The Best Organic Pillows
It is fascinating to see how many people are turning to organic bedding items these days. Some do it because they’re concerned about the environment, others are doing it because they are more concerned about materials and fabric that might have been sprayed with pesticides, insecticides, or have certain chemicals inside them that could be threatening to their health. Whatever the case, organic pillows are growing in popularity, and they’re what we want to focus on today.
| Rank | Product | Highlights |
| #1 |  Avocado Green Pillow
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| #2 |  Beans72 Pillow
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| #3 |  Little Sleepy Head Youth Pillow
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| #4 |  MALOUF Pillow
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| #5 |  Bean Products Store Standard Organic Kapok Pillow
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| #6 |  Naturepedic Organic 2-in-1 Latex Pillow
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Organic Pillows Construction
The definition of an organic pillow is a product made with sustainable materials and which have received certain certifications from authorized bodies. If you find products that are labeled as being “organic”, yet they do not have these certifications, those products are most likely fakes. There is a variety of different materials that one can find in an organic pillow, such as:
- Organic cotton fibers are often used to make organic pillows. They’re mostly part of the construction of the cover, but there are also pillows that are completely filled with such fibers. If a pillow you are thinking of buying has a GOTS certification, which means that it’s made with at least 70 percent organic materials.
- Organic latex is also a material that’s likely to be found in products of this kind. Since latex is a substance that’s derived from rubber tree sap and processed using the Talalay or Dunlop method, the result is a foam-like material that’s natural, bouncy, and cooling. There are also products that are made from a synthetic latex, and they aren’t what you want if you’re looking to buy an organic pillow. What you’re aiming for right here is a pillow that’s made with GOLS certified latex, which means that the latex used in the construction is 95 percent natural. Note that latex is never fully organic since there are a few chemicals needed to make it.
- Organic pillows can also be made from wool, which is another eco-friendly product that isn’t a result of animal cruelty in any form since sheep are already sheered once or twice per year without hurting them in any way. In order for a wool pillow to be labeled as organic, it has to follow some strict regulations. It has to be sheered from goats, sheep, or lambs, it has to be free of any genetic engineering, the animals the wool is sourced from must not have taken any hormones or medicine, and a minimum of 30 percent of the animal’s diet needs to have been dry matter consumed outdoors.
- Organic pillows can also be filled with down and feathers that come from ducks and geese, but there’s a good reason why we wanted to add this option closer to the bottom of our list. In the past few years, there have been a lot of rumors that question the practices around harvesting natural down. There are plenty of people who consider it cruel to pluck down from birds that are still alive, which is why some sleepers steer clear of products made with natural down, no matter how comfortable they may be. If you want to buy a natural down pillow that’s cruelty-free, check the ones that are labeled with the Responsible Down Standard.
- Other organic materials and fills that are used to make pillow fitting for this category include silk, buckwheat, or kapok fibers. Silk is made by silkworms and it is processed to create a soft and smooth fiber, but also a very expensive one. Buckwheat hulls are also used as organic pillow fill, but they are considered to be firm by quite a lot of sleepers. Kapok fibers come from trees with the same name and they are a great substitute for natural down.
Top Organic Pillow Reviews
Now that you know what to find in an organic pillow to pair with your organic mattress, it’s time for us to examine what are your actual options in terms of the pillows that you can buy. Keep on reading to discover what are the best organic pillows that money can buy right now.
Avocado Green Pillow
Specs:
- Available sizes: Standard, Queen, King
- Cover: organic cotton
- Fill: latex and kapok fibers
Label: best overall
We are fans of the Avocado mattress when it comes to narrowing down our choices to only organic bedding items. Their pillow is right up there in terms of quality, as it offers a fully organic construction for a fairly decent price. The pillow is made from a blend that brings together GOTS-certified kapok fibers and GOLS-certified shredded latex.
Since the fill can be accessed, you can remove and add more to make the pillow as thin or thick as you find it most comfortable. The cover itself is almost at a luxurious standard. It is made with organic certified cotton and provides not just a pleasant feel, but also a highly breathable medium so that you won’t overheat while you’re sleeping.
Being made with only the finest organic materials, the pillow provides a non-toxic product for the family to sleep on (provided you are not allergic to latex, that is). The pillow is available in three sizes: Standard, Queen, and King.
Pros:
- Adjustable loft.
- 3 available sizes.
- Certified materials.
- Breathable cover.
- Hypoallergenic.
Cons:
- Refill bags sold separately.
Who Should Buy This?
The Avocado organic pillow is designed for hot sleepers, for those who want a pillow with an adjustable loft, but also for those who are looking for a high-quality product made by a brand with experience in the organic bedding industry.
Beans72 Pillow
Specs:
- Available sizes: 14 x 20 inches
- Cover: organic cotton
- Fill: organic buckwheat
Label: best buckwheat pillow
Let’s move on to a pillow that’s filled entirely with sustainable and organically-grown buckwheat. There are plenty of things that stand out when examining this product, such as the fact that it comes at a lower cost compared to other buckwheat pillows, whilst having pretty much the same properties and quality construction.
