What Is Graphite Powder?
In Avocado's Vegan Mattress, graphite powder is infused directly into the organic latex to serve as a natural fire barrier — replacing the role that organic wool plays in Avocado's non-vegan mattresses.
How does it work?
Graphite powder used in this application is a form of expandable graphite — a naturally occurring carbon mineral. When exposed to heat or flame, it expands rapidly and forms a dense, insulating char layer that cuts off the flame from the material beneath it. This physical barrier meets federal flammability standards without using chemical flame retardants.
Unlike chemical flame retardant treatments — which are linked in peer-reviewed research to endocrine disruption and neurodevelopmental effects — graphite is a mineral that does not release toxic byproducts when it activates.
Why do few other brands use it?
Expandable graphite presents a manufacturing challenge: it can accumulate in and damage processing equipment. Because Avocado owns and operates its own latex processing facilities, we can produce graphite-infused latex in small, controlled batches — a capability most brands working with third-party manufacturers lack.
Where is it used?
Graphite-infused organic latex is used exclusively in the Avocado Vegan Mattress, which contains no animal-derived materials. This is our Vegan Certified, PETA-approved mattress. All other Avocado mattresses use GOTS-certified organic wool as the natural flame barrier.
Graphite-infused organic latex:
