The eco-INSTITUT label: what our mattress certificate means

When you choose a natural mattress, you are looking for more than just lying comfort: you want to know what is right beneath you, night after night. That is precisely why we have our mattresses and futons independently tested on a regular basis. The eco-INSTITUT label is the result of that testing – and we are happy to explain what lies behind it.

What is the eco-INSTITUT label?

The eco-INSTITUT label is a recognised quality seal awarded by the independent testing laboratory eco-INSTITUT Germany GmbH in Cologne. It is awarded for mattresses and bedding products, among other things, and is recommended by independent consumer media – for example by ÖKO-TEST, the WDR Haushalts-Check programme and label-online.de. The label goes to products that are particularly low in harmful substances and emissions.

Testing takes place in two stages. It begins with a review of the documentation, including a full declaration of all components – so the manufacturer has to disclose exactly what is in the product. This is followed by extensive laboratory testing for emissions, ingredients and odour. The VOC emission tests are carried out in accordance with EN 16516, as a rule after 3 and after 28 days.

The label is valid for two years and is monitored during that period by an annual conformity check. After that, a complete re-test is due – so certified once does not mean certified forever.

Our certificate

Our certificate carries the number 0508-11629-001. It was issued in January 2026 for Futon Etage (Berlin) and is valid until 09/2027. The following are certified:

• our natural latex mattresses (Basicline and Comfortline)
• our natural mattresses with cotton covers – including Aman, Big Sur, Camelot and Merlin
• our futons: cotton, hemp-latex, coconut, latex sandwich and latex futons
• our children's mattresses Aman Mini, Bambino and Wölkchen

How does this differ from the EU Ecolabel?

We are asked this often – and it is a fair question, because you will come across both marks in the bed trade. The EU Ecolabel, known as the „EU Flower“, is the official environmental label of the European Union. Above all, it assesses a product's environmental impact across its entire life cycle.

The eco-INSTITUT label, by contrast, is the seal of an independent German testing laboratory and looks at the finished product: strict laboratory tests for harmful substances, emissions and odour, with limit values that in many cases go well beyond the statutory requirements, and with full transparency about the test procedure and the test criteria.

Both marks are reputable. They simply answer different questions: „How environmentally friendly is the path to the product?“ on the one hand – and „How low in harmful substances is the product I sleep on every night?“ on the other.

The current laboratory test to read for yourself

You do not simply have to take our word for it – you can read it for yourself. We provide the complete documentation of the current test here as PDFs:

• Certificate (PDF, German)
• Test report (PDF, German)
• Expert opinion (PDF, German)
• Test report (English, PDF)

You will find a complete overview with all documents and the certified products on our certificate page. If you still have questions afterwards, just get in touch – we will be glad to answer them.