Rainforest Alliance Certified™

Illegal logging and deforestation have been devastating rainforests from South America to Southeast Asia since the industrial revolution in the 1800s. Unfortunately, it is estimated that over 100 million cubic meters of timber are still produced through illegal logging every year. As awareness of this growing problem has grown among the general population, consumers started to ask for sustainable forest products that would protect biodiversity rather than contribute to further land clearing and habitat loss.

Rainforest Alliance is an organization that exists to help businesses take responsibility for their use of forest resources and develops practices that are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. By working with farms, forest operations, and tourism enterprises and conducting independent audits for certification, Rainforest Alliance is helping to conserve biodiversity and improve the livelihoods of workers in tropical countries.

What Does a Rainforest Alliance Certified™ Label Mean for My Mattress?

If a mattress claims to be Rainforest Alliance certified, the label will usually be referring to the sourcing and processing of natural latex, which is sourced from rubber plantations in the tropical forests of Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

In order to receive this certification, the natural latex must come from suppliers who abide by the standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) and with whom the manufacturer has a direct relationship. By purchasing the product, you receive assurance that the workers who harvested and processed the latex have been paid fair wages and that your natural latex mattress is not contributing to deforestation.