Sustainability

Organic Latex Plantation

Organic Latex Plantation

Designed with Sustainability in mind

Heveya® originated in a response to demands for comfortable mattresses made of natural materials and produced in an environmentally friendly way.

With our passion for environmental care, we go beyond and look for latex from a plantation which was organically certified. Our supplier is also carbon neutral certified and has the Fair Choice certificate, which gives us peace of mind about the whole production process and the mattress our clients sleep on every night!

Heveya® Plantation

The Heveya® plantation is the world’s first organic certified latex plantation. To obtain this status, our plantation needed to be fertilized for 4 years with only 100% organic fertilizers. That is the time required for the soil to be completely chemical free, so that no traces of chemicals are detectable in the latex milk. Therefore, you are assured that Heveya®  latex mattresses themselves also contain no traces of toxic chemical fertilizers. 
The use of organic fertilizer on our plantations also creates much-needed jobs in the area. Furthermore, the important work of our latex farmers is paid in accordance with fair trade principles. In these ways, the Heveya®  organic plantation offers benefits above and beyond its top quality, chemical-free latex mattresses.

Heveya®  latex is a 100% natural product. This means you do not have to worry about toxic gasses being released while you sleep. In contrast, other foams, like PU foam or memory foam are made entirely of petroleum derivatives.

Our organic rubber plantation is audited by the Peterson Control Union Group, a European organization which does regular unannounced checks of the soil and the latex milk.

Reduced Carbon Footprint

Hevea Brasiliensis Trees

Just one queen size mattress requires 12 acres of rubber plantations to be tapped (which does not harm the trees). This number of trees absorbs a huge 143 tonnes of CO² from the air every year, and provides employment for 8 rubber tappers.

Each of us produces about 24 tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO²) per year, by driving, using energy at home or buying oil based products, thereby contributing to global warming. One way of reducing our carbon footprint is by planting trees. Trees absorb CO² from the air. Some trees absorb more than others.

Hevea Brasiliensis, the tree which produces natural latex, is among the most ecological trees in the world. A single Hevea tree absorbs about 1.8 tons of CO² in its life time, similar to a rainforest tree. Globally, all latex plantations together offset 90 million tons of CO² per year, a true blessing for our planet.

Hevea trees provide latex milk their whole life and are not damaged in the process. At the end of their life-cycle, they serve as a perfect alternative for tropical hardwood in furniture, hence preventing cutting of tropical rainforest trees.

Related Articles

How Are Latex Mattresses Made
Education

How Are Latex Mattresses Made

Latex is an all-natural product which comes from the sap of the rubber tree, Hevea Brasiliensis. Latex looks very different before it is processed into products such as mattresses. You may be wondering how the milky-white liquid sap is made into a comfortable relaxing mattress. Let's find out. It starts with the rubber tree The rubber tree, Hevea Brasiliensis, grows in many tropical areas. This tree produces a sap which contains latex, and this sap can be tapped to flow out of the tree and be harvested. Most of the plantations which are responsible for the commercial production of latex are found in Southeast Asia. Rubber plantations are managed carefully to ensure consistent growth of new trees for output. This is important, because it can take around six years for a rubber tree to grow large enough to have its sap harvested. Note that each tree can live for 100 years. To tap a rubber tree, a collector will make a thin cut on the diagonal to remove a small piece of bark. This allows the sap (i.e. latex) to run out of the bark down the tree and this fluid is collected in a bucket. However, the flow will stop after about 6 hours, but the tree may be tapped again with a new cut the next day. How much latex does it take to make a mattress? An immense amount of latex is needed to make a mattress. However, remember that latex can be tapped without destroying the tree or creating pollution, unlike other types of mattresses. To make a queen size latex mattress, it will take a whole day's output of 12 acres of rubber trees.  But instead of harming the environment, this helps it: the same number of trees tapped for a queen size mattress will over the course of one year remove 143 tons of carbon dioxide from the air. Furthermore, this same 12 acres of rubber trees will keep 8 rubber tappers employed too, creating important jobs in areas where jobs may be scarce. In other words, when you purchase a latex mattress, you are helping the world environment. You are doing this by supporting the growth of rubber tree plantations and in doing so removing carbon dioxide from the air. You're also creating much-needed jobs for people who tap rubber trees. How is the liquid latex made into a mattress? It seems strange at first to think that the milky sap of the rubber tree can be turned into a mattress! Yet it can be done. This step is called processing. There are several different methods that the latex milk can be processed into a comfortable foam mattress block. In common to all of them, the liquid latex sap is first mixed with a small proportion of materials which will later help the latex solidify. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' manufacturing process; they each have different advantages and disadvantages. Dunlop method In the Dunlop method, the liquid latex formulation is first mixed so that it will foam. This foamy mix is placed on a conveyer or into a shaped mould, and is then passed into a special oven which solidifies the mixture and allows it to. The product is then passed on to the washing station, where residual small amounts of liquid latex and any unreacted solidifying agents are washed away. The latex foam block is then dried by hot air and is ready for use.  With the Dunlop method, the latex foam may be created in any shape that is needed; for example a king size mattress may be prepared in one mould.  Talalay method The Talalay method is newer than the Dunlop method and produces a slightly different texture of latex. With the Talalay method, the liquid latex formulation is transferred into a shaped mould and sealed closed. Then a vacuum is applied, and the purpose of this is to disperse the latex evenly throughout the mould. After that, it is flash frozen, and immediately afterward it is flash heated so that it will permanently solidify. After cooling, the solid latex block is removed from the mould and is ready for use. The Talalay method cannot be used to produce very large blocks of latex, so latex mattresses made with this method are created from smaller blocks glued together. Locations of the seams may vary, and this is something to take into account when purchasing a Talalay mattress. How EB latex mattresses are made EB latex mattresses are made using the Dunlop process. Manufacturing of EB latex core is fully automated. Firstly, the latex formulation is mixed continuously with compressed air in order to create foam. Once the latex foam has the right density, minuscule air bubbles are mixed into it. In this way, air is infused into the compound resulting in an open cell structure. It is these open structures that gives the mattress the required air circulation and guarantee an agreeable temperature in bed. Once the latex foam is ready, a robot spread it into a mould which incorporates pin core holes to define the pattern of the mattress comfort zones. The filled moulds are then vulcanize, in other words baked. The comfort patterns of the mattress are defined by the pin core structure in the mould, bigger pins make bigger holes in the core and the mattress feels softer. The adapted firmness of the different zones ensures perfect lying comfort.  After the vulcanization step, the fresh latex core is then taken out of the mould and thoroughly washed. The remaining residue is removed completely and the core dried. Each mattress core is tested and examined individually to measure the hardness, the density and is reviewed for visual perfection. Once the mattress has been rigorously checked for its quality, it then goes to the automated warehouse where it is packed and stored. Soon after that, it is shipped under carefully controlled conditions to customers around the world. The latex mattresses are certified by different independent organizations and carry several quality certificates. These certificates give customers and users the guarantee that every latex mattress is synonymous with exceptional comfort and safety.  Conclusion Latex is a natural material which is produced from the sap of the rubber tree. This liquid sap is made into a comfortable solid foam block using one of the processes outlined here. When you buy a 100% natural latex mattress, you are helping the environment by supporting the growth of rubber tree plantations, which remove carbon dioxide from the air. You are also providing jobs for rubber tappers in areas where employment opportunities are often scarce. A natural latex mattress goes above and beyond the delicious comfort you'll feel when you lie down. It's also about the satisfaction you'll feel in knowing you're purchasing an environmentally responsible product.
What Is a Latex Mattress
Education

