At Avocado, almost all of our eligible products are GREENGUARD Gold Certified by UL Environment. That means they’re scientifically tested for prolonged exposure in environmental chambers to meet rigorous emissions standards for chemical exposure and pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, and phthalates. Few mattresses and pillows qualify for this gold standard.

We spend the majority of our time indoors, where we face significant health risks due to repeated exposure to air pollutants. Exposure to these pollutants can lead to numerous immediate and long-term health problems. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the most effective way to reduce indoor air pollution is to reduce or eliminate the sources of harmful chemical emissions. Sources of chemical emissions may include cleaning products, furnishings and furniture, flooring, cabinetry, paint, textiles, and building materials. Though federal, state, or local law does not regulate product emissions, numerous government and private programs, including public health agencies, have recommended minimal exposure levels for indoor pollutants.

Many factors determine if people get sick from exposure to indoor pollutants, including the type of pollutant, its concentration, the duration of exposure, the method of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or dermal absorption) and the individual sensitivities of those exposed. Building conditions, such as the amount of ventilation, age of the building, and indoor temperature and humidity levels, can also have an impact.

Health impacts of poor indoor air quality include headaches; eye, nose, and throat irritation; allergic skin reaction; difficulty breathing; nausea and/or vomiting; confusion; loss of coordination; dizziness, fatigue, and nosebleeds. Long term or chronic health impacts include damage to the heart, liver, or kidneys; damage to the central nervous system; and cancer.

Many chronic conditions commonly associated with indoor exposure to both VOCs and mold are allergic respiratory diseases. These diseases may permanently worsen the health of persons effected even after they have been removed from exposure. These conditions include hypersensitivity pneumonitis; allergic rhinitis (hay fever); and asthma. UL monitored our mattress for emissions of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde, total aldehydes, and other individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) over a 168-hour exposure period. They measured these emissions and determined the resultant air concentrations for each of the potential pollutants. Determination of compliance is based on predicted air concentrations modeled using the GREENGUARD program standard, which include a standard room loading and EPA ventilation conditions. Product loading is based on a standard mattress usage (2.6 m²) in a 34.9 m³ room.

You can view all of our GREENGUARD Gold certified products in the public database here.