For many years, sleep was not my priority. As a young adult, I thought that neglecting my sleep wouldn’t do much harm. I know that so many people are guilty of this, but this isn’t a healthy way to live. A good night’s sleep is crucial for our well-being, health, and ability to concentrate. We not only should get at least seven hours of shut-eye per night, but we also need to make sure that we are sleeping well.
One of the best ways to improve our sleep quality is by investing in comfortable pillows. However, most pillows contain hazardous chemicals and toxins that we are exposed to all night long. These conventional pillows are not only unhealthy, but they’re also not sustainably made. The key to avoiding them is to buy your sleep pillows from brands that care about your health and the planet. Here is a compilation of 11 brands that make sustainable, non-toxic pillows!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only feature brands that align with our values and contribute to a better world. Thank you for supporting these brands – and us!
What makes a pillow sustainable or non-toxic?
Sustainable and non-toxic pillows are made from eco-friendly materials, without using any harsh chemicals and treatments. An easy way to know if you’re investing in a healthy pillow is to check if it has been certified non-toxic by MADE SAFE, or if the brand received the Greenguard Gold certification. Both are proof that you will not be exposed to unsafe chemicals while sleeping. Do not forget to make sure that the pillow you are purchasing is of good quality. It needs to be comfortable, provide proper support, and keep its shape with time. Sustainable pillows are also made by transparent companies that pay their workers well, and that often give back to non-profit organizations.
What eco-friendly materials should we look for in a pillow?
When looking for a non-toxic pillow, always choose one made from natural materials. Here are some materials you can find in sustainable pillows:
- GOTS-certified organic cotton
- GOLS-certified organic latex
- Buckwheat hulls
- Eucalyptus or kapok tree fiber
- Sugarcane fiber
- Woolmark-certified wool
- Responsible Down Standard certified down These materials are even more sustainable if they’re organic and certified by Oeko-Tex or CertiPur-US. They’re all sustainable, but each one has a different feel. So choose your favorite depending on your preferences!
Our Top Picks for Organic, Non-Toxic & Sustainable Pillows:
1. Circadian Organic Cotton Pillow
Materials: Long-staple organic cotton
Price: $149 (standard) – $199 (king)
If you’re looking for a pillow made with truly organic materials from the inside out, the Circadian Organic Cotton Pillow is one of our favorite options. Unlike many pillows that only use an organic cotton cover, Circadian’s pillow is GOTS-certified across the entire product; including the organic cotton fill, cover, thread, and dyes! That means every major textile component has been verified to meet the Global Organic Textile Standard, rather than just the outer fabric.
The dense organic cotton fill offers excellent support and gradually compresses over time, helping the pillow maintain its shape for years instead of flattening after a few months. If cotton isn’t the right fit for your sleep style, Circadian also offers other options like kapok and organic wool pillows, making it easy to choose the natural fill that best matches your comfort preferences.
2. Naturepedic
Materials: Organic Latex, Organic Cotton, Sugarcane Fiber
Price: $100 – 169
Naturepedic creates comfortable bedding, pillows and mattresses for the whole family. The brand offers three types of pillows, all made in the USA. They’re made of FSC and GOLS-certified organic latex, or PLA, a non-toxic sustainable fiber derived from non-GMO sugarcane.
PLA is a great innovative material that has wonderful moisture-wicking properties, and doesn’t contain harmful chemicals. The outer fabric of Naturepedic pillows is made of 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, which makes the pillow super soft and breathable.
The brand’s pillows are certified non-toxic by MADE SAFE and the company received the Gold certification by GreenGuard. Naturepedic is also a member of 1% For The Planet, and has partnered with many other environmental organizations.
3. Saatva
Materials: Fair Trade Certified Organic Cotton, Natural Latex
Price: $115 – 285
Saatva is a sustainable mattress and bedding brand handcrafting products in the United States using responsibly sourced materials.We highly suggest trying the Natural Latex pillows! They are comfortable and made with a breathable Fair Trade Certified™ cotton pillow cover that is machine washable. You can choose from either a standard or high loft.
