All about us:
I'm Brian Seed and I started Organic Sleep Products in September, 2005. I'm a former high school music teacher that, because of a little thing called rheumatoid arthritis, had to leave my teaching career. Since my father has been in the mattress business for over 40 years, I decided to put my creative energies into better sleep. With a Masters Degree from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon (one of the finer institutions of higher learning in the western U.S. I might add), I certainly know how to do my homework. And, with a depressed immune system because of the rheumatoid medication, I decided to focus myself on healthier mattress and bedding alternatives.
TAH DAH!!! Organic Sleep Products was born. The first thing you need to know is that this is not some "fly-by-night" Internet operation run from a home office or garage. We started, and continue to be, a full service retail store with a showroom, attached factory, delivery staff, fuel efficient "green machine" that runs around town and, of course, a computer through which we are bringing you this message.
What is "ORGANIC", "GREEN" and "NATURAL"?
OK, here's the deal - when it comes to mattresses and most bedding, ANYBODY can put this label on anything they want to (yes, even those "gastly" memory foam beds!!) and make you think they are as pure as the driven snow. Not so fast!! I have personally researched (did I mention I know how to do homework?) every single so called "organic", "green" and "natural" mattress out there and this is what I've found:
1. Unless it says "Certified" in front of "Organic" - it's probably not organic.
2. "Natural" latex can mean oh so many things...
3. Apart from being a secondary color, "Green" is virtually meaningless in a product description.
So, in order to TRULY offer the BEST and GENUINE organic and natural products, I developed a standard that I live by before something comes into my store:
Cotton Standard: Not only "Certified" to have been grown under organic conditions, but I want to be sure that the people who "certify" the cotton know what they're doing! In the United States, a mattress can be Organic - even "Certified Organic" when the only organic piece is the cotton cover. Look for European Eco Standards if you can. Most U.S. Organic Mattresses do not meet that standard. It doesn't stop there - they have to pay their pickers a fair wage, garnet (process into batting) their cotton on machines specific for organic cotton and don't clean their cotton with any chemical cleaners. When there's a color used, they have to use a natural fiber reaction to create the color - no dyes!
Latex Standard: 100% pure - no substitutes! (OK, I did make an exception for Royal-Pedic's natural collection - but the organics have all been recently upgraded to 100% natural). Here's where you can get really caught, so listen closely: Modern science has learned how to actually REPLICATE the latex molecule, thus reproducing it in a lab chemically. Since the molecular structure is the same, anyone can say this is "natural" when it really came out of a test tube - not a tree! Most latex is actually 80% synthetic! To get the best latex, you have to go to the plantation, get it from the milk state, centrifuge it, foam it up with a little pot ash (hey, that's natural!) and then bake it. You can also add a little talc to smooth it out, but I don't go there (too many people have allergies to talc). Better particle density and longer lasting. That's the latex in the mattresses we sell (with that one exception of course) and that's that.
Wool: So, is there "organic wool"? Yes, there is. There are now Certificates of Sustainable Textiles available for wool. Standards are often: No pesticides in the field where the sheep graze; No tattooing of the animals, strands of wool that are at least 1 1/2 inches, Shearing room maitains a high cleanliness standard; Only hand washing alowed - none of that "chemical carbonization" cleaning that everything else made of wool goes through! There is now a natural way to strip lanolin from wool, but even this wool is considered "natural" - not organic. It is, however, much more hypoallergenic than the carbonized wool - which carbonization accounts for approximately 85% of wool allergies.
And that's basically it folks! If the stuff doesn't meet these specs, in my book it really isn't "Organic".
So, now that you've got this info, who's standards are the best? Well, of the mattresses I've allowed into my showroom, here they are - and in order - best to "ok" as far as organic standards go:
1. Green Sleep - Make no mistake, this is the ONLY fully CERTIFIED organic bed with government and European Eco Standard issued documents in the industry - period! Let's face it, nobody beats these guys! They're own rubber plantation, they're own cotton growers, they're own wool producers - and in the best places on earth for those three ingredients! Combine that with the amazing Eurodowl Sleep System foundation and you have what is quite honestly THE BEST organic bed in the world. Of course, you also pay for all these things, but in this case you really are getting what you pay for!
2. Natura - Huge improvements have put Natura in a position to dominate the organic bed industry. From the mindset of the company to truly outstanding products, this is the best that can be found next to the Green Sleep. The entire Eco Line would pass or passes European eco standards. Made in Canada, the purity of the products far surpasses those from U.S. manufacturers due to having to exceed the USDA standard for organic certification.
3. Organic Sleep Products - OK, I'll admit it, my mattresses aren't number 1, but hey - they're entry level and they don't cost as much! In our partnership with The Natural Bedroom (Vivetique), you get that great organic cotton fabric with the Pure Grow Wool that they're famous for and our Nippon Nature Foams Latex Core.
4. Royal-Pedic's new Organic Collection - Combine the best ergonomics in the business, the absolute highest quality of construction and some great new organic models and upgrades and you have Royal-Pedic's latest splash in the Organic World. Highlights include upgrading all models with latex to 100% natural latex (this used to be an upgrade at an extra charge) and a brand new Organic Cotton Damask ticking from Germany quilted with French Lambs Wool. Since these are so new, I've got them at #3, but given Royal-Pedic's reputation for quality (made to order, delivered right to you and set up in your house - all inclusive), look for them to move up quickly. Let's face it, an organic version of the Royal Cloud Pillowtop is major news! A whole new meaning to the word "Ahhhhhh...."!
5. Royal-Pedic's Natural Collection - It's the ergonomics here, folks. Their 7-zone latex cores and their Royal-Flex spring units adjust and adapt to your every curve. But, it's "Natural" not "Organic" here. Latex is a 76% natural and 24% synthetic mix, the long staple cotton comes from California and Texas but isn't organically grown, the New Zealand Lambs Wool is untreated, and the ticking is a very soft Belgian Cotton. They also include on most models a hypo-allergenic fiber fill called "Comfor-Fil 7", which isn't natural at all but makes the quilted tops ohhhh so soft. So, why are they here? Quality, my friends, absolutely the highest quality mattress made in the United States. Every Royal-Pedic is made to order, shipped directly from Royal-Pedic's factory to you and then set up in your home using their "white glove" delivery service. So, Royal-Pedic not only lets you sleep like royalty, but treats you like royalty as well.
The rest of the stuff: To fully outfit your natural bed, you need mattress pads, toppers, pillows, sheets, blankets, comforters, duvet or a coverlet - right? Well, we've got it and I make sure the standards you see above extend to these as well. We have Natural Bedroom, Dreamsacks, Green Sleep, Natura, and our good friends High Desert Naturals (they're really nice ladies!) for all of your organic and natural bedding needs!
Bamboo, Aloe, Soy and other plant fibers - The days of using a synthetic "anchor fiber" have pretty much come and gone as the big box stores got fed up with the consumer complaints on this very poor quality bedding they tried to sell on the cheap. Today, the accepted method of manufacture for fabric derived from plant fibers is known as the viscose process. This is usually signified in labeling when you see "viscose from bamboo" or "viscose of aloe" or some such language on a product label.
Although a poor analogy is paper from wood, it is probably the best way to illustrate it for the masses. Essentially, this process spins a fiber from a mixture of the plant, water and a rather benign chemical that is washed out during the process itself. This process produces a much stronger fiber that is as close to the original plant as is humanly possible at the moment. It is our opinion that any other form of plant fiber is inferior and will not last nearly as long.
In the case of the Dreamsacks Bamboo products we offer, which are absolutely fantastic, only 2nd year and older stalks are cut per their inspections to allow for continued, sustainable growth. Of course, these things are super soft and extremely popular!
The Aloe products from Natura, which include comforters, toppers and pillows, are a blend of natural cotton and the viscose from the aloe plant. Even with the viscose process, aloe is not strong enough by itself to stand up to abuse, thus the blend. Ditto on the soft and popularity - especially in the pillows and the comformters!
So, that's the whole story. For those of you that stuck around to the end, good for you! Hope you enjoyed it and learned a little something! If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to call, email, shout (if you're close) whatever!
