How to Choose Truly Vegan Bedding (And What to Avoid)

Concerned about the use of animal products in bedding? Because of their natural insulating and breathable qualities, animal-derived materials are commonly used in bedding, especially in duvets. 

If your concern is animal welfare, there are certifications you can look for to identify products created with high standards for animal ethics and wellbeing.

And if you’re committed to a vegan lifestyle, there are many plant-based or alternative bedding materials to choose from, letting you create a sleep space that reflects your commitment to compassionate living.

What Makes Bedding Non-Vegan?

By and large, most bedding is made from plant-based or synthetic derivatives that are naturally-free from animal products. Common fabrics include cotton, bamboo cotton, and TENCEL™. 

Certain materials do, however, contain animal products:

• Down: Crafted from the soft under-plumage of waterfowl like geese, down traps heat while staying breathable, making a beautiful filling for high-quality duvets.
• Wool: Sheared from sheep, wool is warm, breathable, and absorbent, and is used in certain duvets, blankets, and mattress protectors. 
• Silk: Spun by silkworms, silk is used in high-end duvets, sheets and accessories, and offers a cooling, smoothing, hypoallergenic, and incredibly durable material that can’t be found elsewhere.

Ethical Production Certifications

If you’re ever buying bedding derived from animal products, look for these certifications to ensure your items were ethically-crafted from farm to factory:

• Responsible Down Standard® (RDS): This certification ensures that all materials come from ethically-treated animals, using the best practices in animal care.
• DOWNMARK®: The Downmark® certification ensures that its down and feather products are real, of high-quality, and finished in Canada according to strict ethical standards.
• Responsible Wool Standard® (RWS): The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) ensures that sheep are treated with the highest care and that they come from sustainably and responsibly-managed farms.

Our Top Vegan Picks

If you’re looking for 100% vegan bedding, there are countless options waiting for you! From alternative-fill duvets, to luxury sheets made with sustainable fibers, here are just a few of our faves:

• Vegan Duvets: 
• A hypoallergenic, easy-care microgel duvet
• The cooling, moisture-wicking TENCEL™ Lyocell duvet (a great alternative to silk)
• A lightweight cotton duvet (ideal for summer)
• TENCEL™ Bedding: Derived from a mix of tree pulp including eucalyptus or beechwood, our TENCEL™ Modal and TENCEL™ Lyocell sheeting and duvet covers are naturally vegan, with breathable and moisture-wicking comfort crafted from a sustainable, water-wise, and resource-efficient production process.
• Bamboo Cotton Bedding: Bamboo is a fast-growing and sustainable fibre that requires minimal resources to grow and is fully biodegradable at the end of life. The resulting rayon from bamboo and cotton fabric is soft and ventilating, regulating your temperature while being easy on sensitive skin. Note: We craft our bamboo sheets and duvet covers from Moso Bamboo, a variety that pandas do not eat. 
• Organic Cotton Bedding: Crafted from cotton plants that use significantly less water than traditional cotton and are free from harmful chemicals, our organic cotton sheeting offers classic, sustainable comfort that’s completely vegan. 

If you’re looking for ethically-crafted or fully-vegan bedding, there are many high-quality options to choose from! If you need more help finding the right bedding for you, visit one of our 75+ stores across Canada to talk to a sleep stylist in person.