In partnership withSijo

This Sustainable Bedding Is More Comfortable Than Any Other You’ve Slept On — Here’s Why

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published Nov 12, 2021
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Credit: Sijo

Sijo, the direct-to-consumer brand offering chic, sustainable, and surprisingly affordable bedding, has spent a lot of time thinking about about sleep. Their cozy duvet inserts, sheet bundles, pillows, and more are designed to give you better ZZZ’s without taking so much from the environment — largely thanks to their versatile and renewable ingredient: eucalyptus.

Because we’d all like to wake up feeling more well-rested, we asked Sijo to share some of what they’ve learned, like: how to optimize your sleep space, how eucalyptus trees become better bedding, and what to look for in different textiles when deciding on your bedding. Read on and sleep tight!

Credit: Isabela Humphrey

The Metrics of Sleep

Most of us know we should get a solid eight-ish hours of sleep per night, but there’s a lot more science out there that can help you optimize your sleep space. Temperature is a really big one — though it may seem a little low if you’re used to keeping your thermostat at a balmy 72°F. According to research, the ideal bedroom temperature for sleep is 65°F. 

Depending on where you live, setting your thermostat to 65°F for the night may or may not be practical for most of the year. Investing in breathable bedding can also help regulate temps, however. According to Sijo, the optimal microclimate for your actual bed (as in, when you’re under the covers) is around ​​82–89°F. So they designed their duvet inserts, duvet covers, and sheet sets to help make sure your bed temperature stays within your comfort zone all night long, even if your ambient room temperature isn’t a precise 65°F.

Credit: Isabela Humphrey

How Are Eucalyptus Sheets Made?

Sijo makes much of their bedding from TENCEL lyocell, a fabric made from sustainably sourced eucalyptus wood pulp. When you dig in, it’s a little amazing how a tropical tree could be turned into sheets. They start by growing eucalyptus in areas designated for harvesting, to not disrupt the biodiversity of naturally occurring eucalyptus trees, then harvest and process them with organic solvents to create fibers, which get woven into fabric for sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, and more. In addition to being sustainably produced, bedding made with TENCEL lyocell offers much more breathability than synthetic textiles, and it’s 100 percent biodegradable.

Credit: Isabela Humphrey

How Different Bedding Fabrics Stack Up

Cotton, silk, flannel, wool, polyester — the options for bedding fabrics go on and on. There’s no problem in going with your gut and choosing one based on how it feels and what the thread count is. But there are plenty of differentiators that can make sure you don’t just find your next bedding, but your ideal bedding. 

Two of the most important factors in good bedding are breathability and, for lack of a better word, personality. That is, how the material responds to and interacts with our bodies. Since Sijo’s bedding is made from eucalyptus, it ensures optimum temperature control, moisture-wicking, and all-around comfort as you spend your (hopefully) eight hours in bed. Bedding made with TENCEL lyocell also has the advantages of being hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and completely gentle on your skin and hair. Ultimately, your choice comes down to what feels best in terms of comfort, affordability, and sustainability, and Sijo is on a mission to help you check all those boxes.