‘Organic’ baby mattress may contain chemicals
Environmental group files complaint with FTC about infant beds
An environmental organization has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, contending that a popular baby goods company falsely claims to offer natural and organic mattresses.
“There is nothing either natural or organic about polyethylene foam,” said Bobbi Wilding, executive director of Clean and Healthy NY, which filed the complaint against L.A. Baby mattresses.
The complaint stemmed from a report, “Peeling Back the Green Façade: Calling out “Greenwashing ” in the Crib Mattress Market as Lessons on Brand Manipulation of Health and Environmental Claims.”
The report was issued by CHNY’S Getting Ready for Baby organization.
While the company claims that their baby mattresses are “naturally organic,” CHNY contends that only some components meet that description.
And they use graphics mixed with certification logos to suggest the products have more certifications than they do.
All of this is a form of greenwashing, or misleading advertising and promotions that present products as more environmentally friendly and chemical-free than they really are, said Wilding.
“Greenwashing has become prevalent in the marketplace at large, and is rampant among crib mattress brands,” said Wilding. “We urge the Federal Trade Commission to take action against L.A. Baby. Other brands should ensure they accurately describe their products, so parents and families can choose products that meet their needs.”
Company officials couldn’t be reached for comment on Friday.
The Federal Trade Commission enforces, among other things, consumer protection laws.
Wilding said more complaints are likely in the wake of their report, which found that 10 of 37 companies examined engaged in greenwashing.
Specifically, investigators found LA Baby makes “general
statements about the contents of all its mattresses, stating that the mattresses ‘could’ contain USDA certified organic cotton and other highquality materials.
They also say the company claims its mattresses are antimicrobial and dust mite proof, but offers no independent certification of that.
Using X-rays, spectroscopy and other methods, The Ecology Center, a lab working for CHNY, found polyethylene terephthalate, antimony, and vinyl in the company’s “Triple Zero 2 in 1 Crib Mattress” that they purchased in 2019.
The polyurethane foam cores in the mattresses also contained triphenyl phosphate.
The vinyl, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), was of particular concern, according to the complaint.
A common waterproofing material, PVC is a rigid plastic that requires many additives, including bisphenol A and plasticizers.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 banned a class of plasticizers called phthalates from children’s toys and products.
Manufacturers have found substitutes for phthalates, but the longterm effects of the substitutes are not well-studied, said CHNY.
Like phthalates, the substitutes are not chemically bound to the plastic they are added to and could therefore migrate out, coming into contact with skin or being inhaled.