Sustainable Bedding Can Improve Your Sleep. Here's How.

Choosing the right bedding can mean the difference between a rejuvenating slumber or a restless night of tossing and turning. Do you sleep hot and need lighter fabric? Or are you always too cold? Do you prefer a silky smooth texture? Or do you like a heavier weave? Made Trade's  sustainable bedding guide offers a variety of eco-friendly fabrics to match your individual sleep style.

Only in the past couple of years has getting quality sleep gained prominence in mainstream culture, with blogs, podcasts, and an emerging direct-to-consumer mattress and pillow industry making the case for the value and benefits of a restful night's sleep.

However, what your bedding is made of, and how it makes you feel, is just as important as the pillow or mattress you lie on. In fact, certain natural bedding fabrics work better for different people depending on how they sleep, the climate they live in, and the season of the year.

We dive deep into the properties and unique benefits of some of the most popular sustainable bedding fabrics like organic cotton, linen, TENCEL eucalyptus, and bamboo lyocell so you can upgrade your bedroom with the sustainable bedding that’s best for you and get the restful sleep you deserve.

Organic Cotton

Cotton is one of the most popular fibers used in the textile industry today, second only to polyester, which is not recommended for bedding because polyester is made from plastic and isn’t breathable or temperature regulating. Cotton's durability and breathability makes it one of the most widely used fibers in bedding, but there are some serious environmental concerns that come with conventional non-organic cotton. Conventional cotton is one of the top three genetically modified crops in the world and accounts for 16% of all pesticides, although it covers just 2.5% of the world's arable land. Conventional cotton might seem like a good option for the bedroom, but it’s not the most responsible choice for the planet. If you love cotton, but not the environmental baggage it brings to the bedroom, then allow us to introduce you to cotton's more sustainable cousin: organic cotton.

Sustainability

Organic cotton is never genetically modified and is always grown without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, which means those harmful chemicals stay far away from you and your skin. Organic cotton bedding and sheets are better for the planet, healthier for the organic cotton farmers, and better for you, too. Look for organic cotton bedding with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification which ensures the organic cotton was processed and manufactured in a socially and environmentally responsible way .

Properties

Organic cotton is breathable and keeps you cool, even through the warmest summer days, and its easy care instructions make it a go-to fabric for many people looking to sustainably upgrade their bedding on a budget.

Common organic cotton bedding fabrics

• Percale - A closely woven plain-weave organic cotton fabric with a crisp, cool feel. Often produced with a matte finish this lightweight, breathable organic cotton fabric is ideal for hot sleepers or warmer climates.

• Sateen - A soft fabric made using a satin weave that offers a lighter cooling effect with a soft, smooth and silky feel. Produced with a subtle sheen, sateen organic cotton bedding tends to be slightly heavier and warmer, with a more luxurious drape.

• Jersey - A knitted organic cotton fabric, rather than woven, which separates it from most other styles of sheets because it feels like a cotton t-shirt.

• Flannel - Made with finely brushed organic cotton, flannel fabric feels soft, cozy, and a bit like fleece. A heavier-weight flannel is great for trapping in body heat to keep you warm and is perfect bedding for winter.

Who is organic cotton best for?

Organic cotton tends to be among the least expensive and easiest to care for of the sustainable bedding fabrics, so it's great for more budget-conscious consumers who don't want a long list of care instructions to follow. Organic cotton is also very breathable and works well year-round across a wide range of temperatures and climates.

Linen

Linen is made from the flax plant, which is fast-growing and requires little to no pesticides or fertilizers. It also requires far less water than organic cotton. In fact, growing flax sometimes requires no irrigation at all and only needs seasonal rainfall. Once a thriving industry in the United States, the majority of flax is now grown in Belgium. Parts of the Pacific Northwest in the United States are beginning to grow flax again, but it will take several more years for the industry to return in full force.

Sustainability 

Linen is one of the most sustainable fibers on the market today, earning an "A" rating in the Made-By Environmental Benchmark for Fibers .

Properties

Linen fabric is super breathable, even more breathable than organic cotton, and its temperature-regulating properties work well from hot summer days to cold winter nights. Compared to organic cotton, linen is a heavier-weight fabric and is more durable and resistant to sunlight. While not initially as soft as some other bedding materials, linen gets softer over time with each wash.

