Whereas many mattresses today include polyurethane, formaldehyde and other materials with questionable effects on the environment and human health, Keetsa is an eco-bedding company that takes a thoroughly green approach to mattresses and other sleep products.
Keetsa mattresses are built with sustainable components including recycled steel, scrap memory foam bits, bamboo fabrics and unbleached natural cotton, while odor control and anti-bacterial properties are delivered using EPA-approved technologies based on silver and green tea. Since different Keetsa mattress styles use varying degrees of such sustainable components, the company uses a composite score called the Keetsa Quotient to summarize the overall greenness of each one. So far, so good, but maybe not entirely unique (other companies, like Greek Coco-Mat, also tout the benefits of sleep on natural materials.)
What we liked about Keetsa is that, going beyond their component materials, they've also developed a way to compress their large mattresses so they fit into convenient wheeled boxes (made from recycled cardboard, of course). Not only does that make them maneuverable by one person, but it also reduces transportation expenses and the products' resulting carbon footprint, and gives consumers savings of between 50 and 75 percent, Keetsa says. Which makes for a very integrated eco-approach. Once the customer unpacks the mattress at home, it will resume its full, normal shape within one to three days.
Keetsa's mattress prices begin at USD 385, and shipping is free. Pillows, protectors, foundations and mattress toppers are available as well, both through the company's two California showrooms and at a few select retailers nationwide. Keetsa is hoping to sign up more retailers soon; one to bring to eco-conscious consumers near you? (Related: Eco-friendly pack and move solution.)
Website: www.keetsa.com
Contact: joe@keetsa.com
Spotted by: Frank Marquardt
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Hi frank, Actually memory foam - which Keetsa "recycles" has exactly the bad stuff you're talking about...see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_foam
I would urge caution before purchasing.
here's some info from another site:
Memory Foam mattresses are a form of polyurethane foamPolyurethane foam is produced by combining polyhydroxy polyol (petroleum based) with toluene di-isocyanate. Isocyanates are the synthetic petrochemical from which all polyurethane products are made from
Toluene di-isocyanate is a carcinogen designated by the EPA, OSHA and the CDC. Clinical effects of typical asthma occur over low concentration of exposure over a long timeIn addition, polyurethane foam contains chemical catalysts, surfactants, emulsifiers, pigments and other chemical additives. These include benzenes, styrene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, limonene and other toxic chemicals.
SUPERGREEN washed ---
if you want this product for 1/2 the cost - Walmart(dot com), also a few of the products can be found at HeartlandAmerica (all of my price quotes are based on a queen size) also "whypaymoreshoppe" seller on eBay has excellent prices. (I am not affliated)
Keetsa's 10" Cloud = $1044.00
Walmart's 10"" Aerus Natural Memory Foam Mattress =$529.88
Heartland's Theratouch Memory Mattress =$424.94
"whypaymoreshoppe" Classic 10" = $459.99 (free shipping)
Keetsa's contour pillow $69.99
Walmart's Eco-Friendly Memory Foam Contour Pillow $27.88
Keetsa's metal bedframe: $229.99
Bedzine (same owner as Keetsa) metal bedframe $174.99
Heartland's Smartbase frame: $109.98 (incl. shipping)
Walmart's Smartbase frame: $99.99
Facts:
Keetsa's products are made a manufacture in China, Zinus (yes they have an office in Pleasanton). Zinus holds the patent on "Mattress-in-a-box".
Keetsa is not a mattress company - they are a marketing company.
Many vendors carry the 'non green tea' mattress-in-a-box if you don't want to pay $$$$ for literal green washing. (search "mattress-in-a-box)
If you use a mattress, pad and sheets --- and wash them, you don't need the green tea to 'freshen' your mattress.
If Keetsa were truly concerned about the environment and their customers health they would post the chemical material declaration sheet of the mattress, as well as the VOC testing results.
Keetsa does not give you your $$ back if you are unhappy - just a store credit MINUS 15% and $100 mattress disposal charge????
Keetsa's owner also sells non green tea mattress (and the metal frame) for much less than at Keetsa on a site call Bedzine.com
Why did I do all of this research? I hate being lied to --- and I think it is gross that companies like Keetsa are taking advantage of consumers trying to make a more healthy choice.
For budget natural latex (read truly non-toxic) check out:
Organicgrace($975, and they are in Garberville)
Livefortomorrow. ($899, certified organic/natural)
I bought from Keetsa and they're great!
They aren't a 100% organic, but they don't pretend to be. I don't know where JEP is getting their information from. Also, bother taking a look at what they put in those walmart mattresses. I guarantee you it's not pretty. Baseline is that you can buy an "mattress in a box" but it won't be of the same quality and it's going to be much worse for you. You have any idea what type of chemicals those companies put into their products? Being sensitive to smells and having a young daughter, I did my research before purchasing a bed. Being as careful as I was, Keetsa showed me the VOC test results (really, JEP, again. I am horrified that there are people out there looking to take down a good product.You probably work for another mattress company anyway..)
And the memory foam they recycle is their own concoction of low-emission foam. Not the normal toxic foam you find everywhere else.
In the end, I bought a Keetsa mattress and I am super happy. I received excellent customer service in the store, the prices were right, and the mattress was so easy to set up! I highly recommend Keetsa!
I agree with Nancy...memory foam is nasty stuff. Which is why we at Keetsa invented a better alternative, called BioFoam. It replaces a large portion of the petroleum oil with natural plant oil, which produces a foam that has no detected formaldehyde nor VOC's. Keetsa also carries a latex mattress. I encourage Nancy and everyone to thoroughly check your facts when you are investigating companies.
Keetsa's alternative is only slighly better than the nasty stuff on the market. Instead of using 100% petroleum based foam Keetsa uses 88% petroleum based foam and 12% castor oil. Granted it is a slight improvement over some of the poorly made and dangerous products on the market, but if Keetsa was truly concerned about health effects of VOCs and cancer causing chemicals, they would use natural latex based foam. Keetsa claims that there are no detected VOC emissions from its foam mattresses. Yet, this claim is based on a single testing report (posted on the keetsa website) from a questionable Korean based testing laboratory. To get these results the laboratory tested a small piece of foam for a period of one hour using a questionable methodology. VOC emissions occur over the lifetime of the mattress and can increase as the product begins to age. Conducting testing in such a manner is at best inconclusive.
If Keetsa is serious about reducing VOC emissions they should test an entire mattress, not just memory foam, under real life conditions for a period longer than 1 hour to determine what the emissions are. These tests should also be performed at an accredited US based laboratory since their main market is the US and not Korea.
As far as other mattress brands, there are only so many manufacturers of memory foam and most of them use similar processes. Keetsa gets its foam from Zinus which manufactures it in China, and supplies numerous other brands. You really have to do your research here. Take a look at http://www.essentiadirect.com
which sells natural latex memory foam mattresses. Their products are a little pricey but the website has a good overview of some of the issues involved with memory foam products.
Frank:
Great spotting! I like the idea that this product is green, reasonably affordable, and clever. I linked to your piece in my blog for the Innovators-Network as I think your discovery is worth sharing with my readers! Best wishes for continued success in you Springwise.com pursuits and thanks for the tip.
Anthony
Anthony Kuhn | May 1, 2008 9:24 PM