Greener Pastures: Eco-Friendly Bedding Guide

You can help combat deforestation and the use of non-renewable resources by buying bedding that is made from natural fibers. Some bedding is treated with chemicals such as formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is linked to cancer and you probably remember it as the chemical for embalming the dead. Amazingly, many of us are sleeping with formaldehyde treated sheets, pillow cases or comforters.

According to the Sierra Club website, it can be tricky to determine if bedding contains formaldehyde because most of the time it's not mentioned. However, all polyester/cotton blends contain formaldehyde as well as those labeled no-iron, permanent press or easy-care. Eco-friendly bedding can be made from organic cotton, organic wool, organic silk, bamboo, linen or hemp. Bamboo is becoming popular as an eco-friendly fiber because it grows so quickly and can be easily replenished.

Eco-friendly Sheets & Pillow Cases
As sheets and pillow cases come into the closest contact with our skin, you may be concerned that you need to give up comfort and softness when choosing eco-friendly sheets. In fact, you do not. Target is offers an economical 250 thread count queen size bamboo sheets for $49.99 here. This includes 1 fitted sheet, 1 flat sheet and 2 pillow cases. The sheets are not actually 100% bamboo cotton but rather a blend of 60% bamboo and 40% cotton. My favorite sheets ever-they have come with me to Japan and the Philippines-are a high thread count Egyptian cotton. So if like me, you addicted to Egyptian cotton and/or high thread count, you might like the 1000 thread count queen size gold sheets being offered at Amazon.com for $99.99 here. They are a blend of 40% Egyptian cotton and 60% Bamboo cotton and include 1 fitted sheet, 1 flat sheet and 2 pillow cases. Before purchasing any sheets online, I recommend visiting stores such as Bed Bath and Beyond and feeling the actual products for yourself.

Eco-friendly Shams, Duvet Covers & Comforters
To compliment your eco-friendly sheets and pillow cases, if it's in your budget, consider getting eco-friendly shams, duvet covers and comforters. These bedding accessories are not cheap so you may to save or budget yourself for these purchases.

For duvet covers, consider Satara Inc.'s Amenity Cove series of duvet covers and shams which are true works of art in addition to being eco-friendly. These organic cotton products feature simple natural designs with eco-friendly dyes. A queen size duvet costs $330 while standard size pillow shams are $65 for two. More information here.

Try an organic wool comforter from Giam.com. This comforter has an organic cotton shell. Wool is excellent for keeping you warm and snuggly during those cold nights. You can choose a lightweight queen size comforter for $259 or a heavyweight queen size comforter for $309. For more info, click here.

As you go about designing your dream green bedroom, start by spending some time on and offline to consider your eco-friendly bedding needs and test the eco-friendly fabrics yourself. With increases in quality and variety complimented by a decrease in price, now is great time to invest in eco-friendly bedding.