Pillow fights are (hopefully!) generally harmless, but it’s the pillows themselves that pose a potential problem. Often carrying harmful chemicals or invisible dust mites your favorite bedfellow may not be all that friendly.

Makes you think twice about the whole non-toxic pillow thing.

Most of us aren’t aware of the flame retardants, perfumes, VOCs, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers’s (PBDE) synthetic pillows are manufactured with. Add the fungi and mold that builds up over a few years of use, and you’ve got a perfect storm for potential health issues like hormone disruption, respiratory problems, and increased risk of cancer.

Not exactly sleep inducing stuff, we know.

So to hit the snooze button on these issues, we sought safer slumber solutions in the form of natural (ideally organic) pillows. We considered non-toxicity (backed by relevant certifications), natural materials, and ethical labor practices.

We’ll also soon employ our Brand Rating System that will consider a whole lot more eco-factors like climate change and chemical use. You can learn more about it here.

We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.

Our Favorite Organic Pillows For Sounder Sleep

What makes us happier than waking up refreshed with no neck pain? Happsy’s fully organic natural latex pillow that supports proper spine alignment and healthy sleep.

If you’re after chemical-free and ethically-sourced down or wool pillows, Plushbeds will keep your temperature regulated and conscience clear. We tested their Goose Down Pillow, which has been a lifesaver for getting rid of neck pain.

Index: Organic & Natural Pillows

  1. Happsy Jump to brand
  2. PlushBeds Jump to brand
  3. Naturepedic Jump to brand
  4. Avocado Jump to brand
  5. Coyuchi Jump to brand
  6. Awara Jump to brand
  7. Saatva Jump to brand

Happsy

Happsy has not been rated.

About Happsy

Price Range: $59–$79

Most of us are sleeping on 100 pounds of petrochemicals. Cue: nightmares.

Happsy created alternative bedding as a response to the growing use of questionable chemicals and flame retardants, which certainly makes us and their sleepy customers happ(s)y. Their mattress-in-a-box and singular organic bed pillow (in standard and queen sizes) top it all off—literally.

For side sleepers, you’ll love the firmness and support the inner latex pillow core offers.

Happsy’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Happsy pillows are Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and GOTS-certified. It features a GOLS-certified organic latex core wrapped in boric acid-free organic cotton.

The entire finished product is certified MADE SAFE, GreenGuard Gold, and UL Environment Formaldehyde Free-certified.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Their Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification ensures their supply chain (from farm to finished product) is audited for compliance with ILO labor and fair wage standards and pillows are made in the USA.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

Happsy is a member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, Rainforest Alliance, and certified by Green America.

PlushBeds

PlushBeds has not been rated.

About PlushBeds

Price Range: $61–$369

PlushBeds provides a range of mattresses, GOTS-certified organic cotton sheets, comforters, and more. Their variety of bed pillows come in Standard, Queen, or King sizes.

If you’re a side sleeper, the Side Sleeper Memory Foam Pillow is infused with lavender and has a cutout that alleviates shoulder discomfort.

In our PlushBeds review we went deep into their sleep necessities and tested their Goose Down Pillow, in our chosen “firm” density, which we found to be a literal miracle for neck pain. Between cloud-like plushness and firmness that adequately supports the spine in alignment, no more pinched occipital nerves for us since we’ve started using this pillow.

PlushBeds’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

They have two GOLS-certified organic latex pillows (solid or shredded latex). PlushBeds’ organic shredded latex pillow has an organic cotton exterior, making it naturally dust mite and moisture resistant.

If animal byproducts aren’t off the table (or bed), they make an organic wool pillow filled with non-mulesed ethical wool or RDS-certified goose down pillows for stomach sleepers.

While their memory foam pillows are CertiPUR-US®-certified with a TENCEL™ pillow protector, the foam isn’t natural latex, but synthetic.

Supply chain & labor practices:

PlushBeds operate their own third-party audited USA factory where all mattresses and pillows are produced.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

PlushBeds offsets the emissions of their online shop by supporting renewable energy projects through TerraPass. They’re a Sustainable Furnishings Council member and Green America certified.

My Personal Review of PlushBed’s Goose Down Pillow:

“Finding a pillow that supports side sleepers is no easy feat, but this one is hands down the best I’ve ever tried. I have it in the “firm” density and have found that it hits the sweet spot between plush, cloud-like comfort that hugs your head and solid support for your neck that keeps your spine in alignment. I used to wake up more often than not with a sore neck but ever since I made the switch to this pillow, I’m waking up pain-free. This pillow has been a total game changer.”

Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content

Naturepedic

Naturepedic has not been rated.

About Naturepedic

Price Range: $79–$139

Naturepedic is a family-owned business that started out with mattresses, and has since blossomed into an all encompassing sleep shop with products like linen bedding, mattress toppers, pillow protectors, and pillows.

Wanting to make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep (and therefore, you also)? Check out Naturepedic’s Organic 2-In-1 Latex Pillow for kids.

Naturepedic’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Naturepedic offers an OCS100-certified organic cotton pillow filled with PLA (non-GMO sugarcane) batting. Their firmer, GOLS organic latex pillow has more PLA fiber, a shredded latex core, and organic cotton case.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Naturepedic partners with Amish craftspeople for a majority of their work to support jobs in the USA, but when necessary, they collaborate with GOTS-certified factories in Asia.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

The brand is certified by MADE SAFE, GreenGuard Gold, PETA, and Green America Certified Business and much of their packaging is FSC-certified.

Avocado

Avocado has not been rated.

About Avocado

Price Range: $34–$229

When you think of avocados, you think of a soft and creamy texture. Well, Avocado green pillows are much the same (minus the edible part).

