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. "Organic" is a largely unregulated term in the United States. As long as there is "some" organic content, you can use "organic" in the product description. What you want to look for is "Certified Organic" or "100% Organic" so that it is not a blend of organic and natural. Food products that are 100% Organic or Certified Organic may carry a USDA Organic seal. True organic products will be chemical free, from growth through processing to final product.
2. Once again, "Natural" is largely unregulated. As long as there is "some" natural content, you can use the word in the product description. Natural means, in general, that the product is derived from natural sources. Cotton is always "natural", as is wool. Descriptions like "All Natural" can offer assurance that it is a truly natural product.
3. "Green" implies that the product is made with mostly natural and sustainable materials. In the case of bedding products, you might see the word "blend" used. This would be the case with things like soy foams, latex that isn't 100% natural content or fabrics that are a blend of cotton and polyester. It is important to distinquish between things that are really "Green" and "Sustainable" and things that are not. For example, standard polyurethane foams are made from petro-chemicals, which are not sustainable, however foundations are often made of solid wood which is sustainable and, therefore, "green".
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: Cotton is one of the most heavily fertilized and pesticide sprayed agricultural crops. Therefore, I look for truly certified organic cotton that features a reputable certification such as USDA, Texas Department of Agriculture, KRAV, or Control Union Group. You can count on every product labeled "100% Organic Cotton" as having one of these certifications. For my major suppliers, I have personally been to their factories to verify their claims. On top of this, in the case of products made in Canada, all items labeled "organic" must be verifiable by government agencies.
Latex Standard: All organic bedding products that feature latex contain latex that is 100% pure from the milk of the rubber tree. This latex is verfied for purity by either Eco Institute certification or Oeko-Tex Standard 100. Natural and Green products may feature latex that is 60% natural content, but again verified to Oeko-Tex Standard 100 guaranteeing no fillers other than the synthetically produced latex molecule. Again, I have personally verified this by visiting the factories, plus knowing the original source of the latex itself.
Wool: Organic Wool must have a specific level of lanolin content in order to pass the U.S. flame retardant test which is now mandated for all mattresses sold in this country. There is now a USDA standard for organic wool, but most independent certifications are much higher - Oregon Tilth for example. Natural wool will not have as high a lanolin content, therefore other flame retardant measures may be used, such as cotton infused with boron, which is natural. Washable wool will have the lanolin removed and not offer as high a loft, but this does come with convenience. All of my suppliers have strict standards on their wool, to include a specific micron (fiber width), strand length and lanolin content. Individual control is key and you can be assured that all products offered here are tightly controlled so the wool fibers do not get blended with others.
And that's basically it folks! If the stuff doesn't meet these specs, in my book it really isn't "Organic", "Natural" or "Green".
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 standards go:
1. Green Sleep - For control and hands-on beds and bedding, there is no substitute. 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! A visit to the factory will find people cutting fabric with plain scissors, hand measuring and tailoring, and items made one at a time for exceptional quality control.
2. Natura Organic - 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. Natura also has an exceptional level of control, carding their own wool right there in the factory on a 2 breaker system and milling their own slats for the dual slat system beds.
3. Overture - These beds compair to many of those found on the market today from other organic manufacturers. While Green Sleep and Natura are cuts above this level, you will find these beds to be of high quality while maintaining a more afordable price.
4. Royal-Pedic's Organic Collection - The "Gold Standard" for American made mattresses, their individual craftsmanship simply can not be matched in the innerspring catagory. From a proprietary spring to the many layers of long staple organic cotton to the hand tufting, these are truly masterpieces of old-world mattress craftsmanship.
5. Natura's Natural Collection - As natural as possible without being organic, Natura has taken these beds as natural as the law will allow. Mirroring the three most popular beds in the organic collection, these are good compromises if price is an issue.
6. Royal-Pedic's Natural Collection - The core of the Royal-Pedic line is their natural mattresses. You will find the same quality and attention to detail in these beds as you will in the organic collection with some of the finest natural raw materials available. In my opinion, their innerspring beds are the best made in the United States in this category.
7. Natura's Ultra Green Collection - These beds bridge the "Natural" and "Green" levels. While they still feature the same natural wool found in all non-organic Natura mattresses, the latex used is 60% natural content and they have cotton-poly blend covers. Again, you are making a huge difference and the same cleanliness and sanitary protections you find in other beds that are more natural or organic still apply here. Exceptional quality and comfort.
8. Natura's Blended Elements Collection - These beds feature memory foam which is made with 20% soy polyols. This reduces the petro-chemcial content of the foam and makes a major difference environmentally. Most of these beds are combined with 60% natural latex while one model features 20% soy polyol content base foam with the latex. Of course, you still get the benefit of the natural wool quilting - to my knowledge the only memory foam mattresses on the market today that offer this feature.
9. Natura's Green Collection - These beds feature 60% natural latex based with 20% soy polyol content foam. Extremely green when compared to standard mattresses, these are prefect for those wanting a comfortable bed while also wanting to help protect the environment. The same natural wool quilting found in all of the other Natura natural beds is contained in these models.
