Yes. Mattresses can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the surrounding air, and the concentration of those emissions is highest at the mattress surface — where you breathe while you sleep. Research published in Environmental Science & Technology (Boor et al., 2014) found VOC concentrations at the mattress surface to be approximately twice those just a few feet away, with body heat further increasing emissions during sleep.
What a mattress emits depends entirely on what it is made of.
What conventional mattresses can emit
Mattresses built with polyurethane foam, chemical flame retardants, or synthetic adhesives between comfort layers can off-gas VOCs, including formaldehyde and other compounds that appear on independent health hazard lists. These materials are not required to be disclosed on a label.
How Avocado mattresses are independently verified
Avocado mattresses are certified against multiple independent standards that specifically address chemical emissions and indoor air quality:
GREENGUARD Gold certifies that every Avocado mattress and furniture piece meets chemical emission limits for use in bedrooms and children's rooms, including limits for VOCs and formaldehyde. See Do Your Mattresses Emit a Gas or Chemical Odor?
OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, Class I — the highest OEKO-TEX tier, designed for products used by babies and toddlers — tests the finished mattress against strict thresholds for formaldehyde, phthalates, heavy metals, and pesticide residues. Every Avocado mattress, crib mattress, pillow, and topper holds Class I certification. See What Is OEKO-TEX® Standard 100?
MADE SAFE® and EWG Verified® both require full ingredient disclosure and screen the finished product against health-based hazard lists, including carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and reproductive toxins. See How Does the MADE SAFE® Certification Work? and Why Choose an EWG Verified® Mattress?
PFAS testing — Avocado screened 320 PFAS substances across core mattress materials at parts-per-billion sensitivity. No detectable amounts were found. Full results are published here. See Understanding PFAS and Testing Results.
Avocado organic mattresses are made without polyurethane foam, chemical flame retardants, or fiberglass — the material categories most associated with VOC emissions in conventional mattresses. Natural materials, such as organic latex, wool, and cotton, replace those inputs throughout.
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