or sheets. Many offer vegan options.
I’ve gone ahead and highlighted some key features of each brand, but it isn’t an exhaustive list. Be sure to check out their websites for more information.
1. avocado mattress
- 4 main styles of pillows + mini and toddler pillows
- GOLS Certified organic latex & cotton
- GOTS Certified organic kapok fill
- Adjustable fill for extra support and comfort
- Vegan options
- B Corp certified
2. coyuchi
- Organic latex + down pillow inserts
- GOLS Certified organic Dunlop latex
- GOTS Certified organic cotton shell
- 1% of every order donated to nonprofit you choose
- Comes in a reusable cloth bag
- Vegan options
- Option to shop pre-loved
- Take-back program
3. birch
- Organic pillows in standard + king size
- GOTS + eco-INSTITUT certified, featuring Fair Trade cotton covers
- Fill is organic, cruelty-free wool + natural latex
- Greenguard GOLD certification
- No polyurethane-based foams
- 100 night trial for all products
- 1 year warranty
4. naturepedic
- 7 main kinds of pillows + kid pillows
- Made with certified organic cotton, GOTS-approved latex, + plant-based PLA batting
- Their entire factory is GOTS certified organic
- Greenguard + Made Safe Certified
- Vegan options
- 100 night trial
- 1 year warranty
5. sol organic
- Organic down pillow
- Made with 100% organic certified cotton shell + responsibly sourced down
- Choose between soft, medium, + firm
- Standard + king size options
6. naturalmat
- 8 main styles of pillows
- UK-based, handmade in their Devon workshop
- Made from OEKO TEX 100 certified 100% cotton cambric cover
- Filled with organic wool or feathers + down (responsibly sourced without any harm to living animals)
- Packaged in a reusable cotton drawstring bag
Which of these organic pillows would you like to try? Let me know in the comments!
The post 6 Best Organic Pillows For a Sound Night’s Sleep appeared first on Going Zero Waste.
There’s something undeniably special about wearing uniquely handcrafted, fair trade jewelry that you can know was made slowly and thoughtfully with care. Equally special is wearing an elevated set of jewelry crafted with recycled materials and sustainable processes.
Whether you’re looking for an investment piece or more affordable pieces, there are options for any budget on this list. The aesthetics of these fair trade and sustainable jewelry brands also vary, so you’ll also be able to discover an ethical brand that matches your unique style.
What is Fair Trade Jewelry?
Fair trade can both be a general term used to describe a brand’s sourcing practices — like direct relationships with artisan cooperatives, wages above local standard rates, and safe working conditions — or a third-party “Fair Trade” verification through an organization like Fair Trade Federation, Fair Trade USA, or World Fair Trade Organization. When a brand doesn’t have a certification, we verify a brand’s practices by their own published information.
In the cases where brands do go the extra mile and get a third-party verification for their fair trade practices, we’ve noted it directly in their entries.
Note that this guide includes affiliate links and partners. As always, we only feature brands that meet high standards for responsibility we love, and that we think you’ll love too!
2. Ana Luisa
Best for: affordable everyday jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Recycled Gold, Lab-Grown Diamonds, Small-Batch Production, Direct-to-Consumer
Ana Luisa creates stunning, elegant jewelry from responsibly-sourced materials including 100% recycled gold and lab-grown diamonds. The sustainable jewelry brand also produces in small batches to minimize waste.
By using a direct-to-consumer model, Ana Luisa is able to provide luxury, high-quality jewelry at accessible prices.
3. Monica Vinader
Best for: recycled demi-fine jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Woman-Founded, Recycled Silver & Gold Vermeil, Traceable Gemstones, Lab-Grown & Conflict-Free Diamonds, Supply Chain Transparency
Price Range: $85 (studs) – $2,495 (diamond ring)
British jewelry brand Monica Vinader was one of the first brands to meet the gap between fashion jewelry and fine jewelry with their “demi fine” jewelry. The women-founded brand has necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings crafted from 100% recycled sterling silver and gold vermeil, fully traceable gemstones, and lab-grown or conflict-free diamonds. Monica Vinader also launched Product Passports, taking an active effort towards full supply chain transparency.
4. WorldFinds
Best for: unique statement jewelry with a story
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Verified, Upcycled Materials, Artisan-Made
WorldFinds provides sustainable employment and just wages for hundreds of women artisans in India and Bali. These artisans handcraft both sleek metal fair trade jewelry and unique recycled Kantha pieces. WorldFinds is Verified by the Fair Trade Federation, which assesses members against fair trade principles including fair wages, safe conditions, and transparent supply chains.
Plus WorldFinds’ signature Kantha jewelry is made from upcycling materials: wood scraps from a furniture factory and locally sourced Kantha fabric remnants.
5. Astor + Orion
Best for: drop earrings and charm necklaces with symbolism
Conscious Qualities: Certified Ethical Factory, Recycled Materials, Designed for Recyclability, Repair Program
Ethical jewelry brand Astor + Orion sources their jewelry from a factory with multiple certifications ensuring worker safety, fair production practices, and responsible environmental management. Astor + Orion’s stunning jewelry is made from recycled materials and designed in a way to make it easily recyclable! Their pieces also come with a quality assurance — the brand will repair any piece within 6 months of purchase.
6. Laura Elizabeth
Best for: non-toxic jewelry in organic shapes
Conscious Qualities: Locally Sourced Recycled Metals, Woman-Owned, Fair Wages, Safe Working Conditions
Price Range: $45 – $330
Crafted from recycled metals sourced locally in LA, Laura Elizabeth creates stand-out sustainable jewelry. All of the brand’s jewelry is sourced ethically from a small, woman-owned studio in Los Angeles that ensures reasonable working hours (35 hr/week), fair wages, and safe working conditions (such as proper ventilation). Check out more on Laura Elizabeth in this post!
The jewelry is also non-toxic, free of cadmium or lead.
7. Ten Thousand Villages
Best for: giftable fair trade jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Production, Artisan-Made
Price Range: $6 – $175
Founded in 1946, Ten Thousand Villages is one of the fair trade pioneers and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the global network that verifies fair trade practices across its member organizations.
They’ve developed relationships with artisans around the world, providing valuable economic opportunities for thousands of makers in 30 countries around the world. Their marketplace has handmade necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings, along with a variety of other fair trade goods.
8. Edge of Ember
Best for: gemstone jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Recycled Gold & Silver, Artisan-Made, Ethical Production
Price Range: $49 (ear cuff) – $2,730 (diamond tennis bracelet)
Edge of Ember’s timeless jewelry is responsibly crafted by makers working in artisan groups and small-scale factories. Their delicate necklaces, bracelets, rings, and other pieces are crafted by skilled artisans in India, Hong Kong, Germany, and Thailand. The brand carries out independent social audits to ensure ethical working conditions and environmental responsibility.
Edge of Ember has a wide selection of recycled gold and silver rings, bracelets, and necklaces adorned with stunning gemstones, including many birthstone jewelry options perfect for gifting.
9. Aurate
Best for: ethical diamond fine jewelry
Conscious Qualities: 100% Recycled Gold, Lab-Grown & Conflict-Free Diamonds, Vintage Collection
Price Range: $18 (stainless steel chain) – $19,000 (diamond tennis necklace)
Responsibly-sourced quality jewelry — that’s Aurate’s promise. The jewelry brand’s sleek, timeless pieces are thoughtfully made by seventh-generation craftspeople using 100% recycled gold and lab-grown or conflict-free diamonds.
Aurate also has a curated collection of vintage fine jewelry from cocktail watches to signet rings up to 50% off.
10. SOKO
Best for: modern, minimalist artisan-made jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Above-Market Artisan Wages, Black-Owned
Price Range: $78 – $298
SOKO is an innovative Black-owned ethical jewelry brand using mobile tools to bridge the barriers for artisan entrepreneurs in Kenya. In partnership with SOKO, independent artisans can operate a “virtual factory”, earning 5x more than an average artisan workshop in their local areas.
The jewelry is made with 24K gold or silver-plated brass — an affordable metal that also happens to consist of 90% recycled content on average. Other materials include reclaimed horn and bone, locally-sourced teak wood offcuts, and ceramic beads made by a fair trade women’s collective in Kenya.
10. Raven + Lily
Best for: affordable artisan jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Verified, Artisan-Made, Women-Led
Price Range: $40 – $240
Raven + Lily is an ethical fashion and jewelry brand verified Fair Trade by the Fair Trade Federation. The women-led brand partners with artisan women around the world who use natural materials to craft both classic, elegant pieces and statement jewelry.
11. NAKIIT
Best for: one-of-a-kind, solo-handcrafted pieces
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-Order, Recycled Silver & Gold, Zero-Waste Scrap Recycling
Price Range: $21 – $485
As a small, slow-minded jewelry brand, NAKIIT’s founder + owner handcrafts each piece with intention. In fact, every piece of jewelry the brand sells is made by the founder herself!
Nearly all of NAKIIT’s ethically-made jewelry is either made-to-order or one-of-a-kind, ensuring a minimal ecological impact and the highest attention to quality.
As if we could love this brand even more, NAKIIT also sources recycled sterling silver and gold, plus recycles any remaining metal scraps or dust after production.