The brand works with 19 factory partners across the United States, meaning that, on average, its products travel less than 100 miles from the factory to your home. This drastically reduces Saatva’s carbon footprint! The company also regularly donates mattresses to those in need and supports different reforestation projects.
4. PlushBeds
Materials: Latex, Memory Foam, Tencel, Wool, Down, Cotton
Price: $46 – 479
PlushBeds has been a pioneer in the production of sustainable American-made mattresses and sleep accessories. The company offers a wide variety of pillows to choose from. It sells GOLS-certified latex pillows that have wonderful ventilation, which is ideal for people who tend to be hot during the night.
PlushBeds’ goose down pillows are Responsible Down Standard certified. It means that the down was produced ethically, without animal cruelty (including no live-plucking and force-feeding). You can buy pillows made of responsibly sourced wool that is 100% chemical and cruelty-free. PlushBeds’ products are eco-INSTITUT and Greenguard Gold certified. The company regularly supports social justice and environmental non-profits.
5. Savvy Rest
Materials: Natural Latex, Organic Wool, a Wool-Natural Latex Blend, Organic Kapok Fiber
Price: $125 – 275
Discount: use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC20 for 20% off
Savvy Rest has 7 styles of organic pillows! Three are formed natural latex, and four have customizable loose fill…shredded natural latex, organic wool, a wool–natural latex blend, or organic kapok fiber. All their organic pillows feature unbleached, naturally colored organic cotton casings with a soft flannel finish for extra comfort.
They even offer body pillows for full-body support and relaxation. What we love most is that every Savvy Rest pillow is made with certified organic materials and crafted in the USA, ensuring a clean, safe, and sustainable sleep experience from start to finish.
6. SOL Organics
Materials: Down, Organic Cotton
Price: $103 – 199
SOL Organics is a bedding company that makes its linens and other products from organic cotton, using low-impact organic dyes. The brand sells a hypoallergenic pillow made from 100% Canadian white down that is responsibly sourced, and wrapped in an organic cotton shell. Since it’s made from 100% natural materials, this pillow is very lightweight and breathable.
SOL Organics uses Fair Trade and GOTS-certified cotton, and its down received the DOWNMARK certification. It means that the company meets strict requirements, ensuring humane down harvesting practices and ethical treatment of birds. The brand offers carbon-free shipping, and donates $7.50 of each purchase to a social justice or environmental charity selected by the customer.
7. Avocado
Materials: Organic Latex, Organic Cotton
Price: $107 – 249
Avocado makes mattresses, pillows and bedding with only organic, natural, and non-toxic materials.
The brand sells standard pillows that are handmade from GOLS organic latex and GOTS organic cotton in its factory in California. It even sells mini pillows that are great for traveling, as well as a small non-toxic pillow made for toddlers. All Avocado’s pillows are Greenguard Gold certified by UL Environment. It means that they meet the most rigorous standards for chemical and pollutant exposure.
Avocado is a certified B Corporation, a member of 1% For The Planet, and it became climate-neutral in 2019. One year later, the company took it one step further by going carbon negative, offsetting more carbon emissions than it generates.
8. Coyuchi
Materials: Organic Latex, Organic Cotton, Down
Price: $128 – 238
Coyuchi creates clothing for the whole family, as well as a variety of home goods, including sheets, pillows and towels. The brand sells different GOLS-certified latex pillows. They’re all super soft, comfortable and supportive! You can also choose down pillows, filled with down from an Indiana farm that raises its ducks humanely.
Coyuchi even makes a small pillow, perfect for toddlers or for traveling. The brand’s body pillow offers extra support, which is great for pregnant women or people suffering from back pain. I love that all the inner pillow covers are made of GOTS organic cotton! Coyuchi also has a take-back program for old linens that are either renewed and sold on the second-hand Coyuchi platform, or they are recycled.
