What is Latex Foam and Why is it Good in Bedding?

More and more mattresses on the market are incorporating latex foam as a primary component of the mattress. Many individuals are familiar with traditional memory foam but unsure how and if latex foam differs from the memory foam they know and love. Additionally, you may be wondering why latex foam is used in mattresses and about the benefits it provides to the sleeper. Let's start with the basics.

What is latex foam?

Latex foam is created using a similar process as traditional memory foam, but the raw materials differ. For natural latex foam, the raw materials are comprised of sap from living rubber trees, which is also known as Hevea Milk. Contrastingly, the most basic raw materials for traditional memory foam are corn and soy oil. Once the sap is harvested, it undergoes multiple eco-friendly processes that add additional ingredients and air that help turn it into a foam consistency.

What are the benefits of latex foam?

Latex foam has a variety of benefits when used in mattresses:

• Latex foam is eco-friendly, comes from a renewable resource, and is biodegradable. Latex foam mattresses are some of the most natural and environmentally conscious mattresses on the market. Some consumers worry about the harsh chemicals that are sometimes added to traditional memory foam mattresses - latex foam is much more natural and has less additives. Consumers should feel great about choosing a mattress with latex foam because of a reduced environmental footprint.
• Latex foam is very durable. Latex foam first began to be engineered in the 1950's to create a longer lasting alternative to the traditional spring mattresses available at the time. A latex foam mattress outlasts its competitors, as it lasts for 10 to 30 years without needing to be replaced.
• Latex foam sleeps cool. Some people worry that any type of foam mattress will trap heat and cause the sleeper to be uncomfortably hot through the night. Latex foam naturally sleeps cooler than traditional foam. It is also designed to be porous, which enhances airflow, leading to cooler temps all the time.
• Latex foam is comfortable. When latex foam first debuted, it was notoriously not as comfortable as other beds on the market. Time and technological advances have allowed latex foam to become exponentially more comfortable. As compared to a traditional memory foam mattress, latex foam is more buoyant and pushes back more than regular memory foam. Overall it is also a bit more firm than traditional foam. For individuals that like the feel of memory foam and are worried about sacrificing when switching to latex - not to worry! Latex foam similarly contours the body as a regular memory foam mattress would.

Latex foam mattresses are ideal for consumers who are looking for a more sustainable, natural mattress. Because the sap used to make latex comes directly from living rubber trees, latex foam mattresses are renewable. These mattresses are also ideal for those that like to sleep cool, enjoy a firmer foam, like the contour quality of traditional memory foam, and are looking for a mattress that is durable and can outlast traditional spring mattresses by years if not decades.