Top tips for choosing a vegan mattress & how much it should cost – no animal products or harsh chemicals

Veganism isn’t just about removing animal products from your diet; it’s a lifestyle choice – and these top tips from a bed expert will help you get an ethically sound night’s sleep.
Ad Feature by John Ryan by Design
Published 2nd Feb 2024, 07:00 GMT
Lifting the covers on ‘vegan’ mattresses. Picture – suppliedLifting the covers on ‘vegan’ mattresses. Picture – supplied
Lifting the covers on ‘vegan’ mattresses. Picture – supplied

About four per cent of the UK population currently follows a vegan lifestyle - that’s almost 2.7 million people.

However, one difficulty many vegans face is trying to find reliable, good-quality household items that don’t use animal by-products - and that includes mattresses.

Although Veganuary may have been and gone, mattress experts at John Ryan By Design, of Manchester, have shared some top tips on choosing the perfect vegan mattress for anyone who’s planning to continue with their veganism journey who doesn’t want to sacrifice great sleep.

Make a natural choice for your vegan mattress. Picture – suppliedMake a natural choice for your vegan mattress. Picture – supplied
Make a natural choice for your vegan mattress. Picture – supplied

1 Verify the ‘vegan’ claims

Not all mattresses considered vegan by manufacturers are fully vegan – and you could come unstuck by the glue! For example, synthetic fibre mattresses would technically fall under the vegan category as they don’t contain any animal derivatives. However, adhesives used to bind the mattress components together might not be vegan.

If you’re unsure, look out for mattresses that carry the Vegan trademark, issued by The Vegan Society. Brands have to demonstrate their product is truly vegan before they’re awarded this trademark.

2 Don’t be overcharged

In some cases, lower-cost synthetic memory foam or polyester mattresses are offered as vegan-suitable. Although these materials are lower cost, prices will sometimes be marked up if the mattress is listed as vegan, and you can pay significantly more for a mattress that isn’t worth the cost.

For a polyester mattress, you should expect to pay between £300 and £1,500. Any more than this and you’re likely being taken advantage of.

3 Vegan doesn’t necessarily mean environmentally friendly

Some synthetic mattress materials need to be chemically treated to comply with health and safety regulations. Unfortunately, these chemicals can be bad for the environment due to off-gassing (gas caused by chemicals that’s released when mattress packaging is opened).

Mattresses made mainly from synthetic material mattresses to develop permanent lumps, minimising comfort and support, and reducing overall sleep quality. It’s worth investing in a mattress that’s made from plant-based natural fibres and is chemical-free.

4 Choose the natural option

Plant fibres help the environment because they store carbon, which is only then re-released into the atmosphere when the mattress is recycled.

Therefore, if budget allows, John Ryan by Design recommends choosing a mattress that consists of natural fibres. Some of the best materials include:

– Coir, also known as Coconut Husk

– Flax

– Natural latex

– Bamboo fibre

– Hemp

– Tampico

– Cotton

– Cocolok (latex-covered Coir)

Talk to the experts

Johny Ryan By Design, which is at 500 Styal Road, Wythenshawe, are members of the institute of Spring Technology and Guild of Master Craftsmen, and all its mattresses are handcrafted here in the UK

Ryan Kerr, bed expert at John Ryan By Design, said: “We want to promote more transparency within the mattress industry, ensuring vegan customers aren’t having the ‘hemp’ pulled over their eyes. We think everyone deserves a great night’s sleep while still being able to follow the lifestyle of their choice., and these tips can help make sure that happens.”

Find out more by visiting their website here.