Our Materials: Organic New Zealand Wool

Admit it; when you think of mattress materials, you don’t think of wool, do you? Your mind immediately goes to springs, or feathers, or even straw if you’re historically-inclined. 

When you think of wool, you likely imagine warm winter sweaters or thick knitted socks. But wool cushion mattresses have been used since ancient Egypt, and more traditional mattresses have been stuffed with wool since at least the 14th century in Europe.

So among our more modern options like gel-infused memory foam and polyurethane, we not only feature wool as one of our custom mattress options, but we use a very special type of wool – New Zealand wool.

Versatile Material 

New Zealand wool is a fantastic, versatile material. It’s naturally strong and holds its shape beautifully, allowing for maximum comfort while you sleep. A mattress filled with this type of wool might just relieve you of the backaches your old mattress was inflicting on you. 

Fire Resistant 

It’s also naturally fire-resistant, making it one of the safest fibers to use in a mattress. Fire safety might seem to be a silly thing to be concerned about, but according to the U.S. Fire Administration, smoking in bed is actually the leading cause of fire deaths. Even if you’re not a smoker, the material’s fire resistance is still a benefit, as it removes the need to treat the fibers with toxic chemicals before the mattress’ construction. 

Breathable 

There are other benefits, too. If you’re a hot sleeper, it’s crucial to have your mattress made out of something that is breathable and can wick moisture away. New Zealand wool is great at that, as it allows for consistent temperature by trapping air for insulation when it’s cool out and drawing moisture away when it’s hot.

Hypoallergenic 

Do you suffer from allergies? Well, wool is naturally hypoallergenic, so your night’s sleep won’t be disturbed by sneezing or itching. Speaking of itching, maybe when you think of wool, you’re transported back to the days of uncomfortable, itchy wool clothes you wore as a child, but that’s not the case with New Zealand wool. Not only is it softer than regular wool, but it’s on the inside of the mattress anyway, so you wouldn’t be making skin contact with it anyway even without a top sheet.

This incredible material is featured in several of our mattresses in the Natural Sleep Collection – the Organic Classic, Organic Luxe, Organic Ultra Luxe, and Organic Ergo.

If you’re looking for a new mattress, consider getting one made with New Zealand wool so you can start counting sheep in comfort.