Our materials

Acting as stewards of our shared resources, we continue our part in healing the planet. Our aim at Obasan is to regenerate ecosystems by; supporting environmentally sound producers of pure, natural materials, encouraging green innovation and sharing sustainable practices with our suppliers and customers.

Organic Cotton Is “Skinsational”

Designing and crafting our complete line of organic bedding and accessories including: pillows, comforters, mattress protectors and organic mattresses begins with organically grown and harvested pure cotton. Chemical-free and certified to the highest standards by recognized international bodies, our natural materials allow you to rest and rejuvenate.

Incomparable purity

Cotton grown in many industrialized countries is saturated with chemicals deposited in the soil from pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. This machine-picked cotton is often full of impurities, oil, and debris.

If all the cotton in the world were grown organically, the use of insecticides would be reduced by 25 percent. Obasan purchases only hand-picked and chemical-free cotton. Hand picking ensures the cotton fibre is the cleanest, purest, most resilient available. Our cotton is cultivated in a centuries-old traditional, cooperative manner in the Canete and Chincha valleys found high in the Peruvian Andes. No defoliants, herbicides, persticides, or synthetic fertilizers are used to control plant growth, fight pests or fertilize the crop. No synthetic chemicals are used in harvesting or manufacturing.

Benefits

Obasan cotton used in our mattress batting, filling and fabric is the cleanest, most pure organic product available today. Our cotton is:

• Void of toxic chemcials inhaled during sleep, comfortable and soft to the touch absorbent and breathable, maximizing air circulation and minimizing perspiration
• Machine washable to accommodate a busy lifestyle 
• Strong and resilient in shape, color and texture - a must for aesthetics, functionality, and excellent return on investment.

Natural Wool Lends Warmth and Dryness

All Obasan natural wool batting and fill is 100 percent pure. Our wool is processed without chemicals, dyes, or oils, therefore containing no residues from processing - just complete warmth and absorbency.

Incomparable care

Obasan wool comes from New Zealand, where a family run business takes exceptional pride in its organic production methods. The sheep are carefully bred and live a stress-free life. The herds graze on land that has never been used for agriculture, guaranteeing that it is free from contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers.  The animals are checked daily for continued health. The resulting fleece - shorn from live animals is carefully sorted and washed with only hot water and vegetable-based soaps ( no detergents, chemicals or chlorine bleach ) producing wool fibres which are strong and springy. This process allows the wool to retain between 4 and 6 percent lanolin - a natural dust repellent.

Benefits

Obasan's natural wool, treated with only vegetable-based agents for washing, lubrication and static control is also:

• Naturally flame-retardant and repellent to dust mites
• Absorbent (able to absorb 30 percent moisture and remain dry - perfect for "night sweats")
• Resilient in form and shape, for comfort and aesthetics
• Cool in summer, warm in winter

Natural Rubber Provides Flexibility and Resilience

Obasan uses only the finest grade A natural rubber for the support core at the center of our organic mattresses, futon beds, and overlays. Natural rubber is an ideal choice: it is flexible, yet stable, for superior comfort. And, like Obasan organic cotton and wool, the rubber is absorbent and resilient, contributing to excellent heat and moisture regulation.

Incomparable sustainability

Obasan rubber is harvested by tapping the milk (sap) of Hevea brasiliensis (the common rubber tree). The trees grow in North Malaysian plantations especially selected for their high-quality product. No herbicides are used in these operations, because sheep graze the plantations and control growth.

Obasan also arranges for the Hevea milk to be processed close to the plantations, because the raw product destabilizes when kept too long. Other manufacturers avoid the problem by adding chemicals. Obasan’s pledge to bring you the purest products possible means that the rubber milk harvested in the morning is molded into sheets by mid-afternoon and is soon shipped to our Canadian mattress plant. By having our rubber manufactured where the trees’ milk is harvested, we also help to sustain the local economy. Jobs are created without depleting the natural resources of the country—a kindness to ourselves and the planet.

Natural methods only

An injection system produces the purest natural product—for mattress cores that will keep their shape. Only air, natural soap, and natural vulcanization agents are used. At the end of the mattress life cycle, the rubber breaks down, because it is a natural, biodegradable substance.

Benefits

It’s a little known fact that Hevea milk contains an antibacterial substance that is a natural dust-mite repellent. The rubber also exhibits

• Superior durability and elasticity (for mattress longevity)
• Retention of shape and firmness (for even support)
• Flexibility combined with stability (for continuous sleep comfort)
• Excellent heat and moisture regulation

• Superior air circulation (for preventing the growth of molds and mildew)

Nothing Beats Renewable Canadian Wood

All Obasan foundations and box springs are hand-constructed in our plant from seasoned, untreated, carefully selected natural spruce.

The wood used in all Obasan beds is produced in Quebec through a sustainable harvesting method called "jardinage." This method is a selective process in which a government-trained forestry specialist inspects trees in designated areas. The age and number of trees per acre that can be harvested are specified. Once approval for cutting has been given, other forestry personnel inspect the cutting operation to protect the forest from intrusive damage. If damage is found, it must be rectified immediately to restore balance.

Obasan foundations are made exclusively of kiln-dried spruce. The slats are strong, yet flexible, providing perfect support and unmatched comfort.

Benefits

Obansan wood is never treated with synthetic glues, dyes, or finishing sprays at any stage of production. Your home environment is therefore protected from the toxic “off-gassing” that accompanies the use of these harsh chemicals. Obasan cabinetry techniques also

• Eliminate cracking noises through the use of extra-strong wood slats
• Eliminate creaking noises owing to sound, fitted, supportive box-style frames