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The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

Sustainable Wellness

Last Updated on July 20, 2022

On the hunt for new sustainable yoga mats? Believe it or not, the yoga mat is a fairly new invention which started to catch on in the 1980s.  

Beginning in India, Yoga was first practiced on grass. But for advanced moves additional padding was needed, so early yogis used deer and tiger skins for most of their asanas. 

The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

Now, the conventional yoga mat you’ll find in stores is typically made from flexible plastic, aka polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ). However, this material is questionable due to its environmental impact (more on that later) and typically hard to recycle.

While in theory PVC can be recycled, there has to be a demand for the raw material or it won’t be profitable. There’s also the problem of contaminants like plasticizers, dyes and dirt from constant use that make PVC yoga mats undesirable to recyclers.

If you do already own a PVC yoga mat, try to upcycle it into under-knee padding for gardening, or add it beneath a sleeping bag to further soften a surface. Otherwise, your best option is to choose a sustainable yoga mat.

If you’re interested in finding green yoga mats, the good news is you have a lot of options to choose from. I’ve rounded up the best sustainable yoga mats on the market. Just keep in mind, using what you have is always the best option!

are yoga mats bad for the environment? 

Many conventional yoga mats are made from plastic, specifically polyvinyl chloride (PVC), aka plastic resin #3 which is hard to recycle.  

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculates that 910,000 tons of PVC waste are generated annually, but less than a quarter of 1 percent is recovered for recycling. 

PVC is chemically manipulated during production to get that flexible plastic the industry loves. Unfortunately, these additives and PVC’s inherent chlorine content complicate the recycling process for this plastic. 

These chemicals usually include phthalates, which has a controversial background and may have adverse health effects.  

According to a recent study, chronic exposure to phthalates can adversely influence the endocrine system and functioning of multiple organs. This may cause negative long-term impacts on the success of pregnancy, child growth and development, and reproductive systems in both young children and adolescents.   

While occasionally using a PVC yoga mat isn’t so bad, you might want to choose a different material if you’re able to, like natural rubber, jute, organic cotton or cork. 

The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

can you recycle yoga mats? 

Most PVC yoga mats are not recyclable curbside either. The NY Times did a whole expose on how yoga mats aren’t recycled – and what to do with your old ones.

Not every recycling facility is capable of recycling PVC, so you’ll have to double check what your local recycling laws say. You can do this by visiting your local .gov or searching Earth911’s database. 

It’s worth noting PVC isn’t always a profitable material to recycle either – and recycling is a business after all. If no one is interested in buying the raw material, recycling facilities will lose money and deem the material worthless.

Also, another recycling option is Manduka’s LiveON program where you buy a new Manduka mat and choose to add the LiveON program to your purchase. When you receive your new Manduka mat, just place your old mat in the box and attach the included prepaid shipping label (they will accept any brand of yoga mat).  

The mat will then go through a process of downcycling, where it gets recycled into other products, like carpet padding, solves of shoes, or animal shelter bedding. 

You can also try upcycling or donating your old yoga mats. Reuse them on a picnic or at the beach, upcycle them into child safety flooring, or try donating it to a local retirement community (many of which run yoga classes and can use more mats). Local artists might also accept them for use in art projects.

what is the most eco-friendly yoga mat material? 

The most eco-friendly yoga mat material is one that’s made from natural or recycled materials. The best material for you will depend on your personal preferences, the ground area you’re working with (carpeted floor? Outdoors?), and the type of exercises you’ll be doing. 

Many of the brands listed later in this post have yoga mat options suitable for both indoor and outdoor practice.

Also, if you like to feel the floor beneath you, opt for a thinner mat. If you need a little extra support, a thicker mat is best. However, keep in mind it’s just a matter of preference.  

For hot yoga, materials like cork are great because they’re odor-free to begin with due to its breathable surface. Cork naturally inhibits bacteria, mold & fungal growth for continuous hygiene protection.  

