Pillows might seem like the cherry on top of a beautifully-made bed, but they really are the whole darn dessert when it comes to getting a good night’s rest.
The right pillow helps support the structures of your head and neck to keep your shoulders, hips, and spine in alignment, allowing you to relax and rest comfortably. But even if you’ve got the right shape and size of your pillow, it’s still important to be mindful of the materials it’s made out of.
After all, pillows join a very exclusive category of items that touch your face day-in and day-out, and if you’re anything like us, you want the best for your health — and the health of the environment around you.
Of course, if you’ve already fallen in love with your current pillow, there’s no need to buy anything new. We all know the most sustainable thing you can buy is nothing at all.
However, if you’ve been on the lookout for new pillows (perhaps to complete your eco-friendly bedroom buildout?), we’ve aimed to make that research process as light as a feather — all while making mindful choices for our homes and the planet.
Keep reading for some helpful information about picking your perfect pillow, our recommendations for the best eco-friendly pillows out there — and perhaps some more pillow puns.
You might also like our deep-dives on:
- Sustainable Bed Frames
- Sustainable Mattresses
- Sustainable Mattress Toppers
- Sustainable Bedding
- Sustainable Dog Beds
By the way, some of the products and links in this article are partners and affiliates, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Everything in this article was independently and honestly written by the Good Good Good team. Thank you for your support!
What makes a pillow eco-friendly (and non-toxic)?
If you’ve explored the options of sustainable mattresses, you already know that the sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution of your bed essentials really do impact your own little world — and the world around us.
In fact, most standard pillows are made with nightmare-fuel materials like petroleum-based polyurethane foam. While these materials might seem fine off the bat, they can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be harmful to the planet, and your own health.
The best route to sweet dreams starts with finding pillows made of non-toxic materials.
Materials
Don’t take this as an indisputable fact, but when 1980s R&B band Eurythmics sang “sweet dreams are made of this,” they may have, of course, been referring to the materials that make up an eco-friendly pillow.
Since pillows are made with a variety of different materials (for casing, inner-fluff, and more), you’ll want to look for any of the following textiles and fibers when shopping for an eco-friendly or non-toxic pillow:
- Certified organic cotton
- Certified organic latex
- Eucalyptus or kapok tree fibers
- Certified ethical wool
- Responsibly-sourced down
- Buckwheat hulls
- Sugarcane fibers
- Bio-engineered memory foams
Certifications
When we mention “certified” materials, that’s not just some arbitrary word. There are a number of third-party environmental and health protection organizations that set rigorous standards for sourcing and manufacturing, so you can feel confident in your consumer choices.
Non-toxic and eco-friendly pillows are often certified or endorsed with the following labels:
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
- Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS)
- OEKO-TEX
- Made Safe
- GreenGuard Gold
- CertiPUR-US
Environmental Impact
Brands and bedding companies that care about the health of you and the planet often proudly share their environmental impact initiatives.
In these cases, it should be easy for you to find information about carbon offsets, thoughtful packaging, connections to environmental nonprofits (like 1% for the Planet) or brands that are Climate Neutral certified (like us!)
Social Impact
Another strong indicator of an ethical brand is one that transparently shares its supply chain and labor practices. Lots of these brands might have B Corp and Fair Trade certifications.
Our reviews of organic & non-toxic pillow brands
The brands you see listed in this section sent members of our team sample pillows to review for this article. (Our reviews are always honest. Receiving free products for testing never impacts our writing — and brands don’t have any influence on our writing or editorial process.)
Savvy Rest
What’s good: Savvy Rest is a certified B Corp that sells natural latex mattresses, and certified textiles and pillows. The brand prioritizes prioritizes health impact, materials re-use, renewable energy, water stewardship, social fairness, and more.
The brand also offsets annual estimated carbon emissions with the help of Carbon Fund, which helps businesses and individuals reduce their climate impact.
Materials: Savvy Rest offers a number of different pillows, utilizing materials like certified organic cotton, wool, and kapok, as well as GOLS-certified dunlop latex and Cradle to Cradle GOLD and FSC-certified talalay latex.
Pillow options:
- Shredded Latex Pillow
- Wool-Latex Pillow
- Wool Pillow
- Kapok Pillow
- Talalay Pillow
- Latex Contour Pillow
- Latex Soap-Shaped Pillow
- Talalay Wedge Pillow
- Body Pillow
Jonathan’s thoughts: I tried the organic Kapok pillow from Savvy Rest, which is a fluffy pillow made with Kapok fibers, which come from the ceiba tree and are a plant-based alternative to down. The pillow is encased in an inner case and super soft flannel-feeling outer case and is “adjustable,” meaning you can unzip the inner case and remove cotton to your personal preference of fluffiness.
