mbg Senior Sustainability Editor
mbg Senior Sustainability Editor
Emma Loewe is the Senior Sustainability Editor at mindbodygreen and the author of “Return to Nature: The New Science of How Natural Landscapes Restore Us.”
Image by Irina Polonina / Stocksy
August 30, 2022
Our editors have independently chosen the products listed on this page. If you purchase something mentioned in this article, we may
A lot of health-conscious folks are already buying organic food—but what about organic bedding? Comforters that are certified organic don’t contain chemicals that deplete our natural ecosystems. And beyond being less environmentally destructive, they’re also less likely to contain compounds that off-gas and disrupt precious sleep or contribute to skin irritation overnight.
Ready to snooze in your own personal safe, sustainable cocoon? Read on for the six best organic comforters available right now.
What it means for bedding to be organic.
“Organic” is often used as a blanket (no pun intended) statement to describe sustainable products, but it actually has a pretty strict legal definition.
In the U.S., organic crops are grown in soil that has not been treated with synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or other prohibited substances within the last three years. And organically grown animals were raised in “living conditions accommodating their natural behaviors (like the ability to graze on pasture), fed 100% organic feed and forage, and not administered antibiotics or hormones,” according to the USDA.
So, an organic comforter will be made from materials that can be grown organically—usually cotton or wool. While materials like recycled plastic bottles (originally made from petroleum) and bamboo or eucalyptus (created using a process that requires added chemicals) are often touted as having lower environmental impacts, they are not organic and should not be labeled as such.
Labels to look for.
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the leading certifier of organic textiles around the world, and the top label to look for on an organic comforter. GOTS certifies that a product’s entire supply chain—from farm to finishes—is organic.
The standard was created 20 years ago in response to an increasingly global textile market. “Textiles travel the world a lot, and they have a really high carbon footprint,” Lori Wyman, a representative of GOTS North America, tells mindbodygreen. “Cotton could be grown in the U.S., shipped to Turkey to be spun into yarn, go somewhere else to be woven, and then end up back in the U.S. to be sold.”
By checking in on spinning facilities, knitters, dye houses, etc., every one to three years, GOTS auditors ensure that no potentially harmful chemicals were added anywhere in the process. There are also animal rights and fair trade elements to the GOTS standard, which you can read in full here.
As consumer demands grow for organic and sustainable products, more companies are seeking out GOTS certifications. Wyman notes that in the past six years alone, the number of certified companies has increased around fourfold.
Some other labels you might see on an organic comforter these days include OEKO-TEX 100 (certifies it has been tested for substances that could harm human health) and Fairtrade (certifies it was created by people who were paid a living wage and working in safe conditions).
How we picked.
All the comforters on our list are made from GOTS-certified materials, so you know they’re actually free of harsh pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals that can harm human and environmental health. Some also have bonus certifications like OEKO-TEX and Fairtrade.
From sweaty sleepers looking for a way to stay cool to sleepers who crave the weight of a hotter, heavier option, people have different comforter needs. We prioritized companies that have sleep trials and different comforter styles available to help customers find their perfect fit.
Soft and breathable materials and cozy weaves make these comforters a dream to sleep under. We scoured hundreds of customer reviews to track down the most comfortable options out there.
Since organic products need to be grown to more exacting standards, they’re bound to be more expensive. However, we did our best to find ones that fit a range of price points. They’re still pricey, but their durable, high-quality materials ensure that the investment pays off in the long run.
mbg’s picks for the best organic comforters of 2022:
Pros
- Comes in two weights
- Made from naturally breathable materials
Cons
- Expensive and doesn’t come with duvet cover
- Not vegan
Certifications: GOTS
Materials: Organic cotton, Wool
Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King/California King
Machine washable?: No
This duvet insert is made from GOTS-certified organic cotton and natural alpaca fiber, chosen for its impressive breathability and thermoregulating benefits. (Avocado describes it as having the “delicate feel of cashmere and the functionality of sheep’s wool.”) We love that it comes in two weights—all-season and lightweight to please sleepers who run extra warm—and a 100-night trial to let you try them on for size. Beyond sourcing organic materials, Avocado also prioritizes sustainability with carbon-negative shipping and donations to environmental nonprofits.
