GREENGUARD Gold

Low chemical emissions for cleaner indoor air where your family sleeps, plays, and grows.

GREENGUARD Gold certification helps consumers identify products that have been tested for low chemical emissions, including harmful VOCs that can negatively affect the indoor air quality in your home. For mattresses, pillows, furniture, and other products, this certification provides added confidence that the products you bring into your home meet rigorous emissions standards, making them safer for the rest and relaxation you deserve in your home.

What Does GREENGUARD Gold certified Mean?

GREENGUARD Gold certified means that products are:

Independently tested by Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL)
Evaluated for 360+ VOCs and other chemical emissions
Made with sensitive groups in mind, including infants, children, and older adults

What Is GREENGUARD Gold certification?

GREENGUARD Gold is a third-party certification from UL Solutions designed to help consumers identify products that contribute to cleaner indoor air quality. It applies to a wide range of products, including mattresses, furniture, building materials, household cleaners, and baby and children's products.

Unlike organic certifications that look at material sourcing and processing, GREENGUARD Gold focuses strictly on chemical emissions, evaluating in context how a finished product affects indoor air quality. This helps shoppers better understand a product's direct impact on the air they breathe at home.

How Does GREENGUARD Gold Evaluate Products?

GREENGUARD Gold certification is conducted by UL Solutions, using scientific testing to measure chemical emissions from finished products. These products are placed in a sealed environmental chamber where scientists measure what chemicals are released into the air. Emissions are compared against strict limits with products that pass earning the certification.

To become GREENGUARD Gold certified, products must meet strict emissions limits, including limits for more than 360 toxic VOCs. GREENGUARD Gold certified products must also meet the California Department of Public Health’s Section 01350 Standard Method, a widely recognized benchmark for VOC emissions testing.

GREENGUARD Gold At-A-Glance

Evaluates finished products for low chemical emissions
Tests for more than 360 VOCs
Measures formaldehyde and total chemical emissions
Requires compliance with CDPH Standard Method / California Section 01350
Includes stricter limits than standard GREENGUARD certification
Applies to products used in homes, schools, healthcare spaces, and other indoor environments

Myth: No Smell Means No VOCs

Fact: some VOCs have a noticeable odor, like the “new” smell you may notice from paint, furniture, or carpets. However, many have little to no smell at all.

That’s why independent testing matters. GREENGUARD Gold certification does not rely on scent as a safety signal. Instead, it uses credible laboratory testing to measure chemical emissions and verify that certified products meet established low-emissions standards.

Why GREENGUARD Gold Matters for Your Mattress & Bedroom

Research shows that indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air. What’s more, the bedroom (and especially the baby nursery) can be one of the highest-risk areas for harmful VOCs in the home.

This is partly because conventional mattresses and furniture often contain polyurethane foam, adhesives, flame retardants, pressed wood components, and synthetic finishes that off-gas harmful chemicals. GREENGUARD Gold helps identify alternatives that meet rigorous low-emissions standards and support a cleaner sleep environment.

When shopping Naturepedic, you'll find GREENGUARD Gold-certified mattresses, pillows, toppers, duvet inserts, and furniture.

See Our UL/GREENGUARD Listings →

Beyond GREENGUARD Gold

There are a lot of reputable certifications that can help health-conscious shoppers like you. Here are a few more that may help you shop — and sleep! — more intentionally.

Looking for Organic Textile Standards?

GOTS Certified Organic evaluates organic fibers, chemical inputs, processing, manufacturing, labeling, and supply chain transparency.

Learn about GOTS →

Need a Nontoxic Standard for Home Products?

MADE SAFE® screens for 15,000+ substances and applies to bedding, pillows, and more.

See MADE SAFE →

Looking for Mattress-Focused Chemical Screening?

EWG Verified® screens mattresses for ingredient safety, emissions, and transparency.

Learn about EWG Verified® →

GREENGUARD Gold & UL FAQs

What does GREENGUARD Gold Certified mean?

GREENGUARD Gold certified means a product has been independently tested by UL Solutions and meets strict standards for low chemical emissions. Certified products are placed in sealed chambers where air quality is monitored and evaluated for more than 360 VOCs. To qualify, GREENGUARD Gold–certified products must also comply with the California Department of Public Health’s Section 01350 Standard Method. For more information on how GREENGUARD Gold is related to sleep products, visit the blog: What’s in the Air? Why GREENGUARD Gold Certification Matters

Does GREENGUARD Gold test the materials inside a mattress?

No, GREENGUARD Gold evaluates the finished product by measuring the chemicals it releases into indoor air. Rather than testing components, UL Solutions conducts testing by placing the mattress in a sealed chamber and measuring chemical emissions against GREENGUARD Gold’s established limits.

Is GREENGUARD Gold the same as organic certification?

No. GREENGUARD Gold doesn't evaluate whether materials are organic. Instead, it focuses on chemical emissions and indoor air quality, measuring what a finished product releases into your indoor air after manufacturing. Organic certifications like GOTS and GOLS evaluate organic materials, processing, and supply chain standards.

What are VOCs?

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are airborne chemicals that can be released from certain materials and products into indoor air. They can come from products like furniture, flooring, paint, adhesives, cleaning products, and mattresses. Learn more on the blog: A Quick Guide to VOCs (and how They Relate to Sleep!)

How is GREENGUARD Gold different from EWG Verified®?

Both certifications address indoor air quality and chemical exposure, but they evaluate different things. GREENGUARD Gold focuses primarily on VOC emissions, testing products for chemical emissions through Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL). EWG Verified includes criteria on chemical emissions but also reviews ingredient disclosure, restricted substances, material safety, and manufacturing practices.

Does GREENGUARD Gold test for flame retardants?

Not specifically. GREENGUARD Gold measures chemical emissions from the finished product rather than screening for every ingredient that may be present. A mattress could theoretically meet GREENGUARD Gold emissions standards while still containing certain flame-retardant materials. If avoiding flame retardants is important to you, look for certifications like GOTS and EWG Verified® that have specific restrictions on flame retardants.

How long do mattresses off-gas?

Most new mattresses release the highest levels of VOCs during the first few days or weeks after manufacturing, although the amount varies widely depending on the materials used. Choosing a GREENGUARD Gold-certified mattress helps ensure those emissions remain below strict certification limits, from your first night’s sleep.

Are all Naturepedic products GREENGUARD Gold Certified?

No. GREENGUARD Gold certification does not apply to all of the products we offer, such as sheets, blankets, and towels. However, our mattresses, pillows, toppers, duvet inserts, and most furniture products are GREENGUARD Gold certified. Check individual product pages for the most accurate certification details.

Shop GREENGUARD Gold-Certified Sleep Essentials for the Whole Family

Adult Mattresses

Crib Mattresses

Kids Mattresses

Pillows

Furniture