Simmons, latex mattresses, and palm mattresses have all been popular over the years, but is their quality truly up to par? Recently, the Nanjing Municipal Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau released a quality inspection report on mattresses, inspecting 30 batches of mattress products, with 21 batches passing, resulting in a 70% pass rate. The problem of exceeding formaldehyde release limits was particularly prominent, with 5 batches failing inspection (a 16.7% failure rate). Brands such as "Gongchuang" and "Romandie" exceeded national standards by more than seven times in formaldehyde release.

　　Are palm mattresses more environmentally friendly? Not necessarily.

　　Among the mattresses inspected, there were 21 batches of spring mattresses, with 20 batches being dual-firmness mattresses with palm cores, and another 9 batches were palm fiber mattresses.

　　According to Zhao Yingfeng, a technical engineer specializing in panels and furniture at the Nanjing Municipal Quality Inspection Institute's National Building Materials Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, the raw materials for palm mattresses on the market are mainly divided into two types: one is mountain palm, which is dark brown, has thicker and longer fibers, better toughness, and greater strength; the other is coconut fiber, which is light yellow, has shorter and coarser fibers, lower strength, and less elasticity, requiring a large amount of adhesive for shaping.

　　Many believe palm mattresses are more environmentally friendly. While it's true that mountain palm and coconut fiber themselves are not problematic, the issue lies with the adhesive. "Adhesives can range from low-melting-point fiber adhesives to chemical adhesives. Fiber adhesives are more expensive, while chemical adhesives are cheaper but contain formaldehyde." Zhao Yingfeng stated that some small businesses and workshops use recycled inferior palm pieces and a large amount of chemical adhesives, resulting in products often severely exceeding formaldehyde standards.

　　If a coconut palm mattress uses fiber adhesive, there will be a white layer in between; it will be springy to the touch. "Its formaldehyde content is very low, but its physical properties are relatively poor. It can be easily torn." If chemical adhesive is used, it will feel hard to the touch, but its formaldehyde content is very high.

Left: mountain palm; Center: coconut palm with fiber adhesive; Right: coconut palm with chemical adhesive

　　Left: mountain palm; Center: coconut palm with fiber adhesive; Right: coconut palm with chemical adhesive

　　Because mattresses have the longest and closest contact with people, national standards for formaldehyde release are very high. In this inspection, 5 batches failed the formaldehyde release test; all were mattresses with palm cores. It is understood that long-term contact with such mattresses may harm the nervous system, immune system, liver, etc.

　　Substandard materials result in uncomfortable mattresses.

　　In addition to the core springs or palm cores, mattresses also have a layer of padding material. For example, felt, foam, and textiles. Zhao Yingfeng explained that combining different padding materials can achieve excellent pressure absorption and distribution, thus enhancing sleeping comfort. However, if the configuration and sewing process are not up to standard, the mattress will feel segmented, significantly affecting comfort. "High-quality foam has high density and good elasticity, capable of supporting movement. However, low-quality foam has low density and large gaps; prolonged use can cause sagging and unevenness, making the mattress uncomfortable," said Zhao Yingfeng.

　　In this inspection, the pass rate for this item was only 61.9%, with brands like "Haimar Yan Yi" and "Mei Yu Gao" having values only about half of the standard requirements.

　　How to choose? Don't buy overly cheap ones; Don't buy products without clear labeling; Check the internal materials.

　　Based on the inspection results, the quality supervision department also provided consumer recommendations: It is best not to buy products that are too cheap; mattresses under 1000 yuan have a relatively low pass rate. When purchasing mattresses, it is best to choose products from regular manufacturers, carefully check the markings on the product packaging, and confirm the product name, product standard number, manufacturer name, place of origin, specifications, and grade on the markings. If concerned about formaldehyde exceeding standards, choose products with formaldehyde release limit markings and avoid purchasing products without clear labeling.

　　If you want to buy a mattress with a palm core, ask the seller to open the mattress to check the internal palm core materials to avoid purchasing products using chemical adhesives. Also, check the zippers and examine the quality of the felt and padding materials.