Each of the pillows that you buy comes with up to five pounds of organic buckwheat hulls which have been grown without the use of any toxical growth chemicals (pesticides included). Since the pillow grants access to the fill, you can add and remove some of it in order to adjust the loft to fit your sleeping requirements.
However, keep in mind that buckwheat pillows are well-known for their high firmness levels, so even if you remove some of the fill and make the pillow thinner, it will still be very firm due to the construction. The cover of the pillow is made from organic cotton. Sadly, it is only available in a single size.
Pros:
- Highly breathable.
- Good price.
- Adjustable loft.
- Good for shoulder pain.
Cons:
- Very firm.
Who Should Buy This?
The Beans72 pillow is designed for sleepers who prefer a firm medium to rest their head upon, but also for people who want a product that allows them to adjust the loft at any time.
Little Sleepy Head Youth Pillow
Specs:
- Cover: organic cotton
- Fill: down alternative
Are you worried about what your child’s pillow might contain? Then organic pillows are definitely the way to go. Made using organic cotton, the cover of this pillow is so soft that it would even be used without a pillowcase (I’d still recommend one because it’s easier to clean than the entire pillow).
It’s filled with down alternative which is hypoallergenic and doesn’t contain any chemicals. It measures 16 x 22 x 4 inches, so it should be large enough for your toddler but small enough to prevent awkward head and neck posture while sleeping.
Pros:
- Hypoallergenic.
- Organic cotton cover.
- 2 size options are available.
Cons:
- Flattens out quite fast.
Who Should Buy This?
If your child is allergic to natural down, this pillow delivers hypoallergenic synthetic fill that doesn’t contain any chemicals and won’t trigger any allergies.
MALOUF Pillow
Specs:
- Available sizes: Queen, King
- Cover: organic cotton
- Fill: natural Talalay latex
Label: versatile loft options
The Malouf pillow is another example of a quality organic product, but this time it’s one that focuses on a latex construction. Latex is a material that comes with amazing properties, such as the fact that it is naturally cooling and highly durable. But what matters to most of you is the fact that the Talalay latex used to make this pillow is 100 percent natural.
The product is available in four different profiles and loft options, so you are the one who gets to choose between a high loft plush pillow or a low loft firm one. The loft of the pillow varies on the model chosen, so make sure that you examine all options closely before you end up buying a pillow that’s wrong for you.
The cover is made entirely from organic cotton and it can be removed and cleaned with higher ease. The inside of the pillow is a big block of Talalay latex with a surface that entirely punctured to facilitate airflow. This goes perfectly with latex’s natural cooling ability and it helps create a temperature neutral sleeping environment.
Pros:
- Multiple loft options.
- Organic cotton cover.
- Aerated latex.
- Removable and washable cover.
Cons:
- Slight off-gassing.
Who Should Buy This?
The Malouf Z pillow is great for latex lovers, for sleepers who want a cooling pillow, those who want multiple loft options, but also for those who just want an eco-friendly product to add to their list of bedding items.
Bean Products Store Standard Organic Kapok Pillow
Specs:
- Cover: organic cotton
- Fill: kapok fibers
Kapok is a fiber that comes from the kapok tree. It’s a natural fill that resembles wool quite a lot in terms of look and feel. It is, therefore, one of the most natural fibers that could be used to fill a pillow. It delivers a soft sleeping experience and it is responsibly harvested to support the environment.
The cover is made using organic cotton covers. That offers unique properties, including softness, breathability, and the ability to retain moisture if you tend to sweat a lot while sleeping. You can also choose other organic fill options, such as buckwheat. The pillow is available in adult size versions, but also in sizes more suitable for toddlers.
Pros:
- Available with buckwheat fill as well.
- Organic cotton cover.
- High cover thread count.
Cons:
- Too much loft for back sleepers.
Who Should Buy This?
If you want an organic and environmentally-friendly pillow, look no further than the Bean Products Store offers. Filled with kapok fibers, the fill of this pillow is responsibly harvested.
Naturepedic Organic 2-in-1 Latex Pillow
Specs:
- Cover: natural cotton fibers
- Fill: shredded latex
When it comes to organic pillows, few fills are better than latex. Naturally breathable and environmentally friendly, latex is also durable because it retains its shape for longer compared to other materials. This Naturepedic pillow offers loft customization. A zipper grants access to the contents, allowing you to remove or add fill.
Made using natural latex, the pillow is encased in a cover made with natural cotton fibers. The shredded latex fill also makes the pillow more flexible so you can adjust it as needed. This is one of the most hypoallergenic pillows on today’s list, so it’s definitely worth checking out if you suffer from allergies.
Pros:
- Adjustable loft.
- Hypoallergenic.
- Very durable.
Cons:
- Adjusting the loft is trial and error.
Who Should Buy This?
If you want an organic pillow that’s durable and also allows you to adjust the height by adding or removing some of the fill, I recommend checking out the Naturepedic pillow.
Bottom Line
The bedding market is no longer a stranger to organic items, which means that buying an organic pillow is something that provides you with a wider pool of options compared to the narrow list of choices you had years ago. While it’s not difficult to find good organic pillows, it’s important to look for quality products that have the right types of certification so you can actually spend your money on a product that’s fully organic.