The quality of this pillow is definitely top-tier. It came in a single plastic bag in a cardboard box, and you can genuinely tell how soft and natural the materials are from the minute you unpackage it. The outside is thick and soft, and the stitching feels sturdy.
The pillow was pretty firm and packed with cotton upon arrival and has really held its shape. I like how plush it feels while also being firm and supportive.
→ Shop pillows from Savvy Rest
Holy Lamb Organics
What’s good: Holy Lamb Organics has a small and sustainable operation out of Oakville, Washington that relies on skilled manufacturers to create bed and bath staples.
The brand uses certified organic materials and has a partnership with California mill Woolgatherer to ensure practices that are good for animals (who are sheared like it’s a yearly haircut!), the land, and the community.
The Fair Trade certified company also has certifications and testing clearance from GOTS, OEKO-TEX, Eco Wool, UC Davis Toxicology Lab, and Element Materials Technology.
Materials: Holy Lamb utilizes organic cotton fabric, organic latex, premium natural American wool, and certified organic New Zealand wool.
Pillow options:
- Wool Bed Pillow
- Woolly Down Bed Pillow
- Wool-Wrapped Latex Bed Pillow
- Orthopedic Neck Pillow
- Neck Roll
- Body Pillow
- Travel Pillow
- Nursing Pillow
- Wool Yoga Bolster
- Child’s Bed Pillow
- Snuggle Pillow
- Throw Pillow
Jessica’s thoughts: I got to try out the natural wool-wrapped latex pillow from Holy Lamb Organics. I really think it’s a great option for all!
The wool is soft and cushy but the pillow holds its shape better than many other soft pillows do. The exterior fabric of the pillow is a minimal but beautiful organic cotton fabric.
I love that the packaging was plastic-free, making it easy to properly dispose of everything responsibly.
→ Shop pillows from Holy Lamb Organics
Saatva
What’s good: Saatva is an eco-conscious mattress brand that offers ethically made, supportive sleep essentials.
By sourcing Fair Trade and certified organic materials, adhering to ethical labor standards, and planting trees with Evertreen, Saatva is another great choice for your next snooze.
Materials: Saatva sells pillows made with either natural shredded latex, chemical-free memory foam, and down alternative fibers. They are all covered with certified organic cotton.
Pillow options:
Branden’s thoughts: I’ve been testing two of the Natural Latex Pillows from Saatva and have slept on them for more than 100 nights so far. The first thing I appreciated about the pillows is how “heavy” they are — they find a nice balance between being soft, enveloping my head, while also being firm and supportive.
Aesthetically, they look so much better than my previous (kind of flat) pillows, because they look more full and cloud-like.
My one key note: I found that the pillows are so big that some of my pillow cases couldn’t fully contain them. They seem to be just a little bit bigger than a standard pillow.
Fortunately, I just switched from open-ended pillowcases to the kind with a zipper — no big deal. But worth considering picking up a new set of (eco-friendly) pillowcases if you’re upgrading from standard pillows.
Nest Bedding
What’s good: Nest Bedding carries three types of sustainably-sourced pillow options — and you can even take a quiz to find your perfect fit!
The brand is Fair Trade, GOLS, OEKO-TEX, and Certi-PUR certified, and select products (including all mattresses) are made in the U.S.
Materials: Some of Nest’s pillows use non-toxic certified virgin foam, and others are made with premium shredded natural latex.
Pillow options:
- Easy Breather Shredded Foam Pillow
- Easy Breather Natural Latex Pillow
- Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow
Jessica’s thoughts: I tested out two of the Easy Breather Natural Latex pillows. I was pleased that the pillows arrived with minimal plastic, sealed with plastic but otherwise packaged entirely in cardboard.
The first word that comes to mind when I think of this pillow is ‘cozy.’ The exterior fabric is soft to the touch and it is definitely on the softer, squishier side of firmness.
If you like more structure for your pillows, this might not be the one for you, or you might need to double up with a second pillow underneath.
→ Shop pillows from Nest Bedding
Coop Home Goods
What’s good: Coop Home Goods offers customizable pillows that are all CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold certified. Since there are many different types of Coop pillows, you can find your perfect nap-time companion by taking a pillow quiz or setting up a consultation with a Coop Pillow Coach.
Materials: Although Coop pillows aren’t made with the recycled or latex materials of some other bedding companies, its pillows are non-toxic.
Coop creates shredded memory foam filler in-house, which is CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold certified, meeting strict standards for content, emissions, and durability. The casing of Coop’s pillows is also made with a polyester blend using bamboo-derived viscose rayon.