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, 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. "Organic" is a largely unregulated term in the United States. As long as there is "some" organic content, you can use "organic" in the product description. What you want to look for is "Certified Organic" or "100% Organic" so that it is not a blend of organic and natural. Food products that are 100% Organic or Certified Organic may carry a USDA Organic seal. True organic products will be chemical free, from growth through processing to final product.
2. Once again, "Natural" is largely unregulated. As long as there is "some" natural content, you can use the word in the product description. Natural means, in general, that the product is derived from natural sources. Cotton is always "natural", as is wool. Descriptions like "All Natural" can offer assurance that it is a truly natural product.
3. "Green" implies that the product is made with mostly natural and sustainable materials. In the case of bedding products, you might see the word "blend" used. This would be the case with things like soy foams, latex that isn't 100% natural content or fabrics that are a blend of cotton and polyester. It is important to distinquish between things that are really "Green" and "Sustainable" and things that are not. For example, standard polyurethane foams are made from petro-chemicals, which are not sustainable, however foundations are often made of solid wood which is sustainable and, therefore, "green".
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: Cotton is one of the most heavily fertilized and pesticide sprayed agricultural crops. Therefore, I look for truly certified organic cotton that features a reputable certification such as USDA, Texas Department of Agriculture, KRAV, or Control Union Group. You can count on every product labeled "100% Organic Cotton" as having one of these certifications. For my major suppliers, I have personally been to their factories to verify their claims. On top of this, in the case of products made in Canada, all items labeled "organic" must be verifiable by government agencies.
Latex Standard: All organic bedding products that feature latex contain latex that is 100% pure from the milk of the rubber tree. This latex is verfied for purity by either Eco Institute certification or Oeko-Tex Standard 100. Natural and Green products may feature latex that is 60% natural content, but again verified to Oeko-Tex Standard 100 guaranteeing no fillers other than the synthetically produced latex molecule. Again, I have personally verified this by visiting the factories, plus knowing the original source of the latex itself.
Wool: Organic Wool must have a specific level of lanolin content in order to pass the U.S. flame retardant test which is now mandated for all mattresses sold in this country. There is now a USDA standard for organic wool, but most independent certifications are much higher - Oregon Tilth for example. Natural wool will not have as high a lanolin content, therefore other flame retardant measures may be used, such as cotton infused with boron, which is natural. Washable wool will have the lanolin removed and not offer as high a loft, but this does come with convenience. All of my suppliers have strict standards on their wool, to include a specific micron (fiber width), strand length and lanolin content. Individual control is key and you can be assured that all products offered here are tightly controlled so the wool fibers do not get blended with others.
And that's basically it folks! If the stuff doesn't meet these specs, in my book it really isn't "Organic", "Natural" or "Green".
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 standards go:
1. Green Sleep - For control and hands-on beds and bedding, there is no substitute. 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! A visit to the factory will find people cutting fabric with plain scissors, hand measuring and tailoring, and items made one at a time for exceptional quality control.
2. Natura Organic - 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. Natura also has an exceptional level of control, carding their own wool right there in the factory on a 2 breaker system and milling their own slats for the dual slat system beds.
3. Overture - These beds compair to many of those found on the market today from other organic manufacturers. While Green Sleep and Natura are cuts above this level, you will find these beds to be of high quality while maintaining a more afordable price.
4. Royal-Pedic's Organic Collection - The "Gold Standard" for American made mattresses, their individual craftsmanship simply can not be matched in the innerspring catagory. From a proprietary spring to the many layers of long staple organic cotton to the hand tufting, these are truly masterpieces of old-world mattress craftsmanship.
5. Natura's Natural Collection - As natural as possible without being organic, Natura has taken these beds as natural as the law will allow. Mirroring the three most popular beds in the organic collection, these are good compromises if price is an issue.
6. Royal-Pedic's Natural Collection - The core of the Royal-Pedic line is their natural mattresses. You will find the same quality and attention to detail in these beds as you will in the organic collection with some of the finest natural raw materials available. In my opinion, their innerspring beds are the best made in the United States in this category.
7. Natura's Ultra Green Collection - These beds bridge the "Natural" and "Green" levels. While they still feature the same natural wool found in all non-organic Natura mattresses, the latex used is 60% natural content and they have cotton-poly blend covers. Again, you are making a huge difference and the same cleanliness and sanitary protections you find in other beds that are more natural or organic still apply here. Exceptional quality and comfort.
8. Natura's Blended Elements Collection - These beds feature memory foam which is made with 20% soy polyols. This reduces the petro-chemcial content of the foam and makes a major difference environmentally. Most of these beds are combined with 60% natural latex while one model features 20% soy polyol content base foam with the latex. Of course, you still get the benefit of the natural wool quilting - to my knowledge the only memory foam mattresses on the market today that offer this feature.
9. Natura's Green Collection - These beds feature 60% natural latex based with 20% soy polyol content foam. Extremely green when compared to standard mattresses, these are prefect for those wanting a comfortable bed while also wanting to help protect the environment. The same natural wool quilting found in all of the other Natura natural beds is contained in these models.
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, 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!
