Off-gassing is the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from materials into the surrounding air. It happens when chemical compounds in a product evaporate or sublimate at room temperature, releasing them into the air you breathe. It is invisible and often odorless at low concentrations, which is why independent certification — not smell — is the only reliable way to assess it.
Why Mattresses Are a Particular Concern
The EPA estimates that VOCs are released by thousands of common household products, and that indoor air can carry higher concentrations of certain pollutants than outdoor air. Mattresses are among the higher-risk household items because of how they're used: direct skin contact and close-range inhalation for 8 or more hours every night, on a surface that retains body heat, which increases VOC emissions from the materials beneath you.
Peer-reviewed research has shown that VOC concentrations at the mattress surface can be approximately twice those in the surrounding room air. For infants sleeping face-down on a conventional foam mattress, the exposure is concentrated at the point of highest emission, for the longest duration, during the developmental window of greatest vulnerability.
What Conventional Mattresses Emit
The primary source of VOC off-gassing in conventional mattresses is polyurethane foam — a petroleum-derived material that releases volatile organic compounds, including formaldehyde, as it ages and is exposed to body heat. Chemical flame retardants and synthetic adhesives used in conventional mattress construction are additional sources of emissions. Some of the VOC classes associated with these materials are linked to respiratory irritation, headaches, endocrine disruption, and — at higher exposures — liver, kidney, and central nervous system effects. Several are classified as probable or known carcinogens by the EPA and IARC.
How Certification Addresses It
GREENGUARD Gold — the standard that governs chemical emissions in bedrooms and children's rooms — sets specific limits on VOC concentrations and tests the finished product against them. It is the relevant benchmark for mattress off-gassing because it reflects actual indoor air quality conditions rather than generic material safety standards. Every Avocado mattress is GREENGUARD Gold certified.
UL Formaldehyde-Free Claim Verification independently confirms that Avocado products contain no added formaldehyde or formaldehyde precursors — one of the most commonly tested VOCs in mattress safety evaluation.
MADE SAFE® and EWG Verified® screen finished products against thousands of known and suspected harmful substances, including VOC-generating compounds, carcinogens, and endocrine disruptors.
Together, these certifications close the gap that no single standard can cover on its own.
Why Avocado's Materials Emit Less
Avocado mattresses contain no polyurethane foam, no memory foam, no chemical flame retardants, and no chemical adhesives between comfort layers — the four primary VOC sources in conventional mattresses. The materials in their place — GOLS-certified organic latex, GOTS-certified organic wool, and GOTS-certified organic cotton — are natural materials with significantly lower VOC profiles, independently verified to emit within safe limits under GREENGUARD Gold.
For the full answer on what Avocado mattresses emit and what to expect when your mattress arrives, see Do Avocado Mattresses Emit a Gas or Chemical Odor?