Morgan & Reid: Our Materials
Every fibre has trade-offs. Here are ours.
Every textile — natural or synthetic — performs differently depending on what it’s designed to do. Cotton, wool, linen, bamboo-derived fibres, and engineered synthetics all have their place. Our goal isn’t to tell you which material to choose. It’s to give you an honest picture of what each material does, where it has limitations, and what the science actually says — so you can decide for yourself.
Where polyester comes from
Petroleum-derived doesn’t mean what most people assume.
Polyester is made from raw materials that come from petroleum. That’s accurate. But during manufacturing, those raw materials go through significant chemical processes and become something entirely different — with different properties, different behaviour, and a different risk profile from the original inputs.
Many everyday materials begin as petroleum derivatives: things used in medical devices, food packaging, sports equipment, spectacle lenses, and carpets. In every case, what matters is the finished material and how it behaves in use — not what its starting ingredients were.
The safety of any material depends on what it actually does, how it’s used, and the degree of exposure. Not simply on where its raw materials came from.
On the word “plastic.”
Polyester is a synthetic fibre, but calling it plastic doesn’t tell you much that’s useful. Plastic is a broad term covering thousands of different materials with very different properties and very different uses.
Polyester, as used in bedding and clothing, has been engineered into a soft, flexible textile fibre. It shares some chemistry with other synthetic materials, but that doesn’t mean it behaves the same way — any more than glass and steel behave the same way just because both involve heating and shaping.
Understanding what a material actually does is more useful than knowing what broad category it belongs to.
How textiles get made
All textiles are processed. Natural and synthetic alike.
One common assumption is that natural fibres arrive in your home chemical-free, while synthetic fibres don’t. In practice, almost all textiles — natural and synthetic — go through dyeing, washing, and finishing processes during manufacturing before they reach consumers.
The safety of a finished textile depends on the finished product, the processes used to make it, and the standards those processes are held to — not simply whether the fibre started out as cotton or polyester.
Independent testing
Rather than simply describing products as safe, independent certification schemes like OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 test finished textiles against a wide range of regulated and non-regulated substances. Where products carry this certification, it means they have been independently tested — not just self-assessed. We believe third-party testing is a more meaningful assurance than marketing language.
The common concern
Three ideas that often get combined into one.
Most concern about synthetic bedding follows the same pattern:
Petroleum-derived
The raw material comes from petroleum.
Plastic
Petroleum-derived must therefore mean plastic.
Toxic exposure
Plastic must therefore mean sleeping in something harmful.
Each step deserves a closer look.
Where a raw material comes from is a different question from what the finished material does. Toxicity depends on specific conditions — what the material is, how it’s used, and the degree of exposure. The finished polyester fibre in a comforter has gone through significant processing and behaves very differently from the raw ingredients it started with.
None of this means synthetic materials are beyond question. It means the question deserves more precision than a three-step chain allows.
Skin contact
What current evidence says.
Polyester has been one of the world’s most widely used textile fibres for decades, across clothing, bedding, and many everyday consumer products. Current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that normal use of polyester bedding causes harm through skin contact in the general population. Polyester fibres are stable during normal use and are not considered to be absorbed through intact skin.
Polyester bedding sold in regulated markets must comply with applicable consumer product safety requirements. Where products carry independent certification such as OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, they have been tested against a broad range of substances by an independent body — not just labelled as safe by the manufacturer.
As with any material, individual sensitivities vary. If you have a specific skin condition or sensitivity, it’s worth considering your own circumstances. Scientific understanding continues to develop, and we follow emerging research as it does.
How we think about evidence
“Current evidence does not demonstrate harm” is not the same as saying something has been proven completely safe in every circumstance for every person. Science builds knowledge over time. We aim to represent what the evidence actually shows, rather than making stronger claims than the research supports — or weaker ones than it warrants.
The real environmental conversation
Microplastics are worth talking about honestly.
There is a legitimate environmental concern about synthetic textiles that deserves a straight answer.
Synthetic textiles shed tiny fibres during washing — particles that can enter waterways and accumulate in ecosystems. This is real, it’s an active area of research, and the environmental implications matter.
Scientists are also studying what broader microplastic exposure means for human health over time. That research is ongoing.
The question of microplastic pollution in the environment is separate from the question of whether sleeping on polyester bedding causes direct harm — and the evidence for those two questions is at different stages. We think it’s important to keep them distinct rather than merge them into one concern. A microfibre wash bag is a simple, practical precaution worth using in the meantime.