9. Birch
Materials: Organic Cotton, Latex, Wool, Recycled Material
Price: $159 – 179
Birch is an American brand selling organic sleep products made from sustainable materials. All its products are handcrafted and made in the United States. The brand makes two pillows, each with different eco-friendly materials. The Birch Organic Pillow includes cruelty-free wool that is ethically sourced from New Zealand farms, organic cotton, and natural latex that is Oeko-Tex certified.
The Eco-Rest Pillow is filled with 100% recycled material that is sustainably sourced in the US, and wrapped in an organic cotton case. All Birch’s products are GOTS-certified, meaning that they’re organic, ethically produced and free of hazardous chemicals. They also received the Greenguard Gold certification, and the company works with Fair Trade certified factories.
10. Sleep & Beyond
Materials: Latex, Wool, Cotton
Price: $119 – 139
Sleep & Beyond is a family-owned manufacturer of organic and natural bedding. It creates pillows of various shapes, including sleep training pillows, side pillows as well as standard pillows. The brand’s pillows are filled with latex or wool, encased in Oeko-Tex certified cotton fiber. They’re designed to provide proper neck support and help reduce neck pains and headaches.
All Sleep & Beyond’s wool is Woolmark-certified for 100% pure wool quality, and the brand received the Fair Trade certification. It also makes sure that every left-over raw material from the production process is reused in some way. The company has also been providing comforters and pillows to different social justice organizations, including GIFT, a non-profit that helps victims of human trafficking.
11. Earthfoam
Materials: Natural Foam Rubber, Organic Cotton
Price: $99
Earthfoam is making a notable impact in the sustainable bedding industry, and their pillows deserve special attention. The pillow features a core made from Talalay natural latex, which delivers a buoyant and supportive feel without relying on synthetic foams. The cover consists of GOTS-certified organic cotton, guaranteeing a soft and breathable quality you can trust.
Because latex is naturally resilient and mold-resistant, Earthfoam pillows do not require additional flame retardants or chemical treatments. Reviewers have noted that the pillow “holds its shape well” and offers firm support, allowing your head to rest on the surface rather than sinking in. We also love the price!!
Hi there. I used this article to purchase a new pillow for myself. I went with an affordable brand and tried Buffy. It was excited to receive the pillow. It came in a cardboard box which I could recycle. Inside it was wrapped in a completely plastic bag which was very disappointing. And there are no symbols on there that into it being compostable or recyclable or anything like that. The tag on the pillow itself says that it’s 100% polyester filling. My impression was that it was made from recycled bottles that were taken from the ocean. And I was very excited about that! That is why I picked it. My understanding of polyester is that that’s another version of plastic that is not good for the environment. It doesn’t say anything about recycled bottles on the tag. It was made in china. So disappointed. I will be returning this!
Jamie
Hi Jamie,
That is very disappointing to hear about the plastic wrap. We find many brands still have this because of where they manufacture and how large their orders are. It’s one of those things we are still combating and asking for brands to improve upon.
Recycled PET (plastic bottles) is still technically polyester. It’s just not virgin polyester, so it is still better than the conventional poly you find in most pillows. The filling should be made with recycled plastic bottles if you bought the cloud pillow. I would definitely reach out to the brand and ask – we will do the same on our end.
Also, I don’t want to put a stigma on ‘Made in China’ – there are many great manufacturers there with high standards and excellent work. However, it is cheaper for US companies to manufacture in other countries, and the reason why we still support this is because we understand it makes the price point more accessible to the masses.
If you are looking to support US brands, we suggest Birch & Savvy Rest 🙂
Hello, I recently purchased the Saatva pillow mentioned in your article. The description on their website says it is made up of
First layer : Fair Trade Certified Organic Cotton, Natural Latex
Second layer: certified organic cotton filled with plush, down-like microdenier fibers
Third layer: shredded natural latex
When I received the pillow, the label stated that the microdenier fibers are 50% polyester. Which is not listed on their website unfortunately.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Microdenier fibers are made of synthetic fibers which is typically polyester. In order to avoid using down as a filler, they combine organic cotton and a synthetic to create a plush like filling. I do think it would be helpful to consumers for the microdenier to say ‘polyester’ so we will bring this up to them!