The 10 Best Organic Pillows – 2023

We spend 1/3 of our life sleeping. It’s so important to make sure your bedding is organic. Where your head rests is extremely important, so avoid toxins in pillows, and buying an organic pillow is one of the easiest things you can do. It’s more important now than ever to ensure that our living environment is as non-toxic as possible, especially in our sleep spaces.

If you read my post about the best organic mattresses, you know that bedding contains flame retardants, chemicals, and toxins. Pillows are no different, and they contribute to our toxic load even more, given that we lay our heads directly on them at night!

While the best way to ensure that your sleep space is as safe as possible is to upgrade your mattress, if you aren’t at a point, swapping out your standard pillow for an eco-friendly, organic pillow is a great place to start in making your sleeping environment less toxic.

After you switch out your pillow to an organic pillow, you can start switching out your sheets, comforters, and mattress protectors as well!

To find non-toxic pillows for your family, you’ll want to look for organic cotton pillows made in the USA.

In this post, I’ll guide you through what you need to know about what toxins are hiding in pillows that you need to avoid, what to look for in organic pillows, and the best non-toxic, eco-friendly pillows on the market.

Organic cotton pillows are so much easier to find than they used to be since there’s a greater awareness of how important it is to maintain a safe sleeping environment.

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Toxins in Pillows

Some common toxins that are found in pillows include:

VOCs

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be found in memory-foam, polyester, and down pillows. VOCs may originate as organic compounds, but when the chemicals break down, they turn into gases, which we inhale while we sleep.

VOCs can be highly toxic and can cause nausea, headaches, throat irritation, and damage to the liver and kidneys.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, and it’s a common VOC found in many pillows, especially memory foam and down.

In addition to causing cancer, it can also contribute to coughing, wheezing, nausea and can irritate and/or burn the skin.

Synthetic Fibers

Synthetic pillows, like a lot of other bedding, are very common. Synthetic fibers include polyester and polyurethane foam. Polyurethane foam pillows are more commonly called memory foam.

Polyurethane can contribute to many health problems, including hormone disruption, cancer, and neurological problems.

In addition to being toxic to our health, polyurethane is also harmful to the environment because the chemicals it contains aren’t biodegradable.

Ethylene Glycol

If you’re using a polyester pillow, it likely contains ethylene glycol, which can be inhaled during sleeping.

The gas from ethylene glycol has been known to cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and it can also potentially damage the kidneys and nervous system.

Flame Retardants

Synthetic pillows can be filled with flame retardants. While there is no regulation that pillows should contain flame retardants, Duke University found flame retardants in synthetic pillows, particularly polyurethane pillows (memory foam).

Flame retardants are linked to a host of issues, including cancer, hormone disruption, effects on fetal development, and reproductive health issues, to name a few.

What to Avoid in Pillows

In choosing your pillows, here are a few materials you’ll want to look out for.

Synthetics

Synthetics are unnatural materials that can be used for the pillow’s fabric, the fill or stuffing, and the pillow cover. Synthetics can cause health effects such as skin irritation, nausea, headaches, coughing and contain cancer-causing chemicals. Be sure to avoid:

• Synthetic materials or fabric such as microfiber, polyester, or poly-cotton, which is a mixture of polyester and cotton.
• Poly-fiber used in pillow stuffing.
• Organic pillow covers that disguise pillows that are filled with some type of polyester inside. 
• Memory foam, which may contain the highest amount of chemicals out of all pillows. This includes polyurethane and also polybrominated diphenyl ethers, which are used as flame retardants. These chemicals are known carcinogens.

Non-Organic Cotton

When you think of cotton, you probably think of it as a natural fabric. And while that’s true in theory, non-organic cotton is grown using various pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals.

There’s also the possibility that the casing of your cotton pillow has been bleached, which will expose you to dioxins. Dioxins are harmful to the immune system, and they’re also reproduction and hormone disruptors. They’ve also been linked to cancer.