It started with the creation of their signature mattresses and quickly expanded to include all manner of bedding and bedroom wear, including pillows which back and side sleepers will love.

If you decide to leave your ridiculously comfortable bed, they have a range of throw pillow inserts for the couch and yoga pillows to add to your collection of sustainable yoga props.

Avocado’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Avocado’s pillows feature organic materials such as GOLS-certified organic latex, GOTS-certified organic kapok, buckwheat hulls, and organic wool/mohair comfort layers. Each featuring a GOTS-certified organic cotton cover, they’re all MADE SAFE and OEKO-TEX-certified, promising zero toxic chemicals.

The award-winning Avocado Green Pillow is also Greenguard Gold certified and vegan.

Supply chain & labor practices:

This Certified B Corp makes each pillow in their own GOTS-certified factory in California after sourcing their raw material from a singular source. Workers are provided fair wages, family healthcare, and three weeks of paid vacation annually.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

As a member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, this Climate Neutral Certified brand partakes in ample opportunities to go above and beyond sustainability. Aside from supporting the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, they’re striving to achieve Zero Waste to Landfill certification by recycling 80% of waste.

Coyuchi

Coyuchi has not been rated.

About Coyuchi

Price Range: $88–$248

With Coyuchi, you can “build your organic home in Earth tones”. We’re not just talking about earth-toned colors; we’re talking about their range of blankets, robes, baby essentials, and other organic textiles.

As far as pillows go, they make decorative pillows, throw inserts, lumbar support pillows, travel neck pillow, and various bed pillows.

Coyuchi’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Coyuchi’s organic latex pillows are made with GOTS and GOLS-certified Dunlop latex and an organic cotton cover. They also offer several down pillows that come with an organic cotton cover—just like some of their organic comforters.

Supply chain & labor practices:

India’s Chetna Organic is where most of their organic cotton is sourced, helping communities in India create a sustainable lifestyle through organic farming. The natural latex pillows are made in Sri Lanka (near where natural latex is sourced) and each organic down pillow is made in the USA using feathers of ducks raised humanely in Indiana. All supply partners are Fair Trade certified.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

Coyuchi promotes circularity, whether through the 98% of manufacturing water they recycle or the 2nd Home Take Back Program, where used Coyuchi textiles are renewed, resold, or recycled.

Awara

Awara has not been rated.

About Awara

Price Range: $99–$129

Awara makes us aware that their pillows provide “the best sleep of your life, the way nature intended”. Across their range of mattresses, sheets, and duvet covers, everything is organic, including their Standard and King size pillows.

Awara’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Awara’s OEKO-TEX-certified pillow comes with a 100% non-GMO, FSC-certified chipped latex core and organic cotton quilted cover, both of which are free of synthetic pesticides.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Awara claims that their factories “adhere to the strictest quality and production protocols under international regulations”, but doesn’t go into much detail on where and who they work with. We’d love to see a bit more information and transparency.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

This US-based brand is a Rainforest Alliance member and Greenguard Gold-certified.

Saatva

Saatva has not been rated.

About Saatva

Price Range: $115–$185

Saatva believes that “everyone deserves healthy and restorative sleep on a quality bed”, and we couldn’t agree more. As the original online mattress disruptor, they’ve been producing the foundational elements for a sustainable bedroom for well over a decade.

With Standard/Queen, and King hypoallergenic pillows in three different styles and textures, there’s a very good chance you’ll find a pillow to suit your sleeping posture.

Saatva’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Saatva offers a shredded latex pillow, memory foam pillow, and down alternative pillow, all featuring organic cotton in their covers. Both the latex and memory foam pillows have removable, machine-washable covers for added protection. The latex pillow’s washable fill layer also contains a microdenier fiber fill.

Their latex pillow exclusively uses natural latex that’s partially produced from the production of their Zenhaven latex mattress. The memory foam is graphite-infused and CertiPUR-US® certified.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Saatva assesses suppliers upon onboarding to ensure no human trafficking or forced labor occurs, and requires ethical certifications from their manufacturers in India (for bedding) and adherence to domestic standards for those in the USA (for all sustainable mattresses). Their pillows are manufactured in Massachusetts and meet all US ethical and labor law standards.

Every aspect, down to the cotton fabric used on the pillow covers, comes from a fair trade source.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

Their pillows come with a 45-day warranty and bedding comes with a 1-year trial period with the option to repair or replace.

They exclusively hand-deliver your mattress through one of 150+ white-glove delivery partners, so most orders travel fewer than 100 miles to your bed.

My Personal Review of Saatva’s Latex Pillow:

“I own Saatva’s shredded latex model and love how plush and soft it is. It also features an easily removable and washable outer case, along with an inner compartment that makes it easy to add more fill if needed. Sometimes, my neck’s firmness needs vary, so I appreciate this little detail.”

Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content

Why Invest In A Natural Pillow?

With so many options out there, choosing a pillow normally comes down to preference, what position you sleep in, and ethics around animal products—but if you’re wondering, “Are organic pillows worth it?”, the answer is 100% YES.

Your decision shouldn’t be based solely on what firmness your neck needs (though vital to a solid snooze).

Be sure to include non-toxic as a main criterion to avoid endocrine disruption and allergic reactions common in conventional pillows. VOCs are also extremely common in every-day household products. pillows included, where we lie (sometimes directly face down) and inhale these toxins for hours a night.

A study conducted in 1985 found “levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside”. Now think about how much more chemically-saturated our lives have become in the 40 years since!

Healthy pillows are mold or fungal resistant, free of harsh chemicals, and made with natural, organic fibers, not synthetic materials. Look out for certifications like OEKO-TEX certification which verify a brand’s claims of non-toxicity.