As for downsides, this breathable blanket is not vegan. Starting at $359 for a twin size, it’s definitely on the pricey side—especially considering the organic cotton cover is sold separately.
Pros
- Affordable
- Made from naturally breathable materials
Cons
- Not vegan
- Only comes in one weight (but it’s pleasant for most sleepers)
Certifications: GOTS, OEKO-TEX
Materials: Organic cotton, Wool
Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King/California King
Machine washable?: Yes
This comforter from Nest Bedding is a great price for the quality. It encases wool in GOTS-certified organic cotton for a breathable cover that reviewers say is just the right weight and thickness for year-round comfort. Bonus: It’s machine washable for super-easy upkeep. Nest offers free deliveries in the U.S. and a 30-night sleep trial for you to test out their products (which come thoughtfully packaged in a reusable tote!).
Pros
- Comes in multiple colors
- Thinner design for hot sleepers
- Machine washable
Cons
- No sleep trial
- Might not be warm enough for colder months
Certifications: GOTS, Fair Trade
Materials: Organic cotton
Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King/California King
Machine washable?: Yes
This cozy comforter is made from pure cotton in a lightweight quilted pattern that won’t be too heavy or constricting for hot sleepers. Reviewers also love that its crisp design doesn’t get too wrinkled, and it’s easy to wash in the machine (though it does get very heavy when wet). Pact sources GOTS-certified organic cotton and works with factories that are also Fair Trade certified to ensure safe working conditions.
Best cotton: Coyuchi Diamond-Stitched Organic Cotton Comforter
Coyuchi Diamond-Stitched Organic Cotton Comforter
Pros
- Comes in multiple colors
- Thinner design for hot sleepers
- Machine washable
Cons
- Might not be warm enough for colder months
Certifications: GOTS, Fair Trade
Materials: Organic cotton
Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King/California King
Machine washable?: Yes
Coyuchi’s line of subdued colored comforters look beautiful on their own, but you can also place them in duvet covers for some extra warmth (they have corner loops for tucking in). They feature a diamond-stitch weave that is thin and lightweight but still warm—though some reviewers note you might need to add in a second blanket come winter. The GOTS-certified organic comforter also comes with a generous 30-night sleep trial and is machine washable.
Best wool: Lifekind Certified Organic All-Season Wool Comforter
Lifekind Certified Organic All-Season Wool Comforter
Pros
- Made from naturally breathable materials
- GOTS-certified wool
Cons
- Not vegan
- Not machine washable
- No sleep trial
Certifications: GOTS
Materials: Organic cotton, Organic wool
Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King/California King
Machine washable?: No
This GOTS-certified wool blanket is warm and thick enough for winter but lightweight enough for summer, too. Though it is on the expensive side, that’s the price you pay for wool. Made from high-quality, organic materials, reviewers note that it has zero chemical smell upon coming out of the packaging and stays in great shape for years. “I sleep in complete comfort each night and wake up much more rested than before,” writes one happy reviewer.
Pros
- Comes in three weights
- GOTS-certified wool
- Handmade in the USA
Certifications: GOTS
Materials: Organic cotton, Organic wool
Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King/California King, Crib
Machine washable?: Yes
Holy Lamb is a smaller company that sells organic products that are meticulously handmade in their Washington factory. Their comforters are no exception: The GOTS-certified wool encased in GOTS-certified organic cotton has a luxurious feel that can be customized to your liking. The company sells comforters in three weights (light, perfect, and extra) and four sizes (down to a small crib!), each one machine washable and ready to sleep in for years to come.
The takeaway.
Once you have a super-supportive mattress and a perfectly puffy pillow, the right comforter is like the cherry on top of a sleep-supporting setup. Look for one that is certified organic by a credible third-party group like GOTS to ensure that it’s made with the environment and your health in mind. These six options are soft, breathable, and just the right weight for your sustainable snooze.