Soy Memory Foam Mattress Eco Friendly?

At the end of their useful life, mattresses go into landfills. They are big, so they take up a lot of space. They have a large “footprint” or environmental impact.

Traditional memory foam mattresses, while being the most comfortable sleep surface, are made from non-renewable petro-chemicals (fossil fuels). Their impact on the environment is problematic because fossil fuels are being removed from the environment at a rapid rate, and once gone, they cannot be replaced. Also, polyurethane products take a very long time to decompose in landfills.

Knowing this, foam makers are searching for alternatives to polyurethane foam. One such product is a soy polyol used in making a mixed soy / polyurethane foam. The percentage of soy used ranges from 5% to 50% soy.

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, soy polyols have only one-quarter the level of total environmental impact of petroleum-based foam. Using soy as an ingredient in foam is definitely a step in the right direction. But is a 5% soy 95% polyurethane mattress environmentally friendly?

Many mattresses makers are using a 5% soy memory foam in their mattress and labeling it as “eco-friendly.” 5% soy is a nominal amount and does not have a significant environmental impact. However a 30% or more soy mix will have a positive effect on the environment and does deserve the Green Choice accolade.

Magniflex, an Italian mattress maker has made a truly eco friendly product, the 10" Mais Prestige memory foam mattress. The Mais Presitige is part of the GeoEthic Collection from Magniflex. GeoMemory memory foam and Ecogreen base foam replace traditional petroleum-based visco-elastic foam with 50% eco-friendly, natural castor oil and aloe vera water-based foam.