What Is a Latex Mattress

Do you want to wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day’s challenges? Try sleeping on our 100% pure latex mattress! What is a natural latex mattress? Latex is naturally produced by mother nature. Made from the sap of the rubber tree, Hevea Brasiliensis, latex mattress is naturally elastic. This elasticity is crucial for the ability of the mattress to mold itself perfectly according to the body shape, whatever the sleeping position. This enables the spine to be kept in its natural position, reducing excessive pressure on certain points of the body and ensuring healthy blood circulation during sleeping hours. What are the main benefits of a natural latex mattress? Natural origin. Latex is made from the rubber tree, Hevea Brasiliensis, and therefore free from harmful chemicals. Progressive support. Latex feels comfortably soft at first touch and as you settle deeper in your mattress, it gives you full support. That's why latex is ideal for providing back support. It adapts to the body contours, keeping proper alignment of the spinal column. Excellent pressure distribution for a good blood circulation. Elastic, allowing you to move freely at night. Latex is made of millions of molecular springs, ensuring support in every point of your body. Naturally anti-dust mite, anti‐microbial and anti‐bacterial and therefore, good for people with allergies. Good breathability for a comfortable sleeping temperature & excellent moisture absorption. Latex has an open cell structure and has ventilation holes allowing you to sleep in a fresh environment. High durability. Latex mattresses are known to last longer than mattresses made of other materials such as spring coil and PU foam. What is the ideal firmness? Many people with back pain think that a very firm mattress will help to relieve their pain. This is not true. What you need is not a rock hard mattress, but a mattress that is comfortable and firm enough to support your body. Here’s how to decide which mattress is best for you. Too HardOur bodies are not flat. When a mattress is too hard, you sleep on top of it and you get no support. All weight will be supported by two pressure points, resulting in bad blood circulation. If your mattress does not follow the contours of your body, then it is time to change your mattress. Too SoftSagging in the middle at the heaviest part of your body is what you get if your mattress is old or of low quality. Such mattress is very bad for your back because it does not give the support that your body needs. If your mattress shows signs of sagging, we recommend you to change your mattress immediately. Just rightThe right mattress gives you both comfort and support. It feels soft and comfortable at first touch, but as you sink deeper, it gives you full support, so that your spine is in the right position and your body pressure is evenly distributed. We call this progressive support. All of our mattresses provide the “just right” support. We use high-quality materials like 100% natural latex which mold perfectly to your body contours and are elastic at the same time. Within the “just right” range, we have firm, medium and soft feels. Depending on your body weight and personal preference, we recommend the following: < 60 kg: soft 60‐90 kg: medium or firm > 90 kg: firm Besides weight, your height will also help determine your ideal mattress choice.Try our mattresses and you’ll know what we mean by “just right”. At Heveya® Singapore, we make only quality mattresses that suit your needs best. What are the health benefits of a good mattress? To get a good night sleep, your mattress should support your body so that your spine is properly aligned and can recuperate during the night. The support and contouring help to distribute your body weight evenly. Thus, pressure points are reduced significantly and your blood circulation is improved. Remember, a good blood circulation is vital for a good health.So the importance of a good and supportive mattress cannot be underestimated. It will improve the quality of your life. With Heveya®, you can rest assured that you are buying a quality mattress that will help you sleep well throughout the night. A good night sleep is just a click away. Get your latex mattress now!

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