Down 

In addition to posing a concern for toxins, down pillows are most often not sourced in a way that’s ethically humane to animals. The birds used to supply the down have their feathers forcibly plucked, and they are also not raised in their natural habitat environments. They are also typically raised in cages.

Since down comes from birds, before the material is used to fill pillows, it’s often bleached or treated with formaldehyde in order to sanitize it. These two chemicals can cause coughing, wheezing, nausea, skin irritation and may lead to other long-term health issues as well.

If you are set on having a down pillow because of the feel, look for the pillow labeled as having the Responsible Down Standard. 

The Responsible Down Standard was put in place to ensure that birds that are used to source down are not subjected to harm or inhumane treatment. Pillows marked by the Responsible Down Standard indicate that the animals were not force-fed or live-plucked.

This standard does not mean that the down isn’t treated after, so you still want to make sure toxins aren’t being used to sanitize.

What to Look For in Organic Pillows

Natural Fibers

Look for natural fibers over synthetic fibers when shopping for a non-toxic pillow.

Organic Cotton:

When you purchase an organic cotton pillow, you can rest assured that the cotton used to make it was produced without herbicides, pesticides, toxins, and chemicals.

It’s also a very soft, breathable material that is comfortable to sleep on. As a bonus, it won’t get too hot, so you won’t have to flip it over to the “cool side” in the middle of the night.

Organic or Eco-Wool

Wool pillows also help you regulate body temperature, as wool wicks away moisture naturally. It’s also a natural flame retardant, so you need not worry about one being added during production. Wool is also resistant to dust mites, mildew, and mold.

Eco-wool typically comes from small sheep farmers who are not certified organic but use organic and humane practices.

Organic Latex

Latex is a biodegradable natural rubber, so it’s another great natural choice for pillows. Keep in mind that all latex pillows are not created equally. In choosing one, you’ll want to look for the GOLS certification, which is the Gold Organic Latex Standard. Without this certification, you do not have the peace of mind that the latex used is actually organic.

There are also two types of rubber used in latex pillows – Dunlop and Talalay. Dunlop rubber is produced in a way that’s the most energy-efficient and sustainable, whereas Talalay involves a much more intensive process. So always look for Dunlop and avoid Talalay.

A Fair Rubber certification will also ensure that the rubber used in the pillow was harvested in a sustainable way. 

There are also different types of latex pillows, shredded, molded, or solid. Shredded latex has a softer feel and allows more breathability throughout the pillow, whereas the molded or solid versions are denser and firmer. Which one is better suited for you will depend on your sleeping habits and whether you prefer a pillow that is more malleable or one that provides more support.

Kapok

Kapok is a highly sustainable fabric that feels similar to down but is even lighter than organic cotton.

Kapok trees grow in tropical regions such as Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, and Central America. It’s not necessary to use any pesticides on these trees. The feel of a Kapok pillow is soft and silky, making it a preferable alternative to other natural fibers. 

Buckwheat

While Kapok provides a soft feel, Buckwheat pillows will have a much crunchier sensation, as they are filled with Buckwheat hulls. They’re sustainable and long-lasting. I look for buckwheat that was grown organically.

The fill offers a lot of flexibility, making it a winning option for people with back or neck issues.

Hemp

Hemp is another natural, sustainable fabric that’s used to make pillows. Hemp doesn’t require a lot of water or pesticides when growing.

Typically hemp is broken down in the sun after harvesting as this is the traditional method to get it into fiber form. Some hemp in China now has chemicals applied to it to speed up the breakdown process. I avoid hemp from China for this reason.

Hemp pillows come in two different variations. They’re either 100% Hemp, or Hemp may only be used in the filling or cover part of the pillow.

Certifications

No matter which type of fabric you choose for your organic pillow, there are certain certifications you can look for to give you peace of mind that the pillow you select is safe and non-toxic.

GOTS

GOTS: The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is crucial to have, no matter what type of organic pillow you choose. It’s the leading and best standard for all textile manufacturers.

It has a clearly defined set of criteria that all manufactures must use when producing organic fibers. If a pillow has this label, that means it is made of 95% organic fibers.

Oeko-Tex

Oeko-Tex: An organic pillow with the Oeko-Tex certification indicates that it’s been tested and is safe for human use and void of hundreds of toxic chemicals.

It is not required that fibers be organic, so you still need to read labels if you see the Oeko-Tex logo.

GOLS

GOLS for organic latex pillows: The Gold Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) label for latex pillows guarantees that the latex pillow contains at least 95% organic latex. 

How to Decide Which Organic Pillow is Right?

When it comes to pillow preferences, there’s no one-size-fits-all! Selecting the best organic pillow for you is a lot like finding the right pair of shoes. You may need to try a few on before you get that perfect fit.

Here are some different factors to consider when deciding which type of organic pillow is right for you. 

Firmness

Do you like a soft pillow that you can bunch up so that it rests under your head in a certain way? Or do you prefer a more formed, firm pillow that won’t move around during the night?

Most types of organic pillows come in varying degrees of firmness, so you want to be sure to choose one that suits your liking.

Support

Support is also key when deciding on a new, non-toxic pillow. If you have any problems with your neck or back, you’ll want to choose a pillow that conforms to those areas to help align your spine and keep it supported as you move during the night. 

Organic Certification

The best organic pillows will have the GOTS standard for both the pillow filling (unless organic latex then GOLS) and for the pillow cover.

There are different combinations with some pillows. For example, you may have a Kapok or Buckwheat pillow with an organic cotton cover. For the safest pillow, you’ll want both to be certified organic.

You’ll also want to look for organic pillows made in the USA.

Cost

The cost of your pillow will depend on the size and material used to manufacture it. A standard organic pillow will cost considerably less than a king-sized pillow. The estimated range is anywhere from $29 to $200 and up. 

The Best Organic Pillows

These are the best non-toxic, organic pillows, and are all Natural Baby Mama recommended!

Soaring Heart

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Holy Lamb Organics

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Coyuchi

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Avocado

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Naturepedic

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White Lotus Home

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Plush Beds

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Happsy

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Sol Organics

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Lifekind

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Final Thoughts on Organic Pillows

Given just how much time we spend sleeping in our beds, it’s so essential to be sure that we’re resting our heads on a non-toxic pillow that’s eco-friendly, safe, and non-hazardous to our health. With an organic pillow, you can breathe easy all night, every night! 

Toss out that chemical-filled old pillow you’ve been sleeping on for years and invest in a top-quality, certified organic pillow that’s healthy, sustainable, and that you can feel good about laying your head on.

It can be overwhelming to find truly safe products, so I have created my Amazon Storefront for vetted non-toxic products for your home you will love!

Other Posts Related to Organic Pillows:

Organic Mattresses

Organic Sheets

Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent

Organic Clothing for Adults

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Sources

https://www.leafscore.com/eco-friendly-bed-products/pillows-what-to-watch-out-for/

https://www.slumbr.com/blog/could-my-pillow-affecting-health-pillow-toxic/

https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/air-quality-VOCs

https://www.madesafe.org/education/whats-in-that/bedding/

https://draxe.com/health/best-pillow/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/17685

https://textileexchange.org/standards/responsible-down/

https://www.leafscore.com/eco-friendly-bed-products/pros-and-cons-of-eco-friendly-pillow-materials/

https://sleeponlatex.com/blogs/news/7845413-dunlop-vs-talalay-latex-foam

https://www.latexforless.com/blogs/latex-for-less-blog/what-are-the-types-of-latex-pillows

https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/apply-here/standard-100-by-oeko-tex

https://amerisleep.com/blog/what-does-it-mean-to-be-gots-or-gols-certified/

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-pillows/best-organic-pillow