Who is linen best for? 

Linen is best for warm climates, or for those people that want to be able to use just one type of bedding through seasonal temperature changes. Linen sheets are an investment, but their exceptional quality ensures they'll last you decades. With the right insert, a linen duvet can work everyday of the year and may be the only duvet you’ll ever need.

TENCEL

TENCEL is a sustainable fabric revolutionizing the bedding industry with its combination of eco-friendliness and comfort. TENCEL eucalyptus fibers are responsibly produced from renewable eucalyptus trees through a closed-loop process — creating an incredibly soft, silky fiber that is spun into sheets, pillowcases, and duvets. TENCEL's moisture-wicking properties regulate temperature while keeping sleepers cool and dry. Plus, its smooth structure resists bacterial growth, benefiting those with sensitive skin. Breathable and durable, TENCEL eucalyptus bedding offers a luxurious sleep experience with a minimal environmental footprint.

Sustainability: TENCEL is a cellulosic fiber made from responsibly harvested, fast-growing, and highly renewable eucalyptus trees in a closed-loop process that reuses almost 100% of all water and solvents.

Properties

TENCEL has an ultra-silky texture and shiny finish. This luxurious looking and silky feeling fabric is gentle and smooth, but is also long-lasting and durable. TENCEL has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, is moisture-wicking, and perfect for people with sensitive skin or who are prone to breakouts.

Who is TENCEL eucalyptus bedding best for?

If you love a shiny, soft and silky fabric, definitely consider TENCEL. Individuals with sensitive skin should also consider TENCEL eucalyptus bedding for its natural antimicrobial properties and superior breathability. TENCEL bedding also wicks away moisture, making it a great option for anyone who tends to sweat or at night or sleeps hot.

Bamboo Lyocell

Bamboo Lyocell, also referred to as “vegan silk,” is an eco-friendly fabric gaining popularity in the sustainable bedding category. Derived from fast-growing bamboo, it's processed using a closed-loop system that recycles both water and solvents. The resulting fabric is incredibly soft and smooth, often compared to silk. Bamboo Lyocell sheets are also naturally hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, making them ideal for sensitive skin. Bamboo lyocell bedding excels at moisture-wicking and temperature regulation, helping to keep sleepers stay cool and dry throughout the night. Durable and easy to care for, bamboo lyocell bedding offers a luxurious feel with a reduced environmental impact.

Sustainability

Bamboo lyocell is silky-feeling fabric made from bamboo which is a rapidly growing grass that produces 35% more oxygen than trees and is known to improve soil quality and prevent erosion as well. The closed-loop production process captures and reuses 99% of water and solvents. Bamboo lyocell is also more sustainable than bamboo viscose, another common bedding material, because bamboo viscose often involves harsh chemicals and greater water waste in the production process.

Properties

Sleek, smooth, and buttery soft, bamboo lyocell is a luxurious material that feels like silk, but is completely vegan. This unique fabric is moisture-wicking, antimicrobial, and hypoallergenic, making it perfect for those with allergies or skin sensitivities. Despite feeling just like silk, bamboo lyocell is strong and doesn't wear or tear easily.

Who is bamboo lyocell best for?

If you love a silky soft texture that mimics silk, then bamboo lyocell is for you! It’s also a great choice for people with sensitive skin, and because it’s moisture wicking, it’s also great for hot sleepers who easily sweat in their sleep.

Sustainable bedding offers more than just eco-friendly sleep solutions; it provides a range of options tailored to individual sleep needs and preferences. From the breathable, more budget-friendly organic cotton to durable, temperature-regulating linen, and from the silky-smooth TENCEL eucalyptus to the luxurious bamboo lyocell, each fabric brings unique benefits to the bedroom. These materials not only support better sleep through their natural properties but also contribute to a healthier planet. By choosing sustainable bedding that aligns with your sleep style, whether you're a hot sleeper, have sensitive skin, or simply crave comfort, you can enhance your sleep quality while making an environmentally conscious choice. Investing in sustainable bedding is an investment in both your well-being and the Earth's future.