Purple built its brand on a material nobody else uses. Their GelFlex Grid (formerly called the Hyper-Elastic Polymer) is the purple-colored, stretchy grid that makes their mattresses distinctive. It’s a genuinely different approach to mattress construction, and the material science is interesting. But “different” and “non-toxic” aren’t the same thing, and the questions around Purple’s safety profile go deeper than most mattress reviews address.

We spent time investigating what’s actually in a Purple mattress, what their certifications cover, and where the gaps are. Here’s what we found.

What Is the Purple Grid Made Of?

The Purple GelFlex Grid is made from a polyether-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Think of it as a food-grade plastic polymer that has rubbery, flexible properties. Purple has described the material as “non-toxic, food-contact grade,” and has stated it contains no latex, no heavy metals, and no ozone-depleting substances.

The food-contact-grade claim is interesting because it references a standard designed for materials that touch food, not for materials you sleep on for eight hours. Food-contact-grade certification (FDA 21 CFR) tests for chemical migration under conditions relevant to food storage and packaging. It doesn’t test for long-term VOC off-gassing in a bedroom environment or for prolonged skin proximity exposure.

This isn’t to say the grid is unsafe. Thermoplastic elastomers are generally considered low-toxicity materials. But the marketing language creates an impression of testing rigor that doesn’t quite match the actual testing context.

According to CertiPUR-US certification standards, food-grade TPE is a reasonable starting material from a toxicity standpoint. The material itself is relatively inert. However, the manufacturing process, any additives used for color or UV stability, and the fire-resistant barrier materials surrounding the grid all contribute to the final product’s chemical profile.

The Foam Layers Beneath the Grid

Here’s what many Purple reviews skip: the Purple grid is only the top comfort layer. Below it, every Purple mattress uses polyurethane foam. The base layer, transition layers, and (in higher-end models) additional comfort layers are all conventional polyurethane foam or polyurethane-based materials.

This matters because polyurethane foam is the primary source of VOC off-gassing in most mattresses. It’s a petroleum-derived material that releases volatile organic compounds, particularly when new. The foam in Purple mattresses is CertiPUR-US certified, which means it’s been tested and found to have:

  • Low VOC emissions (less than 0.5 ppm)
  • No ozone depleters
  • No PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers)
  • No TDCPP (chlorinated tris) flame retardants
  • No mercury, lead, or other heavy metals
  • No formaldehyde
  • No prohibited phthalates

CertiPUR-US is a baseline certification, and we’ll break down what it actually means (and doesn’t) in a moment. But the key point is that a Purple mattress is not “just” the purple grid. It’s the grid sitting on top of conventional foam, and the foam is where most of the chemical concerns in any mattress live.

What CertiPUR-US Actually Tests

CertiPUR-US is the most common foam certification in the mattress industry. Nearly every mattress-in-a-box brand touts it. But the certification is more limited than most consumers realize.

CertiPUR-US is run by the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, which is the foam industry’s trade association. This is a self-regulatory program. The testing is real, and the standards are meaningful, but it’s worth knowing that the organization setting the standards represents the companies being certified.

What CertiPUR-US tests: raw foam samples in a laboratory setting for specific chemicals at specific thresholds. What it doesn’t test: the finished mattress as assembled, with its cover fabric, fire barrier, adhesives, and all layers together in a simulated bedroom environment. GREENGUARD Gold certification does test the finished product in a sealed chamber that simulates a real room. CertiPUR-US does not.

This means a mattress could use CertiPUR-US certified foam but still produce concerning emissions from its fabric, fire barrier, glue, or the combination of all materials together. The certification tells you the foam itself meets certain thresholds, not that the complete mattress has been emissions-tested.

Purple mattresses are CertiPUR-US certified. They are not GREENGUARD Gold certified. They are not GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)) certified. They are not GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certified. They carry no organic certifications of any kind, because there is nothing organic in a Purple mattress.

Fire Barrier and Cover Materials

Federal law (16 CFR 1633) requires all mattresses sold in the US to pass an open-flame test. Mattresses meet this standard in different ways.

Conventional brands often use chemical flame retardants in the foam or fabric, or they use fiberglass as a fire barrier. Fiberglass barriers are cheap and effective but can cause major problems if the inner cover tears or the mattress is used without the cover, releasing microscopic glass fibers into the air and bedding.

