Story at a glance:
- As we spend a lot of time sleeping, a sustainable mattress and eco-friendly, nontoxic bedding is important to boost health and wellness.
- CEO Ron Rudzin founded the online luxury mattress brand Saatva with the goal of transparency, ease, and value.
Wearable devices measure your quality of rest, trendy aromatherapy blends are on sale to make you drowsy faster, and thousands of people online preach nighttime routines and sleep strategies. In mid-2020 the National Library of Medicine recorded that the rate of US adults with insomnia had risen 26.7% from pre-pandemic levels. The overall sentiment toward sleep has swung dramatically in a positive direction, and Americans’ overall time asleep has risen to reflect this. While you could skip straight to eye masks and white noise machines, what better place to begin a night of good sleep than a quality, sustainable mattress?
Fifteen years ago Ron Rudzin founded sustainable mattress company Saatva with a commitment to transparency and value. “I had the idea that by selling directly to the consumer online, with no unnecessary markups, I could sell a luxury mattress of equal or better quality than what was available in traditional mattress stores,” he says.
What Makes a Sustainable Mattress?
Photo courtesy of Saatva
“One of the easiest things people can do to make a difference for the earth—and their health in the process—is to switch to eco-friendly, nontoxic bedding,” Rudzin says. Eco-friendly materials to look for in bedding and mattresses include organic cotton, natural latex, and memory foam that uses plant-based ingredients, like soybean and corn oil, in place of some of the standard petroleum-based derivatives.
These ethically sourced and recyclable materials are at the heart of Saatva’s products: particularly GOTS-certified organic cotton, GOLS-certified natural latex, and recycled steel coils. Flame retardants are made from plant-based thistle pulp and organic wool rather than fiberglass or toxic chemicals. The foams are CertiPUR-US–certified; they won’t off-gas in customers’ homes. Plus the materials are clearly listed and labeled so sleepers know exactly what’s beneath them as they nod off each night. The company name, “Saatva” comes from the Sanskrit word “Sattva,” meaning truth, purity, and wholeness—values that guide everything the company does.
Production and Delivery Matter
Long before the products reach the home, mattresses may also be sustainably manufactured. Rudzin says environmental responsibility is built into Saatva’s business model as a direct-to-consumer brand. Each mattress is made-to-order in one of nine US factories, including the company’s first factory location in New Jersey—in an entirely solar-powered facility—to ensure efficient manufacturing and minimal waste.
“By establishing a network of manufacturing hubs around the country, we could make our products close to where the customer lived, cutting down on delivery miles driven and reducing our carbon footprint,” Rudzin says. Once a Saatva mattress is ordered and made for the customer, it travels less than 100 miles from the factory to their home, on average.
Local factories, reduced packaging waste thanks to white glove delivery service, and sustainable certifications help to make each mattress more sustainable. “These decisions cost money, but I believe any company can take responsible measures without raising the price of their products beyond the reach of their consumer,” Rudzin says.
Consumer Impact and Transparency
Saatva Zenhaven mattress. Photo courtesy of Saatva
When Rudzin founded Saatva in 2008 he knew people craved transparency about the materials surrounding them and how they affect health and well-being. He made it happen—with Saatva’s now-beloved mattresses as well as newer products like rugs made from recycled ocean plastics and hand-poured soy wax candles free from parabens and phthalates.
In addition to clear labeling of all materials going into the products, Saatva informs consumers about eco-friendly choices, transparency in material sourcing, and product life cycle in channels like the “Sleep Enlightened” blog, which has more than 1,000 articles about mattresses, sleep, and sleep health.
The Challenges of E-Commerce
Saatva Hybrid mattress. Photo courtesy of Saatva
“While many people have grown comfortable buying just about everything online, the majority of mattress shoppers still prefer to check out the products in person,” Rudzin says. Saatva manages this reality by offering a long home trial—a full year—to ensure their satisfaction.
Still, not everyone can decide with a click. In 2019 Saatva opened its first viewing room in midtown Manhattan. Today 21 (and counting) similar spaces in major cities offer visitors the opportunity to test and touch Saatva products and get help from “sleep guides.”
The Future of Sustainable Sleep
Since its start 15 years ago Saatva has expanded to sell nine sustainable mattress styles; a kids collection; designer bed frames inspired by coastal cities around the world; pillows, blankets, and other bedding essentials; bedroom furniture; and now lighting and rugs. As the company continues to grow its reputation as a leader in the industry also expands, encouraging others to design with high-quality, eco-friendly materials prioritizing both comfort and well-being.
“In a world where companies increasingly make changes to their products by substituting low-quality materials in order to keep costs down, we use only premium materials across all our product categories to ensure a quality night’s sleep. We are as passionate about quality sleep as we are about materials that are good for you and the environment,” Rudzin says.
