Home & Garden Home The 6 Best Down Alternative Pillows of 2023 Our top pick is Avocado Green Pillow. By Neeti Mehra Neeti Mehra Neeti is a freelance writer for Treehugger who covers sustainability and conscious living. She has edited three magazines during her career and she is currently a columnist and is a contributor to a host of publications. Learn about our editorial process Updated November 30, 2022 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Home Green Living Pest Control Natural Cleaning DIY Family Thrift & Minimalism Sustainable Eating We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Getty Down is an effective insulator, has a low carbon footprint, and promises a comfy night of sleep. However, it's not a vegan material. Down feathers come from the plumage of ducks or geese, and in some cases may even be plucked while the birds are still alive. For those who prefer to avoid animal products, the good news is that there are many down alternative pillows that are also eco-friendly. The pillows we’ve selected are kind to our avian friends and include globally accepted environmental, health, and social certifications. The list includes GOLS (indicating the product has 95% or more organic latex), GOTS (a standard for textiles made from organic fibres), Oeko-Tex (meaning the product is free from toxic chemicals and is safe for human health), and Fair Trade (ensuring fair terms for workers and farmers). So, snuggle into these soft, cruelty-free pillows for a peaceful night of slumber. Ahead our picks for the best down alternative pillows. The Rundown Best Overall: Avocado Green Pillow at Avocadogreenmattress.com Jump to Review Best Budget: Buffy Cloud Pillow at Amazon Jump to Review Best Organic: Coyuchi Organic Shredded Latex Pillow at Wayfair Jump to Review Best Support: Birch by Helix Organic Pillow at Birchliving.com Jump to Review Best Adjustable: Naturepedic Organic Adjustable Latex Pillow at Amazon Jump to Review Best Luxury: Boll & Branch Down Alternative Pillow at Bollandbranch.com Jump to Review Best Overall Avocado Green Pillow 4.5 Avocado Green Mattress View On Avocadogreenmattress.com Certified B Corp and Climate Neutral company Avocado has plumped the perfect vegan, organic and adjustable pillow for fussy sleepers. Our top pick of down alternative pillows is the Green Pillow, which comes in a soft GOTS organic and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified quilted cotton casing. It is stuffed with a filling made from eco-INSTITUT and GOLS organic certified upcycled shredded latex along with GOTS organic certified kapok fiber (a silky soft, luxurious fiber akin to cotton), giving it the fluffiness of down with the supportive contouring of foam. In addition, the pillow comes with a zipper and an extra bag of filling, so you can adjust the stuffing at will. You also can buy additional filling if you want to plump it even more. It's available in standard, queen, and king sizes. The pillow is compressed, rolled-up, and shipped in a craft box. If you’re undecided, Avocado’ generous 100-night sleep trial (with a full refund) and year-long warranty is tempting. To seal the deal, the pillow is crafted in their FSC-certified, renewable-energy powered factory and is MADE SAFE, Vegan, and GREENGUARD Gold Certified. Price at time of publish: $109 Best Budget Buffy Cloud Pillow Amazon View On Amazon View On Buffy View On Target Burrow your head in Buffy’s cloud-like pillow that’s easy on your pocket yet cradles your head gently. Available in two sizes, standard and king, and three types of firmness, you can pick one to suit your sleep style, whether that's sprawled on your back, curled up on the side or flat on your belly. The cover is made from Oeko-Tex certified 300 thread count Eucalyptus fiber fabric. Each pillow’s fluffy recycled filling is made from air blown fiber derived from BPA-free PET, nixing approximately 24-30 plastic bottles from reaching landfills and oceans. Shipped to you in FSC-certified recycled material, Buffy offers a seven-night trial for this cooling puff. Price at time of publish: $55 Best Organic Coyuchi Organic Shredded Latex Pillow View On Wayfair View On Coyuchi.com View On Nordstrom With nearly a third of our lifetime spent deep in slumber, a green pillow is a wise investment. Coyuchi’s shredded latex pillow is natural inside-out. It is suffused with durable GOLS-certified organic Dunlop latex, with the inner and outer cover made from GOTS certified organic cotton. The velvety pillowcase, crafted from a 400 thread count GOTS certified organic cotton sateen, feels decadent against your cheek. Inside, the non-removable organic cotton jersey cover is packed with breathable and durable latex, which you can shift, remove, or add to keep it the pillow lump-free, with your preferred amount of support. Choose among standard, queen and king sizes. If it doesn't suit your needs, you also can return it for a full refund within 30 days (after this window you can exchange the pillow or get a store credit). Price at time of publish: $128 The 11 Best Organic Pillows of 2023 Best Support Birch by Helix Organic Pillow Birch by Helix View On Birchliving.com If you’re looking for the fluffiness of down with ample heft to prop your neck, look no further than Birch’s Organic Pillow. It's soft and comfy, with a good bounce, thanks to the core of shredded eco-INSTITUT certified Talalay latex. The result is a soft, breathable and homogeneous pillow, giving oodles of support to all sleep positions. The core is wrapped in moisture-wicking, ethically-sourced organic Birch wool sourced from a New Zealand farm that’s a part of a Wool Integrity program (so note that it's not vegan). The filling is enclosed in a GOTS organic certified cotton case. The pillow is GREENGUARD Gold and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, and handmade in the United States. Birch is available in two sizes and comes with a 100 night sleep trial. With a one year warranty, rest assured, you can sleep peacefully. Price at time of publish: $119 Best Adjustable Naturepedic Organic 2-in-1 Adjustable Latex Pillow Courtesy of Naturepedic View On Amazon View On Naturepedic.com View On Pottery Barn A one-size-fits-all pillow might end up being stratospherically high or sunken like a mud-flat. Green America Gold certified bedding company Naturepedic pillow is adjustable. It lets you adjust the filling to the perfect level, propping up your neck while cushioning your head. The plush stuffing is a mix of shreds of organic latex which can be tweaked to fit your sleep style. What we like is the dual-sided washable pillowcase. On one side there’s a soft stretchy GOTS certified organic cotton knit, while the other quilted side is a blend of quilted organic cotton sateen with PLA batting (PLA is a fiber made from non-GMO sugarcane). Available in three-sizes, the pillow is MADE SAFE and GREENGUARD Gold, among other global standards. Price at time of publish: $99 The 7 Best Bamboo Pillows of 2023 Best Luxury Boll & Branch Down Alternative Pillow Courtesy of Boll & Branch View On Bollandbranch.com We love Boll & Branch’s snuggle-worthy down alternative pillow that is fit for royalty. The glamorous pillow is embellished with a beautiful piping and comes in delicately embroidered Fair Trade and GOTS certified organic cotton shams. Available in two sizes and three densities, the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified pillow is filled with PrimaLoft fibers which contain post-consumer recycled content. The bedding company offers a 30-night sleep trial for you to test them out. Packed in recycled and recyclable wrapping, it’s shipped in FSC-certified packaging. Committed to producing ethically by putting people and the planet first, Boll & Branch brings out a detailed impact report for you to delve deeper into its values. It’s truly suite-style decadence with a sustainable side on your bed. Price at time of publish: $88 Final Verdict Avocado’s Green Pillow with a filling of eco-INSTITUT and GOLS organic certified upcycled shredded latex along with GOTS organic certified kapok fiber is our first pick for down alternative pillows. Another great option is Buffy’s Cloud Pillow, which is more affordable and available in two sizes and three types of firmness. What to Look for in a Down Alternative Pillow The perfect down alternative pillow is neither too lofty nor too limp. Here’s what to look for while shopping: The Filling Look for eco-friendly alternatives (see FAQs) that best suit your sleeping style and pocket. An adjustable pillow is a bonus, so that you can tweak the softness and firmness levels according to your needs. Sleep Style Depending on whether you sprawl out on your stomach (pick a slimmer pillow) or sleep on one side (pick a pillow that will support your neck), choose a pillow that offers the right support for your head and neck. Most companies offer generous trial periods, which is a great option. Third Party Certifications While all pillows have their pros and cons, check if the pillow is supported by appropriate third party certifications. FAQs Are down alternatives eco-friendly? There are many down alternative pillow options available, but not all are eco-friendly. For instance, some popular alternatives are fluffy pillows stuffed with synthetic fiber (such as polyester). However, you can also find pillows with fillings made from recycled plastic bottles. There are other Earth-friendly down alternative pillows too. We’ve picked pillows with fillings such as GOLS-certified organic latex (natural latex rubber that comes from the sap of the rubber tree and is renewable, toxin-free and compostable) and GOTS-certified organic kapok (a cotton-style fiber that’s soft silky and naturally plush). How do you wash down alternative pillows? Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for guidance on how to wash your pillow and the case. Depending on the stuffing, a pillow can either be dry cleaned or spot cleaned, and sometimes, they're machine washable. Here are some general rules: Most down alternative pillows with synthetic fillings (such as those made from 100% synthetic fibers) can be washed in a machine. Some companies recommend dry cleaning (look for eco-friendly dry cleaners). It is recommended that pillows containing latex, foam, and other similar stuffing be spot cleaned only. Kapok stuffed pillows should be spot-cleaned only. If the pillow filling escapes, it can damage the washing machine or dryer. Also, kapok takes time to dry, and a damp pillow can lead to mildew growth. Why Trust Treehugger? To make this list, we looked for pillows that are not only feather-free, but also have robust eco-credentials, like organic certification. We also researched bedding companies' reputation and ethics. Author Neeti Mehra writes on sustainability, and also runs a platform that promotes slow and mindful living. Her pillow collection includes a body pillow and several other soft pillows strategically placed for a good night of sleep. This article was updated by Arricca SanSone, who loves her pillow so much that she travels with it. The Best Places to Buy Ethical Bedding