Cotton and polyester compared
Both are good materials. Both have trade-offs.
Cotton is an excellent fibre with a long history in bedding. So is polyester, in different applications. Here’s an honest comparison.
Cotton
- Natural fibre
- Soft and comfortable
- Breathable weave
- Highly absorbent
- Long history of use in bedding
- Biodegradable
Potential trade-offs
- Absorbs moisture into the fibre — can feel damp as it saturates
- Takes longer to dry
- May shrink with repeated washing
- Wrinkles more easily
- Colour may fade over time
Polyester
- Engineered for specific performance applications
- Durable and long-lasting
- Dries quickly
- Holds its shape well
- Can be designed for moisture management
- Good colour retention
- Resistant to shrinking
Potential trade-offs
- Synthetic — not the preference of every consumer
- Sheds microfibres during washing
- Not biodegradable
Neither is universally better. The right choice depends on what you want from your bedding, your personal preferences, and your individual circumstances.
Context
Synthetic textiles are already part of everyday life.
Most people who question synthetic bedding are already in regular contact with synthetic materials elsewhere:
This isn’t an argument that everything synthetic is fine. It’s context — a prompt to notice whether the concern being applied to bedding is being applied consistently elsewhere, or whether it’s concentrated on one category that recently got named.
Our fabrics
Three fabrics. Three different jobs.
Each fabric in our range was chosen for what it does well in a specific application. Each one also has trade-offs.
Warmth
Snuggle Fleece
Polyester plush, 150, 250 and 500 GSM
A high-pile polyester plush designed to trap air and hold warmth. The fibre structure creates tiny air pockets that act as insulation — the same principle used in performance outdoor gear. Soft from the first night, holds its texture through regular washing. Like all synthetic textiles, it sheds microfibres during washing, which is worth being aware of.
Shop Snuggle Fleece comforters →Softness
Microplush Sheets
Microfibre polyester weave
An ultra-fine polyester weave where individual fibres are finer than a human hair. The resulting surface feels smooth and settled — many customers find it softer than standard cotton at a similar price. Designed for winter warmth and a cosy feel that holds up through repeated washing. Some people prefer the feel of natural fibres, and that’s a completely reasonable preference.
Shop Microplush sheet sets →Cooling
Cooling Sheets
Elastane and spandex blend, 0.45 Qmax
Designed to move moisture away from the body surface rather than absorbing it. The blend has a Qmax rating of approximately 0.45 — a measure of how quickly a fabric draws warmth away on contact — which is generally associated with a noticeably cool feel. How cooling you find a fabric depends on many factors including your sleep patterns and room temperature, not just the material.
Shop cooling sheets →How moisture management works
Why some fabrics feel cooler than others.
How cool or warm a fabric feels depends on more than whether it’s natural or synthetic. Fibre structure, weave, weight, thickness, and how the fabric handles moisture all play a part — often working together.
Cotton is highly absorbent — it draws moisture into the fibre, which can feel cool at first but becomes damp and uncomfortable as it saturates. Some engineered synthetic fibres are designed to do the opposite: move moisture across the surface of the fabric where it can evaporate quickly, keeping the surface drier. This is sometimes called moisture wicking or moisture transport.
Neither is better in all circumstances. Absorbency suits some sleepers; moisture transport suits others. Personal preference and how you sleep both matter.
What Qmax means
Qmax measures how quickly a fabric draws warmth away from a heat source the moment it’s touched. A value around 0.45 is generally associated with a noticeably cool-to-the-touch feeling. It measures the first-contact sensation — not how you’ll feel through a full night’s sleep, which is influenced by many other factors.
The same moisture-moving principle is widely used in performance sportswear. It’s not a new idea — it’s just applied here to bedding rather than athletic clothing.
Why we explain this
Why we’re transparent about our materials.
We know some customers prefer natural fibres. Others prioritise warmth, durability, or easy care. Both are reasonable. We’re not here to tell you that synthetic is better — we’re here to explain what our materials actually do so you can decide whether they’re right for you.
We use synthetic textiles because they perform well in specific applications at a price point that makes sense for everyday homes. We also acknowledge their trade-offs — including the environmental questions around microfibre shedding — because we think honesty builds more trust than marketing language does.
Rather than making exaggerated claims or deflecting concerns, we’d rather explain the science as clearly as we can and let you make your own call. If you have questions we haven’t answered here, you can contact us directly. We’ll give you a straight answer.
How we think about this
We follow the evidence, not the trend.
