5 Ways to Make Your Bedroom Healthier an Island of Health

Guest blog by Bethany at Ecothes

We’re conscious about the environment in many aspects of our lives; we recycle, walk instead of taking the car and shop sustainably. But have you ever considered the impact your choices in your bedroom can have on the environment?

What if we told you that by making small changes to your bedroom, you could create a healthy, sustainable space, improve the quality of your sleep, and even help reduce your monthly energy bills?

That’s why we’re going to discuss five easy ways you can transform your bedroom into an eco-friendly space with the help of AIZOME.

1. Ditch the chemical nasties.

Chemicals are all around us, but some chemicals found in everyday bedroom products like sheets, duvets, candles, and pillows can actually be detrimental to your health and the environment.

Did you know that many conventional dyes used in bedding, especially synthetic dyes, can potentially have negative effects on health? This is because synthetic dyes can release chemicals into the air or onto the skin when they are used, which can be harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin, causing allergic reactions. Some synthetic dyes have even been found to mess with the body’s endocrine system, which can disrupt your hormone balance.

Instead, swap the synthetic dyes for natural dyes. Natural dyes are derived from plants, minerals, and other natural sources, so they do not contain the harmful chemicals that are often found in synthetic dyes. This can be especially beneficial for people with chemical sensitivities or allergies. Using natural dyes can also help to reduce the environmental impact of bedding production, as the production of synthetic dyes can generate harmful by-products and toxic waste which is often released into the environment.

Along with swapping your bedding, make sure other products around your room such as the following are made with natural fragrances and are free from synthetic ingredients:

Candles
Home fragrances
Cleaning products

At AIZOME, we only use natural nontoxic dyes derived from medicinal plants, to ensure our organic bedding is safe even for sensitive skin.

2. Add plants to naturally purify the air.

Without you realizing it, the air quality in your bedroom may affect your sleep quality. Particulates like dust, mites, and spores, along with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and toxic agents in the air can cause negative effects on your health, and can affect the quality of sleep you’re getting.

Clean air is essential for sleep because it can help to create a healthy and comfortable sleeping environment, which is vital for good quality sleep.

One easy and eco-friendly way to naturally purify the air in your bedroom is to introduce some naturally air-purifying plants. Air-purifying plants can help absorb toxins and release oxygen into your room to generate cleaner air which will help to get a better night’s sleep. The best plants to naturally purify your bedroom are:

Spider plants
Peace Lilies
Monstera deliciosa
Rubber Plants (Ficus)

3. Switch to LED energy-saving lighting

Your bedroom should be a safe and calming space where you can relax and unwind, and a great way to achieve a calming environment is with the correct lighting. Instead of opting for bright white lights that can feel harsh on the eyes, choose lights that give a warm glow. Along with setting the mood, lighting can significantly impact your energy usage. One way to save energy is to ensure your bedroom lights are LEDs.

LED bulbs are more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, using around 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. Plus, LEDs can last up to 25 times longer, meaning that switching to LED bulbs can significantly reduce your energy consumption and the cost of lighting.

4. Invest in organic bedding.

I know you may think we’re biased, but choosing sustainable bedding is a simple and effective way to make your bedroom more environmentally friendly.

For example, did you know that conventional cotton is the largest user of pesticides out of any other natural fiber crop? These harmful pesticides damage the soil, pollute waterways, damage ecosystems, and endanger those who come in contact with them.

Instead, ditching conventional cotton and choosing organic bedding, like our organic cotton duvet sets, can guarantee that your bedding is created in a more environmentally responsible way.

Along with being healthier for your skin, organic cotton is more eco-friendly than other fibers. It’s naturally biodegradable, so it’s a sustainable alternative to polyester, and it uses less water to produce than conventional cotton. Choosing organic bedding can also support environmentally-friendly farming practices, as organic farmers often use techniques that help to preserve soil health and biodiversity.

While the materials you choose can have an environmental impact, it's also important to know that the dyes used in textile production can adversely affect the environment and your health. Synthetic dyes often contain harmful chemicals that pollute waterways and pose risks to human health, causing irritation or triggering allergic reactions. At AIZOME, we use 100% natural dyes from plants and medicinal herbs that are safe for your skin and the environment.

Overall, choosing organic bedding dyed with natural dyes can help you create a more environmentally-friendly bedroom by reducing your exposure to harmful chemicals, supporting sustainable farming practices, and helping to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing.

5. Choose products that will last.

Did you know around 92 million tons of textiles waste end up in landfills each year? The amount of textile waste being discarded is fueling a huge textile pollution crisis, and unfortunately, this figure is set to increase. While we may automatically think of textile waste from the fashion industry, a percentage of this waste comes from household textiles like bedding, towels, and sheets that are discarded every year.

One common reason people throw away their textiles is that they’ve been poorly made and fall apart after the first few uses.

That’s why at AIZOME, we’re designing bedding that will stand the test of time. We’re so confident in the quality of our duvet sets that we offer an AIZOME forever warranty with every purchase, so if there’s ever a problem with your AIZOME bedding other than general wear and tear, we’ll replace your bedding set free of charge!