Ottawa is home to Sleeptek, one of the first and one of the best manufacturers of environmentally-friendly bedding. Sleeptek manufactures the Obasan line of organic beds, mattresses, futons, pillows, comforters (duvets), mattress pads, and barrier cloths right here in Ottawa.
To quote from their catalogue: “Our first priority at Obasan is to provide chemical-free, handcrafted products that you will enjoy every night for years to come. We combine the finest environmentally-sound materials with pride of craftsmanship.” The Obasan web-site is chronically “under development,” however there is a form on it that you can fill out and they’ll send you a catalogue via snail mail.
Or even better, you could visit their showroom. I’ve been to their showroom and I’ve lain on their natural rubber, wool and organic cotton mattresses and I must confess I was an instant convert. When my current mattress wears out I will return to Sleeptek and buy one of theirs. In the meantime, I did purchase one of their Saguenay 5000 natural rubber pillows. Sleeping with this pillow has noticeably improved my neck comfort and reduced my dust-mite allergies. And best of all, when it’s all worn out (in 2o years or so) I can put my pillow in the composter. A product that is environmentally friendly through its entire life-cycle.
As for organic cotton sheets, pillowcases, towels etc. Arbour Environmental Shoppe in the Glebe carries a good selection made by Coyuchi in India. They also carry Under the Nile organic cotton bedding from Egypt for babies and children. The super-soft organic cotton receiving blanket made by Under the Nile has become our standard babyshower gift and all the parents we’ve given one to give it rave reviews.
Finally, New Morning Futons on Bank Street in Old Ottawa South sells comforters/duvets, mattress pads, and pillows that are stuffed with wool instead of synthetics. Wool is a renewable resource, it’s compostable when you’ve finished using it and it controls moisture and dust mites.
Sleeptek, 50 Colonnade Rd. Ottawa, ON K2E 7J6, 613-727-5337 (1-866-890-2515)
Arbour Environmental Shoppe,800 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON, K1S 3V8, (613)567-3168 (1-800-766-3324)
New Morning Futons, 1162 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K1S 3X8, (613) 730-0333
May 10, 2007 at 11:09 am
Something that’s difficult to find out from their website is that Sleeptek also makes fantastic crib mattresses.
When I started looking for a new crib mattress for our second child, I wanted an organic mattress. It was wonderful to discover an Ottawa-based company that could provide a great product.
Sleeptek makes 2 kinds of crib mattresses:
1) standard coil spring
2) latex (natural rubber) core
We have a latex core mattress and it’s very nice. Water resistance is provided by both a wool water stop blanket, and an organic cotton mattress pad. Now I want one of their mattresses for our bed too.
It’s also nice to know that these mattresses contain neither the PBDE flame retardants (see: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/WOL/News_Releases/web_of_life02190701.asp) or the usual toxic antimony, arsenic, and phosphorus linked to SIDS (see: http://www.cotlife2000.co.nz).
January 7, 2008 at 1:35 am
Hello,
I’m very interested in the organic mattresses. However, I’m noticing that one of the main components contained in these mattresses is rubber/latex. To avoid problems associated with a latex sensitivity, I am searching for a latex free organic mattress? Do you offer this type of product?
Best regards,
Danielle
July 16, 2008 at 2:25 pm
You won’t be allergic to most latex mattresses as they’re typically stripped of the protein you’re allergic to.
We manufacture all our mattresses in Canada. Check us out at http://www.essentiadirect.com