Purple states that they do not use fiberglass in their mattresses and that they do not add chemical flame retardants. Instead, they use a non-woven fire barrier fabric (sometimes called a fire sock) made from materials like rayon treated with silica. This is the same approach used by many better mattress brands and is generally considered a safer method than fiberglass or chemical treatments.

The outer cover on Purple mattresses is a polyester-spandex blend. It’s a synthetic, stretchy fabric designed for breathability and durability. Whether it has been treated with any antimicrobial or stain-resistant chemicals isn’t clearly disclosed.

Off-Gassing: What Owners Report

Purple mattresses do off-gas. Customer reports consistently describe a chemical smell when first unboxing, which is typical for any compressed foam mattress. Purple recommends allowing the mattress to air out for several hours before use.

The off-gassing is primarily from the polyurethane foam layers, not the grid. The TPE grid material has a lower off-gassing profile than polyurethane foam because it’s a more thermally stable material that doesn’t rely on blowing agents in its manufacture (polyurethane foam uses blowing agents to create its cellular structure, and residual chemicals from this process are a major source of new-mattress smell).

In our assessment, Purple’s off-gassing is likely comparable to other CertiPUR-US certified foam mattresses. Less than a conventional mattress without certification. More than a natural latex or organic mattress.

How Purple Compares to Other Mattress-in-a-Box Brands

Against Casper, Nectar, Tuft & Needle, and similar foam mattress brands, Purple is roughly equivalent on chemical safety. They all use CertiPUR-US certified polyurethane foam. None of them carry GREENGUARD Gold. The Purple grid adds a unique material that has low inherent toxicity, which is a slight edge, but the foam base is the same story.

Against organic and natural mattress brands (Avocado, Birch, Naturepedic), Purple falls well short. Those brands use organic cotton, organic wool, natural latex (GOLS certified), and carry GREENGUARD Gold certification on the finished product. They don’t use polyurethane foam at all. The materials are fundamentally different.

The price comparison is closer than you might expect. A Purple Original queen mattress runs around $1,500. An Avocado Green mattress in queen is around $1,400. For similar money, you can get a genuinely non-toxic mattress with organic materials and GREENGUARD Gold certification.

Our Assessment

Purple is a middle-of-the-road mattress from a toxicity standpoint. The grid material is relatively clean. The no-fiberglass and no-flame-retardant commitments are positives. The CertiPUR-US certification provides a baseline for the foam. But the foam is still polyurethane, the cover is synthetic, there are no organic materials, and the finished product hasn’t been GREENGUARD Gold tested.

If you already own a Purple and like it, we wouldn’t tell you to throw it out. Let it off-gas with windows open, use a mattress protector, and consider an air purifier in the bedroom while it’s new.

If you’re shopping for a new mattress and non-toxic is a priority, there are better options at the same price point. Our guide to non-toxic mattresses covers certified organic and natural options that don’t leave you wondering what you’re breathing all night.

Reader Questions

What is the Purple mattress grid made of?

The Purple GelFlex Grid is made from a polyether-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Purple describes it as food-contact grade and says it contains no latex, heavy metals, or ozone-depleting substances. TPE is generally considered a low-toxicity material, though it hasn’t been GREENGUARD Gold tested as part of the finished mattress.

Does the Purple mattress contain fiberglass?

No. Purple states that their mattresses do not contain fiberglass fire barriers. They use a non-woven fire barrier fabric instead, which is a safer approach that avoids the risk of fiberglass particle release.

Does the Purple mattress use flame retardant chemicals?

Purple states they do not add chemical flame retardants to their mattresses. They meet the federal flammability standard (16 CFR 1633) through barrier fabric technology rather than chemical treatments.

Is the Purple mattress GREENGUARD Gold certified?

No. Purple mattresses carry CertiPUR-US certification on their foam, but the finished mattress is not GREENGUARD Gold certified. CertiPUR-US tests raw foam in a lab, while GREENGUARD Gold tests the complete assembled product in a simulated room environment.

How long does a Purple mattress off-gas?

Most owners report the initial chemical smell dissipates within a few hours to a few days. VOC emissions decrease over time but can continue at lower levels for weeks. Airing out the mattress in a well-ventilated room speeds up the process.

Is the Purple mattress safe for kids?

Purple meets all federal safety standards and their foam is CertiPUR-US certified. For children’s bedrooms, we generally recommend mattresses with GREENGUARD Gold certification and organic materials, since children are more sensitive to chemical exposures and spend more time sleeping. See our guide to non-toxic crib mattresses for younger children.

This article reflects our independent investigation as of the publication date. See our affiliate disclosure for details.

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