Where can you find bed sheets that are as gentle on the Earth as they are on your skin? Sustainably manufactured sheets avoid the harmful chemicals and shady manufacturing practices that make so many textiles bad for the environment. With these eco-friendly sheet sets, you’ll have the peace of mind you need to get a good night's sleep.
Why should you trust us when it comes to sustainable bedding? Because we’ve done the research. When we created our own organic sheets, we interviewed dozens of different suppliers about their ethical practices before settling on one we trusted. In this article, we’ll explain everything we discovered about creating eco-friendly bedding so that you can feel confident choosing sustainable and comfortable sheets.
At a glance:
- How to Spot Sustainable Sheets
-
11 Amazing Sustainable Sheets
- Best Overall: Hush Iced 2.0
- Best Tencel: Sijo Airyweight Eucalyptus
- Best Cotton Percale: Looma Organic Percale
- Best Jersey Cotton: West Elm
- Best Cotton Sateen: SOL Organics
- Best Linen: Silk & Snow Flax Linen Bed Sheets
- Best Hemp: Crate & Barrel Natural Hemp Sheet Sets
- Best Celebrity-Endorsed: Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set
- Best Blended Fabric: Tuck Classic Sheet Set
- Best Variety: Flax Home Linen Sheet Set
- Best Organic Sheets on a Budget: Fabdreams Organic Cotton Percale
- Sleep Soundly With Sustainable Sheets
How to Spot Sustainable Sheets
It's not always easy to identify the most eco-friendly bedding. Most companies nowadays try to highlight one or two green-ish things they do, even if the rest of their processes are terrible for the Earth. Making a sustainable choice means considering the entire production process and life cycle of your sheets. Below are a few key things to look for.
Low-Impact Production
The large-scale farming operations that supply the textile industry often use pesticides that can damage birds and beneficial insects. Others deploy huge amounts of fertilizer, which plays havoc with the ecosystem when it washes into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Sustainable bedding starts with certified organic materials. Conventionally grown cotton is terrible for the environment, but there are organic farming methods that can greatly reduce its impact. Other textile crops, like bamboo and eucalyptus, are even more sustainable (more on those below).
Responsible Manufacturing
Turning plants into fabric can also harm the environment if it's done carelessly. Many companies use toxic chemicals and additives when making bed sheets. For instance, "wrinkle-resistant" sheets are usually made with formaldehyde — not something you want in your body or your ecosystem! Look for bed sheet sets that source their fabric from ethical manufacturers.
Long-Lasting Fabric
You also need to consider how durable your bed sheets are. Organic bedding doesn't do the Earth much good if it has to be replaced after a few months. Watch out for sheets with weak fibers that rip or pill after just a few wash cycles.
One way to avoid that kind of deterioration is to choose naturally strong fabrics. Linen and bamboo, for example, last longer than cotton. But durability can vary a lot between bedding brands, so check the customer reviews before clicking "Buy." If you see a lot of complaints about sheets pilling, tearing, or wearing thin, you may want to look for something sturdier.
Biodegradable Materials
It's important to consider where your bedding is going as well as where it comes from. Even the strongest sheets will eventually wear out and need to be thrown away.
That's why we recommend all-natural fabrics rather than synthetic materials like nylon, microfiber, and acrylic. Sheets made of artificial fibers can sit in a landfill for hundreds of years without breaking down. Even worse, washing them releases tiny scraps of plastic into the environment, contributing to the worldwide crisis of microplastic pollution.
Look closely at the product description before buying bedding — some "bamboo sheets" are actually blended with synthetic fabrics like microfiber. Check out our honest and in-depth Cosy House sheets review that looks into these blended sheets.
Domestic Manufacturing
Cutting down on transportation is another way to reduce your environmental footprint. That's why it's great to find sustainable sheets that are made close to home!
11 Amazing Sustainable Sheets
In no particular order, here's our roundup of the 11 best sustainable bedding choices for customers.
Best Overall: Hush Iced 2.0
We're confident that you won't find better organic sheets than the Hush Iced bamboo sheet set. They offer an unbeatable combination of comfort, durability, and environmental protection.
Hush sheets are made entirely from certified organic bamboo, which is a super-green crop — both figuratively and literally. Bamboo grows with incredible speed, but requires no pesticides, no fertilizer, and very little water. It's both softer and more sustainable than cotton, and lacks the animal cruelty concerns inherent in silk harvesting. Plus, bamboo is harvested without disturbing the plant’s roots, which remain in the ground to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
We're also sticklers when it comes to our supply chain. We vet all our fabric manufacturers carefully for ethical practices in labor and sustainability. Hush sheets are OEKO-TEX certified, meaning they're totally free of toxic chemicals, which is good for you and the Earth alike.
Our organic sheets are also made with the strongest possible bamboo fibers. That’s why they score a perfect 5 out of 5 on industry tests of pilling resistance, and why you can wash them repeatedly without wearing them out.
Our sheets also feel whisper-soft on your skin, thanks to a special finish that presses out any microscopic irregularities in the fabric. And the lightweight bamboo weave is moisture-wicking and highly breathable, making these the perfect sheets for hot sleepers.