We choose materials based on what they do well in specific applications — at a price point that works for real homes. Every choice involves trade-offs, and we try to be honest about all of them rather than only mentioning the benefits.
We take the environmental questions around synthetic textiles seriously. Microfibre shedding during washing is a real concern and we follow the research as it develops. We don’t think the right approach is to dismiss it.
Scientific understanding continues to evolve. Like responsible manufacturers, we monitor emerging research and update our thinking as high-quality evidence develops.
Our goal isn’t to convince you that one fibre is better than another. Every material has strengths and trade-offs. We believe informed customers make better decisions, and that’s why we explain our materials openly rather than relying on marketing claims or fear-based messaging — in either direction.
Common questions
On our materials
Why do some people say polyester is toxic?
Many online discussions unintentionally combine several separate topics into one concern: petroleum, polyester, plastics, PFAS chemicals, endocrine disruptors, and microplastics. These are different materials and different scientific questions. Polyester is a textile fibre. PFAS are a class of chemicals used in waterproofing coatings. Microplastics refer to particle pollution from washing synthetic textiles. Each topic is worth understanding on its own terms. Grouping them together makes it harder to think clearly about any of them.
Isn’t polyester just plastic?
Polyester is a synthetic fibre, but calling it plastic doesn’t tell you much that’s useful. Plastic is a broad term covering thousands of different materials with very different properties. Polyester as used in bedding has been engineered into a soft, flexible textile fibre. It shares some chemistry with other synthetic materials, but that doesn’t mean it behaves the same way or carries the same risks. Understanding what a material actually does is more useful than knowing what broad category it belongs to.
Isn’t polyester made from petroleum?
Yes. The raw materials used to make polyester come from petroleum. During manufacturing, those raw materials go through significant chemical processes and become something entirely different. Many everyday materials begin as petroleum derivatives — including those used in medical devices, food packaging, sports equipment, and spectacle lenses. What matters is the finished material and how it behaves in use, not what the starting ingredients were.
Is cotton healthier than polyester?
Current scientific evidence does not support the claim that cotton is inherently healthier than polyester for normal bedding use. Both have different characteristics. Cotton is a natural, breathable, absorbent fibre with a long history in bedding. Polyester is durable, quick-drying, and can be engineered for specific performance. People with particular skin sensitivities may find one more comfortable than the other — that’s a reasonable personal preference, not a universal health conclusion.
Does polyester get absorbed through the skin?
Current scientific evidence does not support this. Polyester fibres are stable during normal use and are not considered to be absorbed through intact skin. If you have a specific skin condition or sensitivity, it’s always worth considering your own circumstances rather than relying on general statements.
Are microplastics from synthetic bedding a concern?
Microplastic pollution is a legitimate environmental concern. Synthetic textiles shed tiny fibres during washing that can enter waterways — this is real and worth taking seriously. It is a separate question from whether sleeping on polyester bedding causes direct harm. Current evidence has not established that it does. A microfibre wash bag is a practical precaution while research in this area continues.
What about PFAS and forever chemicals?
PFAS are a specific class of chemicals used in waterproofing coatings and stain repellents. They are not a characteristic of standard polyester or elastane textiles. PFAS, microplastics, and polyester are separate topics that sometimes get grouped together online. Understanding each one individually produces more accurate conclusions than treating them as a single concern.
Why does Morgan & Reid use synthetic fabrics?
We choose materials based on what they do well in specific applications. Snuggle Fleece delivers consistent warmth and softness that is difficult to replicate at the same price point. Our cooling sheets are designed to move moisture away from the body in a way that standard cotton weaves are not built to do. Every material has trade-offs — we try to explain them honestly so you can make the right choice for your home.
How can a synthetic fabric be cooling?
How cooling a fabric feels depends on more than just whether it is natural or synthetic. Fibre structure, weave, weight, and moisture management all play a role. Cotton absorbs moisture into the fibre — this can feel cool initially but becomes damp as it saturates. Some synthetic fibres are designed to move moisture across the surface where it evaporates more quickly, keeping you drier. Our cooling sheets have a Qmax rating of approximately 0.45, which is generally associated with a noticeably cool feel on contact.
Our goal isn’t to convince you that one fibre is better than another.
Every material has strengths and trade-offs. We believe informed customers make better decisions, and that’s why we explain our materials openly rather than relying on marketing claims or fear-based messaging — in either direction. If something here didn’t answer your question, contact us directly. We’ll give you a straight answer.
Shop the range.
Warm, soft, and designed to be lived in. Ships quickly Australia-wide.