Latex has been used for over 100 years in this country, many pieces of furniture had real latex in them until the petrol based foam market sprang to life in the early 1950’s. Petrol based foams were all man made and boasted to be the best. This new ultra low cost foam circulated thru the bedding industry quickly, replacing Latex in almost every application. The rest of the furniture Industry was also quick to adopt the use of this new low-cost foam. Petrol based foams have worked great for many products in other industries, but in the mattress industry this may have contributed to a shorter life expectancy of the mattress.

Latex is emerging again as the premium foam. Due to the fact that petrol chemical based foams are not and have not performed as they claimed they would. More and more petrol based foam has been used to create softer mattresses, and with the softer pillow top mattresses came “body dips” in the mattress, where you sleep. Adding the fact that latex mattress prices have dropped more than 50% in the last few years, helps explain why Latex is growing so quickly. Consumer demand for more organic bedding material has also helped with the resurgence of Latex.

Swedish foam, NASA foam, Viscose-elastic foam, and memory foam (all the same material) attempt to re-create real Latex at a lower cost. These man made materials have had many shortfalls and may have peaked in popularity. Any rise in petroleum costs will result in a rise in man made petrol-based foam costs. These factors contribute to why Latex will most likely be widely seen and very developed in the very near future.