Pillow options:
- The Original Pillow
- The Eden Cooling Pillow
- The Original Cut-Out Pillow
- The Original Crescent Pillow
- The Original Maternity Pillow
- Original Body Pillow
- Orthopedic Knee Pillow
Kamrin’s thoughts: Although Coop pillows aren’t nearly as eco-friendly as others on this list, I was excited to try the Original Pillows out, since they’re at a more accessible price point and have a reliable memory foam filler that I’ve always liked for my neck and spine.
My pillows came in a cardboard box containing a rolled up pillow, and a bag of extra filler, making the pillow adjustable to my standards. That being said, I thought this additional filler was all totally necessary to bulk up the pillow enough for the support I traditionally need. That might not be the case for everyone, but I did think the pillow was pretty skimpy before I filled it up more.
After sleeping on my Coop pillows for a couple of weeks, I do think they are a solid option, though I would suggest considering making the investment in a more sustainable latex pillow if you can.
Other sustainable pillow companies to shop
Avocado Green Mattress
What’s good: Avocado Green Mattress is dedicated to a mantra of “natural, safe, and responsible.” The brand aims to raise the bar for other sustainable brands, too, and leads the way as a B Corp, Climate Neutral certified company, with products certified by GOTS, GOLS, Made Safe, and Greenguard.
Avocado also works with 1% for the Planet to donate one percent of its annual revenue to environmental organizations. We love their mattress and look forward to testing out their pillows, too.
That being said, Avocado's latex pillows are actually currently being critiqued as a part of a class-action lawsuit. So take this with a grain of salt.
Materials: Avocado’s pillows are made with organic, certified materials like latex, kapok, and cotton.
Pillow options:
- Avocado Green Pillow
- Molded Latex Pillow
- Plush Pillow
- Latex Wedge Pillow Set
- Toddler Pillow
- Mini Pillow
- Yoga Meditation Pillow
- Yoga Bolster Pillow
- Pranayama Yoga Pillow
- Square Meditation Pillow
SIJO
What’s good: SIJO is an AAPI-owned luxury sustainable bedding company that creates high-performance products that put the planet first. With certified sustainable materials and inventive cooling tech, you’re in for a night of temperature-regulated dreams.
Additionally, SIJO’s manufacturers make fair wages, have access to a number of insurance plans, and one month of vacation time.
Materials: SIJO offers two types of pillows: a plush eucalyptus down-alternative that uses recycled polyester, as well as a firm, cooling talalay latex pillow that helps relieve neck pressure.
Both pillows use fabrics made from Tencel Lyocell made with FSC and PEFC-certified eucalyptus fibers, and are OEKO-TEX 100-certified.
Pillow options:
Coyuchi
What’s good: Coyuchi uses a circular business model and only sources organic materials to bring shoppers ethical and sustainable bedding essentials.
The brand is certified by GOTS, GOLS, Fair Trade, and Made Safe, and champions climate nonprofits as a partner with 1% for the Planet.
Even better? Coyuchi’s 2nd Home recycling program encourages shoppers to recycle their textiles through the company — and then purchase their new products made with those recycled materials!
Materials: Coyuchi’s pillows are made with organic dunlop latex, 100% organic cotton, or humanely-sourced down from an Indiana duck farm.
Pillow options:
- Turiya Latex Pillow
- Down Pillow
- Shredded Latex Pillow
- Molded Latex Pillow
- Latex Body Pillow
- Down Feather Throw Pillow Insert
- Latex Throw Pillow Insert
Takasa
What’s good: Takasa is a BC Benefit Company (essentially Canada’s version of a B Corp) that plants a tree for every purchase and uses Fair Trade and GOTS-certified materials. Takasa is also well on its way to total carbon neutrality.
Materials: Takasa pillows are made with GOTS-certified organic wool batting and cotton.
Pillow options:
Buffy
What’s good: Buffy is newer to the bedding scene, but only uses the good stuff in its products. Additionally, the brand sets off all carbon emissions from shipments, encourages donating used textiles, and has robust plans for its closed-loop business model and take-back program.
Materials: Buffy pillows are made with either all-natural latex, or recycled polyester fill that is certified by either the Global Recycling Standard or Recycled Claims Standard.
The outside of its pillows are made with soft hemp or eucalyptus lyocell.
Pillow options:
Brentwood Home
What’s good: Brentwood Home is owned by Avocado and echoes its parent company’s priorities of inventive and eco-conscious materials.
With trusted certifications (like Fair Trade, FSC, Greenguard, GOTS Organic, Recycling Claim Standards, and more) the Climate Neutral certified brand offsets emissions at all levels of business, while delivering a safe and comfortable product right to your door.
Materials: Brentwood Home carries a variety of shapes and sizes of pillows made with materials like certified organic latex, cotton, and tencel wood pulp.
Its memory foam is also made with BioFoam, which is biologically made using vegetable materials, such as corn, sunflower seeds, castor oil beans, and soybeans.
Brentwood’s charcoal pillows are also made with CertiPUR-US-certified charcoal graphite memory foam, which is a natural cooling material without any harmful chemicals.
Pillow options:
- Molded Latex Pillow
- Crystal Cove Activated Charcoal Pillow
- Crystal Cove Charcoal Body Pillow
- Crystal Cove Mini Charcoal Pillow
- Crystal Cove Wedge Pillow
- Oceano Gel Memory Foam Pillow
- Oceano Wedge Pillow
- Zuma Foam Wedge Pillow
→ Shop pillows from Brentwood Home
Boll & Branch
What’s good: Boll & Branch is specifically dedicated to making Fair Trade bedding items that are 100% traceable from farm to finish.
This means that the brand works directly with family-owned farms and factories to ensure its organic cotton and non-toxic materials are sourced and manufactured sustainably and ethically.
Boll & Branch milestones include purchasing over 5.3 million pounds of fair trade organic cotton and paying over $880,000 in additional wages to farmers and factory workers to sustain and invest in their communities. Now that’s what we call dreamy.
Materials: Boll & Branch pillows are made with International Down Standard-certified down and alternative down fillers. The shell of each pillow is made with 100% organic cotton.
Pillow options:
- Down Chamber Pillows (in Soft, Medium & Firm)
- Down Alternative Pillows (in Soft, Medium & Firm)
- Feather Down Decorative Pillow Insert
- Down Alternative Pillow Insert
→ Shop pillows from Boll & Branch
Happsy
What’s good: Happsy is all about health, comfort, and environment. The brand is a member of 1% for the Planet, and financially supports a variety of sustainability initiatives, including Women’s Voices For The Earth, Kids For Saving Earth, Sustainable Furnishings Council, and more.
The latex used in Happsy products is also GOLS or Rainforest Alliance FSC Certified and approved per the GOTS organic standard.
Materials: Happsy figured out a formula and kept it simple. The brand’s one pillow offering is an organic latex core wrapped in organic cotton fabric. Designed for both softness and support, these materials work together for proper spinal alignment and a good night’s rest.
Pillow options:
Rawganique
What’s good: Rawganique is a brand that creates organic and chemical-free lifestyle goods, from clothes and shoes, to bed and bath essentials. Based on a homestead in Denman Island in Canada, the company grows, weaves, knits, and sews many of its items in-house, and has warehouses in the U.S. and Canada.
Materials: Rawganique carries a number of various pillows from different U.S. manufacturers — all GOTS certified, hypoallergenic, chemical-free, and organic.
They use organic cotton, linen, and hemp casing and are made with wild kapok, organic latex, buckwheat, wool, and hemp.
Pillow options:
- Cotton Bed Pillow
- Kapok Bed Pillow
- Shredded Latex Pillow
- Buckwheat Pillow
- Wool Pillow
- Cotton Body Pillow
- Hemp Pillow
→ Shop pillows from Rawganique
Naturepedic
What’s good: Naturepedic believes in “caring for the environment inside out.”
The brand is a member of 1% for the Planet, and is certified by GOTS, GOLS, Made Safe, Greenguard, PETA, Green America, and the Organic Content Standard. Additionally, Naturepedic works to increase its use of renewable energy, among other sustainability initiatives.
Aside from 1% for the Planet, Naturepedic also works in partnership with over 30 other ethical business and climate organizations, like Textile Exchange, Regenerative Rising, Organic Farmers Association, and more. That’s a club we want to join!
Materials: Naturepedic pillows are manufactured with materials like GOLS or FSC-certified latex, organic cotton, and a biopolymer PLA batting, which is a sustainable fiber derived from non-GMO sugarcane.
Pillow options:
- Adjustable Latex Pillow
- Solid Latex Pillow
- Side-Sleeper Latex Pillow
- PLA Sugarcane Pillow
- PLA Sugarcane Body Pillow
→ Shop pillows from Naturepedic
Birch
What’s good: A sibling company to Helix, Birch is a big name for organic sleep products. The brand’s materials are certified by the Rainforest Alliance, Greenguard, Forest Stewardship Council, Fair Trade, GOTS, and GOLS.
All of Birch’s products are recyclable and are designed to be naturally comfortable, all without threatening the health of you or the environment.
Materials: Birch pillows are made with the same intentionality as Birch mattresses, using ethically-sourced materials, such as organic cotton, wool, and talalay latex.
Pillow options:
