MADE SAFE® certifies finished products — not individual materials — against thousands of known and suspected harmful substances, requiring complete ingredient disclosure and independent evaluation before certification is granted.
MADE SAFE® is a program of Nontoxic Certified, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It was among the first certification programs in the U.S. to apply a comprehensive, human-health- and ecosystem-focused standard across consumer product categories — screening not just for what harms people, but also for what harms aquatic life and wildlife.
What MADE SAFE® Screens For
Rather than setting acceptable exposure levels, MADE SAFE® prohibits the use of more than 6,500 known and suspected toxins in any amount. Certified products are screened against:
Carcinogens
Endocrine disruptors
Reproductive and developmental toxins
Behavioral toxins
Neurotoxins
Heavy metals
High-risk pesticides
Toxic flame retardants
Harmful VOCs
Toxic solvents
Certification requires complete ingredient transparency — every substance in a product must be disclosed and evaluated before the MADE SAFE seal can be granted.
Why Finished-Product Certification Matters
MADE SAFE certifies the product as it arrives in your home — not the individual materials used to make it. A cotton component certified elsewhere is not the same as a finished mattress that has been independently screened as a complete system. Avocado's mattresses, including our Organic Crib Mattress, hold MADE SAFE certification at the finished-product level.
PFAS Testing
In 2024, Avocado published comprehensive PFAS test results — 320 substances screened at parts-per-billion sensitivity across core materials, including adult and crib mattresses. No detectable amounts were found. MADE SAFE's requirement for full ingredient disclosure makes that level of transparency a condition of certification, not an optional addition.
Recognized for Crib Safety
Consumer Reports, in partnership with MADE SAFE, named the Avocado Organic Crib Mattress one of three Top Choices in its 2025 evaluation of the safest crib mattresses available, with no known material risks identified.
"Most consumers assume that if a product is on a shelf, it's been screened for safety. That's not how it works. MADE SAFE® certification exists to close that gap — screening finished products against thousands of known and suspected harmful substances, from carcinogens to endocrine disruptors. When a company like Avocado submits its finished products to that level of scrutiny voluntarily, it tells you something about what they prioritize."
— Amy Ziff, Founder and Executive Director, MADE SAFE®
A conversation with MADE SAFE® Amy Ziff:
The MADE SAFE® certification process:
