By Lisa Elaine Held
If you’ve ever spent an entire night throwing covers off and pulling them back on or folding and unfolding your pillow, you know that how comfy you are in bed can definitely affect your sleep.
Companies have been using that fact for a long time to sell all kinds of products (including mattresses) that promise to improve the quality of your shut-eye. A new category, though, recently caught my eye: brands making better-sleep products that are also better for the planet.
Call them “eco sleep enhancers” or “sustainable sleep solutions.” These companies are creating sheets, blankets, and pillows that regulate your temperature while considering (and minimizing) their impact on rising global temperatures.
RELATED: 5 Ways Your Bedroom Could Be Affecting Your Sleep
It’s important because many of the materials used in bedding come with environmental issues: cotton, for example, is one of the most pesticide-soaked crops in the world. Down, on the other hand, can be cruelty-free but is sometimes associated with animal abuse.
The best part is that all of these better-bedding brands are making products that are also super chic, so you’ll really want to get in bed and spend more time there. I tried a few of the coolest new eco sleep solutions to report back on whether they can give both your body and conscience a rest.
(Featured Photo: Shutterstock)
3 Eco-Bedding Upgrades
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The Better-Than-Down Comforter
I love a fluffy down comforter, and down alternatives often fall short in the comfort department. Buffy is an exception: it’s the lightest, fluffiest, softest comforter I’ve ever cuddled up under. The best part is that the outer shell is made from lyocell, a sustainably sourced natural textile made from eucalyptus, and the fill on the inside is made from an eco-fiber spun from recycled plastic bottles.
The unique materials are designed with the earth in mind but are also really good at helping regulate body temperature, a key component of high-quality sleep. I definitely noticed I tend to stay cozied up under it even as the temperature in my apartment changes throughout the night.
Final benefit: The eucalyptus fiber is hypoallergenic and naturally repels mold, mildew, and dust mites. The only downside is that you’ve got to dry clean your Buffy, and that can get expensive.
(Photo: Buffy)
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Cozy, Climate-Friendly Sheets
Sleep experts recommend you get new bedding fairly often, but according to Coyuchi, 10 million tons of textile waste end up in landfills every year.
To address that, the company introduced “Coyuchi for Life,” a smart subscription program that allows you to get new organic sheets, duvets, and towels on a rolling basis (you can choose between 6, 12, or 24 months) while easily returning your old ones to be recycled. It’s cheaper than buying them one at a time, too.
I tried the Organic Sateen Sheets made with 100 percent GOTS-certified organic cotton, and I loved the soft, natural feel.
(Photo: Coyuchi)
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A Planet-Positive Pillow
While it’s hard to know exactly which kind of pillow will work for you, studies have shown pillow type does matter in terms of how well you sleep.
The Avocado Green Pillow is stuffed with eco-friendly materials like natural, hypoallergenic kapok fiber from the ceiba tree (another vegan alternative to down), and its cover is made with GOTS-certified organic cotton.
When you first unwrap it, it feels big and luxurious. At first touch, it feels kind of lumpy, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it. But after using it, I found the texture kind of wrapped around my head in a unique way that felt really supportive. The brand describes it as providing “the support and resilience needed for all sleeping positions as they effortlessly contour to your neck and head.”
Plus, it’s got a cute name, right?
(Photo: Avocado Green)
