In recent years, latex products have gained popularity among consumers, especially latex pillows and mattresses. However, complaints about these products are on the rise. The marketing claims made by some sellers about their latex products often do not match consumers’ experiences.
#### E-commerce and Scenic Shop Sales are Booming
Luxury latex mattresses and pillows crumbling within 20 days
Latex mattresses and pillows are favored for their natural safety, high elasticity, compression resistance, excellent support, and long-lasting comfort. They are top-tier bedroom products and are hot sellers on many e-commerce and live-streaming platforms.
Most sellers claim their natural latex products contain over 90% latex, with some boasting as high as 95% or 98%. Many also claim their products are imported from Thailand, promising higher quality.
Buzzwords like “original import,” “pure natural and harmless,” and “high natural latex content” are everywhere. However, according to an investigation by “Finance Investigation” journalists, consumer complaints about latex mattresses and pillows sold on e-commerce and live-streaming platforms remain high.
Some consumers report their latex mattresses crumbling in less than 20 days.
Aside from e-commerce complaints, “Finance Investigation” journalists also found many consumers bought latex products during guided tours at scenic shopping locations.
#### High-Quality Promotion vs. Substandard Products
Is the Thai import claim true? 100% pure natural? Contains graphene?
Manufacturers reveal the truth
Guided by insiders, “Finance Investigation” journalists visited Pingyang County in Wenzhou, a major production hub for latex bedding in China, where 90% of domestic latex mattresses and pillows are made. Staff at Wenzhou Jiatai Latex Products Co., Ltd. admitted supplying products to scenic shopping locations.
They also revealed that the colored latex mattresses and pillows in their factory, meant for tourist markets, use additives like graphene and lavender for marketing, setting higher prices by differentiating from standard latex products. However, the so-called graphene latex pillows are merely colored latex products, achieved through dyeing, not advanced technology.
At another factory, Wenzhou Chuangkang Home Products Co., Ltd., staff confirmed the high cost of real graphene, indicating that low-cost products could not contain it.
Regarding claims of 100% pure latex, Chuangkang staff explained that production requires foaming agents and oxidants, making 100% pure latex products impossible. Even the best latex products typically contain about 93% latex.
According to the 2021 standard set by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (HG/T 5836-2021), latex mattresses must have a minimum of 88% natural latex to be considered high-quality. Most products on the market, however, contain around 80% latex, with manufacturers adding talc to reduce costs.
Staff noted that many consumer complaints about crumbling and breaking latex products stem from manufacturers skimping on materials or adding too much talc.
To further cut costs, reducing latex density is a common trick, resulting in pillows that look large but lack support. Some buyers even request lighter pillows for lower purchase prices. Additionally, manufacturers might shrink pillow dimensions to save on latex.
Latex products from the same batch might vary in appearance, with visually appealing ones sold as A-grade and others as B-grade, often chosen by e-commerce sellers who explain any flaws as normal.
Many e-commerce platforms claim over 93% latex content, sometimes even 95% or 98%, backed by test reports. However, these reports often come from specially prepared samples, not representative of all products.
Factories can easily label products as “Made in Thailand” without including actual production addresses, though most are made in China, which is illegal.
#### Expert Exposes False Advertising
The dangers of low-quality latex products
Deng Yizhi, Director of the National Latex Products Quality Inspection Center, states that claims about “functional” latex products lack sufficient data, making such functionalities non-existent.
Poor-quality synthetic latex must add styrene-butadiene latex for firmness, which, if improperly handled, emits harmful styrene. Inhalation can harm health. During vulcanization, products might produce carcinogenic nitrosamines if not controlled.
Engineer Zhang Wang noted that immature production techniques and inadequate vulcanization lead to large internal holes and collapse in latex products, causing them to degrade and crumble over time due to excessive fillers or insufficient stabilization.
While latex products are marketed as resistant to dust mites, poor-quality items can actually promote mite growth. Dr. Cai Hong from the Air Force Special Medical Center warns that mites and their waste can cause health issues.
For consumers seeking qualified latex products, a slight natural fragrance and good rebound when pressed indicate high latex content.
Source: CCTV Finance