Even better news for shoppers: We offer all buyers a 100-night sleep trial so you can be 100% sure you're satisfied.
Best Tencel: Sijo Airyweight Eucalyptus
Tencel is another sustainable fabric that's been attracting a lot of attention from eco-conscious shoppers. It's similar in many ways to the fabric we use to make our Hush sheet sets, except that it's made from the fibers of eucalyptus trees instead of bamboo. Processing wood pulp into fabric sometimes creates a lot of water and chemical waste, but Tencel employs a "closed loop" process that reuses most of the ingredients over and over.
That gives Sijo's Airyweight sheets some pretty solid environmental cred. The company also donates 1% of each purchase to a nonprofit of the buyer’s choice. The options range from conservation projects to gender equality initiatives in developing countries.
The sheets themselves are soft, with a glossy feel that's similar to silk. As the name implies, they're also fairly breathable, making them popular with those who have trouble staying cool at night.
We're a little less confident in their durability, as quite a few reviewers found holes in their sheets after only a month or two of use. On the plus side, many of the reviewers with ripped sheets were able to get replacements quickly and were happy with Sijo's customer service.
You should be aware that by default, Sijo's bedding set doesn't include a flat sheet. This makes their "sticker price" look a little better than it really is. Tencel tends to be more expensive than bamboo, and Sijo's sheets are no exception — if you include the flat sheet, the base price of a Queen set is $239. By comparison, we sell our Queen sheet set for just $169.
Best Cotton Percale: Looma Organic Percale
If you love organic cotton, and you tend to overheat at night, we recommend these breathable luxury sheets from Looma. They use a loose percale weave that lets hot air escape easily, helping to regulate your body temperature.
The organic cotton that goes into these sheets is pesticide-free, rain-watered, and hand-picked. Looma also buys directly from family farmers, which they say ensures better wages and working conditions. The packaging is also plastic-free, a welcome choice for those of us who feel guilty every time we throw out another wrapper.
Looma uses extra-long staple cotton that makes for a soft yet sturdy fabric. The company claims it's twice as soft and four times as strong as "regular" cotton, though they don't specify what they're using as their benchmark. Still, most customers who reviewed these percale sheets agreed that they're soft and cool.
One possible downside is the limited color options. The shades they offer are fun, but there are only three choices, none of which are the classic white or off-white many people prefer in their bedding. Looma's prices are also high, with a Queen set going for $310. If you're willing to pay a premium for sustainable organic cotton sheets, these might be for you, but budget-minded shoppers should consider other options.
Best Jersey Cotton: West Elm
Do you like bedding with a cozier feel? Then you might like this sheet set from West Elm. Their plush Jersey cotton weave feels almost like a cross between bed sheets and blankets. The Cotton Cloud sheets also have understated elegance that's rare in Jersey bedding, which is usually more of a low-maintenance comfort option.
Cotton doesn't have the built-in ecological benefits of bamboo or eucalyptus. However, West Elm’s sheets are made of organic cotton and produced in a Fair Trade Certified factory. That means that in addition to adhering to environmental standards, they've committed to providing livable wages and safe working conditions for their employees.
We had a hard time finding reviews of the Cotton Cloud sheets from long-term customers. That makes it a little harder to say how well they'll stand up to wear and tear. The color palette is also limited, with only three muted earth tones available. However, West Elm's sheets are undeniably snuggly, so they’re a decent option for those who prize coziness above all else.
Best Cotton Sateen: SOL Organics
We've looked at Jersey cotton, which is all about softness, and percale cotton, which has a cooler, crisper feel. This sateen sheet set from SOL Organics falls somewhere in between. The fabric is soft and smooth to the touch, but not as fluffy and stretchy as Jersey bedding.
As we've mentioned, cotton isn't always a great choice for sustainable bedding. This set is certified to meet the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), though, meaning it satisfies international benchmarks for organic cotton farming. SOL also has certifications from OEKO-TEX and two different fair trade organizations.
Reviewers who tried these sheets were unanimous in praising their soft, satiny feel. They were more mixed about the breathability, so if you sleep hot, you'll probably be happier with percale or bamboo sheets.
Best Linen: Silk & Snow Flax Linen Bed Sheets
Linen sheets are another popular choice for sustainable bedding. Linen comes from the natural fibers of the flax plant, which can be grown with lower inputs of water, fertilizer, and pesticides than cotton.
Lots of high-end retailers offer linen sheets, but we like Silk & Snow for their highly transparent supply chain. They source premium grade flax from France and Belgium, then process, dye, and sew it in factories in Portugal. The company aims to minimize water waste and emissions every step of the way. One caveat: though they're chemical-free, these sheets aren't certified organic, so you have to take them at their word regarding their sustainability pledges.
The Flax Linen sheets are good for sleepers who run hot. Flax fibers are very breathable and absorbent, releasing body heat and soaking up sweat. They're not so great in terms of softness — linen is coarser than most textile fabrics, though it does get softer as you break it in.
Best Hemp: Crate & Barrel Natural Hemp Sheet Sets
Hemp is another sustainable bedding option that's gaining in popularity. It's very similar to linen in feel, offering more airflow than cotton or silk but less softness (though like linen, it gets softer the more you wash it). Hemp grows fast with little need for chemical inputs, and it actually replenishes degraded soil as it grows.
We chose this set from Crate & Barrel for a few reasons. First, it's less expensive than most hemp bedding, which is a niche product that tends to be costly. Second, both the sheets and duvet covers are available in several attractive styles and colors. Third, reviewers confirm that these sheets are lightweight and very comfortable for those who tend to heat up at night.
That's not to say this eco-friendly bedding is for everyone. If you prefer warmer sheets, we recommend material with a thicker weave, like silk, flannel, or cotton sateen. Also, a few complaints from reviewers suggest that the Crate & Barrel set may pill more than average, especially compared to the durability of bamboo bedding like Hush. But if you're a hot sleeper, and you're okay with a rougher texture that takes time to smooth out, this might be the set for you.
Shop Crate & Barrel sheets here
Best Celebrity-Endorsed: Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set
If you've ever wanted to sleep like the stars, you might like these bamboo sheets from Cozy Earth, which have received a stamp of approval from celebrities like Jeff Bridges, Pink, and Oprah. They get rave reviews for softness, and since they’re made of bamboo fabric, they're great at wicking moisture from sweaty skin.
Like Hush, Cozy Earth provides a 100-night trial period to let you test out your sheets. Unlike Hush, they don't have certified organic bedding. Their website affirms their commitment to sustainable sourcing, but the details are vague.
Cozy Earth's bamboo bedding is also quite expensive, with a base price of $360 for a Queen-size sheet set. The good news is that they come with a 10-year warranty, so these sheets should last you a long time. Give them a look if you’re willing to splurge a little bit for the sleep style of the rich and famous.
Best Blended Fabric: Tuck Classic Sheet Set
These sheets from Tuck are an interesting combination of organic cotton and Tencel from eucalyptus. Both crops are GMO-free and grown without harmful chemicals, so this definitely qualifies as eco-friendly bedding. The blend of these two fabrics creates a "lived-in" feel that's comfortable and gentle on your skin.
Customer reviews for Tuck's organic bedding are a little thin on the ground, so you are taking a chance when it comes to durability. And some of the cooling, moisture-wicking power of Tencel is lost by combining it with cotton. The pilling resistance will also be reduced compared to pure eucalyptus or bamboo.
On a more positive note, their sheets are pre-washed for added softness right out of the package.
Best Variety: Flax Home Linen Sheet Set
Sustainable bedding brands tend to stick to a few sedate, earthy color choices. Flax Home stands out from the crowd with nine different shades of bed linen, including lively options like Terracotta red and Mint green. If you spring for a duvet cover, you can get a different color to mix and match. Those who like to customize the look of their bedrooms will appreciate the extra variety.
Along with the aesthetic perks, these sheets have all the environmental benefits of linen: less water use and fewer pesticides than cotton, along with a naturally long lifespan.
The sheets themselves are manufactured in China, which is less inspiring from a climate standpoint. However, Flax Home says they use ethical supply chain practices and frequently visit their overseas factories to check up on working conditions. Like Looma, they ship their sheets with no plastic, just a linen drawstring bag.
Flax Home pre-washes their bedding to soften it up before use. Sadly, that doesn't stop the sheets from producing a ton of lint when you run them through the dryer, which is common with linen. They also look a bit less neat on your bed since they wrinkle easily. But if you've been hesitant to try linens because they take a while to break in, you might want to give these sheets a try.
Best Organic Sheets on a Budget: Fabdreams Organic Cotton Percale
Eco-friendly bedding brands always have to charge a bit of a premium, but Fabdreams is more affordable than most. A Queen set of these organic cotton sheets costs only $121.99 (less if you catch them when they're on sale). They're GOTS certified, OEKO-TEX certified, and members of the Better Cotton Initiative, which promotes sustainability in cotton cultivation around the world.
Fabrdeams also has cotton sateen and linen options, but we're focusing on the cotton percale set because it's the best value. This type of weave also lets a good amount of air flow through for temperature regulation. Bamboo sheets are cooler, but for the price, this set is a nice compromise for hot sleepers. The savings does come at the cost of reduced durability, though — numerous customers noted that these sheets are fairly thin and may not stand the test of time.
Sleep Soundly With Sustainable Sheets
It's easier to drift off to a peaceful slumber when you're not worrying that your sheets are destroying the Earth. Knowing that they're free of toxic chemicals doesn't hurt either. We hope our list of eco-friendly sheets helps you in your search for sweet dreams.
Are you still having trouble deciding? We think our Hush bamboo sheets are the best sustainable sheets for most sleepers. They're superbly soft, amazingly durable, and crafted from one of the most renewable resources on the planet. Visit our product page to learn more about how Hush sheets can help you get better sleep.
