Our Materials

There are two main methods of processing latex – the Dunlop and the Talalay process. We use the Dunlop process, which has been practised since the late 1920s. First, the sap is extracted from the rubber tree, then put into a centrifuge machine and whipped into a froth. The froth is then placed into a mould with a small amount of gelling agent (sodium silicofluoride), covered, and steam baked. The latex is then washed and rinsed which removes any residue left over from the gelling and baking process, as well as removing most VOC’s.

The Talalay Latex process has a few more steps than the Dunlop Latex process. Once the sap is in the mould with the gelling agent, it is placed in a vacuum chamber, and air is extracted.  It is then flash frozen, and chemicals used to stabilise it. After this the mould is baked before it is washed and then rinsed alike to the Dunlop method.

It is important to note that although you may find 100% Natural Talalay Latex on the market, it is not possible to create certified Organic Talalay Latex. Consequently, the Dunlop Latex process is the only way to produce 100% Certified Organic Latex internationally. As our first priority is to create a natural and clean product, we choose to use the Dunlop process.

Organic fillers are naturally occurring substances found in the sap, including tree minerals and salts. You’d expect them to be there, and we wouldn’t try to remove them. The latex we work with and use to handcraft our natural mattresses and pillows contains only organic fillers.

Sometimes when we have a customer come to us who has had previous allergic reactions/sensitivities to latex, it may have been a reaction to the synthetic fillers that have been used to make that product. We offer complimentary mattress material samples to anyone with allergy or sensitivity concerns.

When the sap is heated with a small amount of gelling agent (sodium silicofluoride) a minimal amount of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are formed. VOCs are carbon-based compounds, found both naturally and in many household products and most are washed out of the mattress during the rinsing process before testing and packaging. They are carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature and can combine with other molecules in the atmosphere to create new compounds – some harmless, others not so. This is often described as the smell from fresh paint, new furniture, new cars, etc. which arises from VOCs breaking down – a process known as off-gassing (this typically occurs when a product is first made and when a product nears the end of its life).

When there is a high level of VOCs, we find chemically sensitive people can get headaches, itchy eyes, feel nauseous or have issues breathing. Consequently, high levels of VOCs can have adverse health effects as off-gassing may persist for years after a product is made. The more natural a product is, and the more stable its make-up, the lower the level of VOCs and the safer it is. We care deeply about creating a healthy sleeping environment so we strive to ensure our Organic Latex has as little off-gassing as possible. Our latex is tested and certified to ensure it has a low toxicity.