Sleep Naturally!
I'm Brian Seed and I started Organic Sleep Products in September, 2005. I'm a former high school music teacher that, because of a little thing called rheumatoid arthritis, had to leave my teaching career. Since my father has been in the mattress business for over 40 years, I decided to put my creative energies into better sleep. With a Masters Degree from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon (one of the finer institutions of higher learning in the western U.S. I might add), I certainly know how to do my homework. And, with a depressed immune system because of the rheumatoid medication, I decided to focus myself on healthier mattress and bedding alternatives.
TAH DAH!!! Organic Sleep Products was born. The first thing you need to know is that this is not some "fly-by-night" Internet operation run from a home office or garage. We started, and continue to be, a full service retail store with a showroom, attached factory, delivery staff, fuel efficient "green machine" that runs around town and, of course, a computer through which we are bringing you this message.
What is "ORGANIC", "GREEN" and "NATURAL"?
OK, here's the deal - when it comes to mattresses and most bedding, ANYBODY can put this label on anything they want to (yes, even those "gastly" memory foam beds!!) and make you think they are as pure as the driven snow. Not so fast!! I have personally researched (did I mention I know how to do homework?) every single so called "organic", "green" and "natural" mattress out there and this is what I've found:
1. Unless it says "Certified" in front of "Organic" - it's probably not organic.
2. "Natural" latex can mean oh so many things...
3. Apart from being a secondary color, "Green" is virtually meaningless in a product description.
So, in order to TRULY offer the BEST and GENUINE organic and natural products, I developed a standard that I live by before something comes into my store:
Cotton Standard: Not only "Certified" to have been grown under organic conditions, but I want to be sure that the people who "certify" the cotton know what they're doing! In the United States, a mattress can be Organic - even "Certified Organic" when the only organic piece is the cotton cover. Look for European Eco Standards if you can. Most U.S. Organic Mattresses do not meet that standard. It doesn't stop there - they have to pay their pickers a fair wage, garnet (process into batting) their cotton on machines specific for organic cotton and don't clean their cotton with any chemical cleaners. When there's a color used, they have to use a natural fiber reaction to create the color - no dyes!
Latex Standard: 100% pure - no substitutes! (OK, I did make an exception for Royal-Pedic's natural collection - but the organics have all been recently upgraded to 100% natural). Here's where you can get really caught, so listen closely: Modern science has learned how to actually REPLICATE the latex molecule, thus reproducing it in a lab chemically. Since the molecular structure is the same, anyone can say this is "natural" when it really came out of a test tube - not a tree! Most latex is actually 80% synthetic! To get the best latex, you have to go to the plantation, get it from the milk state, centrifuge it, foam it up with a little pot ash (hey, that's natural!) and then bake it. You can also add a little talc to smooth it out, but I don't go there (too many people have allergies to talc). Better particle density and longer lasting. That's the latex in the mattresses we sell (with that one exception of course) and that's that.
Wool: So, is there "organic wool"? Yes, there is. There are now Certificates of Sustainable Textiles available for wool. Standards are often: No pesticides in the field where the sheep graze; No tattooing of the animals, strands of wool that are at least 1 1/2 inches, Shearing room maitains a high cleanliness standard; Only hand washing alowed - none of that "chemical carbonization" cleaning that everything else made of wool goes through! There is now a natural way to strip lanolin from wool, but even this wool is considered "natural" - not organic. It is, however, much more hypoallergenic than the carbonized wool - which carbonization accounts for approximately 85% of wool allergies.
And that's basically it folks! If the stuff doesn't meet these specs, in my book it really isn't "Organic".
So, now that you've got this info, who's standards are the best? Well, of the mattresses I've allowed into my showroom, here they are - and in order - best to "ok" as far as organic standards go:
1. Green Sleep - Make no mistake, this is the ONLY fully CERTIFIED organic bed with government and European Eco Standard issued documents in the industry - period! Let's face it, nobody beats these guys! They're own rubber plantation, they're own cotton growers, they're own wool producers - and in the best places on earth for those three ingredients! Combine that with the amazing Eurodowl Sleep System foundation and you have what is quite honestly THE BEST organic bed in the world. Of course, you also pay for all these things, but in this case you really are getting what you pay for!
2. Natura - Huge improvements have put Natura in a position to dominate the organic bed industry. From the mindset of the company to truly outstanding products, this is the best that can be found next to the Green Sleep. The entire Eco Line would pass or passes European eco standards. Made in Canada, the purity of the products far surpasses those from U.S. manufacturers due to having to exceed the USDA standard for organic certification.
3. Organic Sleep Products - OK, I'll admit it, my mattresses aren't number 1, but hey - they're entry level and they don't cost as much! In our partnership with The Natural Bedroom (Vivetique), you get that great organic cotton fabric with the Pure Grow Wool that they're famous for and our Nippon Nature Foams Latex Core.
4. Royal-Pedic's new Organic Collection - Combine the best ergonomics in the business, the absolute highest quality of construction and some great new organic models and upgrades and you have Royal-Pedic's latest splash in the Organic World. Highlights include upgrading all models with latex to 100% natural latex (this used to be an upgrade at an extra charge) and a brand new Organic Cotton Damask ticking from Germany quilted with French Lambs Wool. Since these are so new, I've got them at #3, but given Royal-Pedic's reputation for quality (made to order, delivered right to you and set up in your house - all inclusive), look for them to move up quickly. Let's face it, an organic version of the Royal Cloud Pillowtop is major news! A whole new meaning to the word "Ahhhhhh...."!
5. Royal-Pedic's Natural Collection - It's the ergonomics here, folks. Their 7-zone latex cores and their Royal-Flex spring units adjust and adapt to your every curve. But, it's "Natural" not "Organic" here. Latex is a 76% natural and 24% synthetic mix, the long staple cotton comes from California and Texas but isn't organically grown, the New Zealand Lambs Wool is untreated, and the ticking is a very soft Belgian Cotton. They also include on most models a hypo-allergenic fiber fill called "Comfor-Fil 7", which isn't natural at all but makes the quilted tops ohhhh so soft. So, why are they here? Quality, my friends, absolutely the highest quality mattress made in the United States. Every Royal-Pedic is made to order, shipped directly from Royal-Pedic's factory to you and then set up in your home using their "white glove" delivery service. So, Royal-Pedic not only lets you sleep like royalty, but treats you like royalty as well.
The rest of the stuff: To fully outfit your natural bed, you need mattress pads, toppers, pillows, sheets, blankets, comforters, duvet or a coverlet - right? Well, we've got it and I make sure the standards you see above extend to these as well. We have Natural Bedroom, Dreamsacks, Green Sleep, Natura, and our good friends High Desert Naturals (they're really nice ladies!) for all of your organic and natural bedding needs!
Bamboo, Aloe, Soy and other plant fibers - The days of using a synthetic "anchor fiber" have pretty much come and gone as the big box stores got fed up with the consumer complaints on this very poor quality bedding they tried to sell on the cheap. Today, the accepted method of manufacture for fabric derived from plant fibers is known as the viscose process. This is usually signified in labeling when you see "viscose from bamboo" or "viscose of aloe" or some such language on a product label.
Although a poor analogy is paper from wood, it is probably the best way to illustrate it for the masses. Essentially, this process spins a fiber from a mixture of the plant, water and a rather benign chemical that is washed out during the process itself. This process produces a much stronger fiber that is as close to the original plant as is humanly possible at the moment. It is our opinion that any other form of plant fiber is inferior and will not last nearly as long.
In the case of the Dreamsacks Bamboo products we offer, which are absolutely fantastic, only 2nd year and older stalks are cut per their inspections to allow for continued, sustainable growth. Of course, these things are super soft and extremely popular!
The Aloe products from Natura, which include comforters, toppers and pillows, are a blend of natural cotton and the viscose from the aloe plant. Even with the viscose process, aloe is not strong enough by itself to stand up to abuse, thus the blend. Ditto on the soft and popularity - especially in the pillows and the comformters!
So, that's the whole story. For those of you that stuck around to the end, good for you! Hope you enjoyed it and learned a little something! If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to call, email, shout (if you're close) whatever!
Sleep Naturally!
Our contact information
By email:
osp@uci.net
By standard mail:
Organic Sleep Products LLC
571A NE Azure Drive
Bend, Oregon 97701
By phone:
1-800-693-1727 or 541-598-3955 (between 8:30 a.m - 6:00 p.m. Mon-Fri, Pacific Time)
osp@uci.net
By email:
osp@uci.net
By standard mail:
Organic Sleep Products LLC
571A NE Azure Drive
Bend, Oregon 97701
By phone:
1-800-693-1727 or 541-598-3955 (between 8:30 a.m - 6:00 p.m. Mon-Fri, Pacific Time)
osp@uci.net
Shipping Information:
Items shipped directly from Organic Sleep Products ship within 24 hours of order processing. OSP Labeled latex mattresses ship within 72 hours. OSP Labeled innerspring mattresses can take 2 to 3 weeks as they are made by hand. Royal-Pedic products are shipped directly from the manufacturer and take 3 to 4 1/2 weeks for in-home, turn-key delivery. Green Sleep products are shipped from a regional distributor and can take from 2 to 6 weeks, depending on availability.
Refund, Returns and Cancellation Policies:
No refunds, returns or exchanges are allowed on organic bedding, mattress sets or other products. Royal-Pedic offers a 14 day satisfaction guarantee on all of their natural bed sets - organic sets excluded - customer must pay all shipping charges. Green Sleep offers an opportunity to exchange the central core of the mattress for a $400 charge.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What warranties are offered for mattress sets? Each manufacturer offers their own warranty program. All Organic Sleep Products mattress sets are covered by a 10 year, pro-rated, no-fault warranty. Royal-Pedic mattress sets are covered by their 10 year, non pro-rated warranty. Green Sleep and Land & Sky mattress sets are covered by each manufacturers' 20 year warranty.
Do I need a doctor's prescription? For organic mattresses that contain wool or natural mattresses from Royal-Pedic, no medical prescription is required. Organic mattresses without wool and all Royal-Pedic organic mattress sets do require a medical prescription before an order can be processed.
Why are returns not allowed on organic beds and bedding? Once an organic product is removed from packaging in your home, by the rules of our certification and certain legal statutes, these products can no longer be sold as organic. Therefore, we can not accept returns, except for those manufacturers as stated above under certain conditions.
Items shipped directly from Organic Sleep Products ship within 24 hours of order processing. OSP Labeled latex mattresses ship within 72 hours. OSP Labeled innerspring mattresses can take 2 to 3 weeks as they are made by hand. Royal-Pedic products are shipped directly from the manufacturer and take 3 to 4 1/2 weeks for in-home, turn-key delivery. Green Sleep products are shipped from a regional distributor and can take from 2 to 6 weeks, depending on availability.
Refund, Returns and Cancellation Policies:
No refunds, returns or exchanges are allowed on organic bedding, mattress sets or other products. Royal-Pedic offers a 14 day satisfaction guarantee on all of their natural bed sets - organic sets excluded - customer must pay all shipping charges. Green Sleep offers an opportunity to exchange the central core of the mattress for a $400 charge.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What warranties are offered for mattress sets? Each manufacturer offers their own warranty program. All Organic Sleep Products mattress sets are covered by a 10 year, pro-rated, no-fault warranty. Royal-Pedic mattress sets are covered by their 10 year, non pro-rated warranty. Green Sleep and Land & Sky mattress sets are covered by each manufacturers' 20 year warranty.
Do I need a doctor's prescription? For organic mattresses that contain wool or natural mattresses from Royal-Pedic, no medical prescription is required. Organic mattresses without wool and all Royal-Pedic organic mattress sets do require a medical prescription before an order can be processed.
Why are returns not allowed on organic beds and bedding? Once an organic product is removed from packaging in your home, by the rules of our certification and certain legal statutes, these products can no longer be sold as organic. Therefore, we can not accept returns, except for those manufacturers as stated above under certain conditions.
Numbers in parentheses on the drop down option selector are just part of the code - the true price is what is listed with the $ sign.
Sleep Naturally!
Sleep Naturally!