Some examples of sustainable materials for yoga mats: 

  • Jute: Jute is extracted from the bark of the white jute plant (Corchorus capsularis) and to a lesser extent from tossa jute. Yoga mats made with all-natural jute are typically good for hot yoga. Often blended with Polymer Environmental Resin (PER) for extra grip. 
  • Natural rubber: Harvested straight from rubber trees. Manduka’s eko line of yoga mats feature 99% latex-free, non-Amazon harvested, natural tree rubber. 
  • Natural cork: Natural cork comes from cork oak forests, mostly grown in Portugal. These forests are biodiversity hotspots and the cork is made from the bark of the tree. The tree is never cut down and the bark grows back. Scoria, Yoloha and Urbivore all use cork in their yoga mats. 
  • Organic or recycled cotton: Organic cotton doesn’t use pesticides or fertilizers that may pollute waterways and damage soil. Recycled cotton ensures the resource intensive cotton crop doesn’t go to waste through reuse. Oko Living, Abhinehkrafts and Brentwood Home use organic or recycle cotton in their mats. 
  • Recycled plastic: Recycled plastic has a smaller carbon footprint than virgin materials. Sugamats makes yoga mats from recycled wetsuits, which otherwise would be landfilled.  
The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

are cork yoga mats environmentally friendly? 

Yes, cork yoga mats are environmentally friendly, as long as they’re made from natural cork. Natural cork comes from cork oak trees predominantly grown in Portugal. These cork oak forests are hotspots for biodiversity, and home to several endangered species like the Iberian Linx.  

Natural cork is harvested skillfully by hand by removing the tree’s bark. The tree is never harmed during this process, and the bark is allowed to grow back and regenerate. The harvesting process can be repeated around every nine years for over 200 years.    

Plus, cork oak forests are vital carbon sinks, which help fight climate change. A well-managed cork forest can absorb over 20 million tons of CO2 each year.   

For these reasons, purchasing a yoga mat made from natural cork is an environmentally friendly option (though there are several other sustainable materials too, like organic cotton, natural rubber, recycled plastic, etc.) 

non-toxic and sustainable yoga mats 

These 11 yoga mats get the going zero waste seal of approval. All of these brands offer yoga mats without PVC, and most of them give back to the planet through tree planting, recycling programs, and more.

I’ve gone ahead and highlighted some key features of each brand, but it isn’t an exhaustive list. Be sure to check out their websites for more information.   

To keep your mat clean, I recommend checking out my DIY yoga mat cleaner spray! It’s easy to whip up and non-toxic.

Also, if you’re a yoga enthusiast, make sure to stock up on some Tiger Balm – it’s handy to have if you accidently pull a muscle or get sore after a workout. I always keep a spare in my gym bag!

Scoria: The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

1. scoria

  • Made from natural cork and sustainably harvested rubber 
  • Vegan and cruelty-free 
  • Low impact dyes 
  • Portion of proceeds goes to Right to Play, an organization that empowers Indigenous youth 

/ SHOP SCORIA


Oko Living: The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

2. oko living

  • 100% GOTS Certified organic cotton 
  • Dyed with medicinal Ayurvedic plant dyes 
  • Non-slip natural rubber backing 
  • Ethically handwoven in India 

/ SHOP OKO LIVING


Manduka: The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

3. manduka

  • EKo mat series made from sustainably harvested, non-Amazon tree rubber 
  • Biodegradable materials 
  • No PVC or harmful plasticizers 
  • Recycle your old yoga mat through their Live On program 

/ SHOP MANDUKA


Sugamats: The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

4. sugamats

  • Made from recycled wetsuits 
  • Ship them your old wetsuit to be recycled, get 10% discount 
  • Sugamat C2G: anything happens to it, just send it back and they’ll send you a new one on them 
  • Made in the USA 

/ SHOP SUGAMATS


Yoga Tribe: The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

5. yoga tribe

  • Natural tree rubber and jute yoga mats 
  • 1 Year replacement manufacturer’s warranty 
  • Eco and compostable packaging 
  • Free shipping to NZ on orders over $100 

/ SHOP YOGA TRIBE


Yoloha: The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

6. yoloha

  • Sustainable cork surface 
  • Plant foam made from 55% sugarcane 
  • Carbon neutral shipping 
  • Vegan and cruelty-free 
  • Youth, veteran and health care worker programs 

/ SHOP YOLOHA


Gaiam: The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

7. gaiam

  • Eco-friendly yoga mat options available 
  • Made with recycled, natural and sustainable materials like jute, cork and natural rubber 
  • Ideal for hot yoga 

/ SHOP GAIAM


Jade Yoga: The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

8. jade yoga

  • Made from natural rubber tapped from rubber trees 
  • No PVC, EVA, or other synthetic rubber 
  • Made in the US
  • Plants a tree for every mat sold 

/ SHOP JADE YOGA


Brentwood Home: The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

9. brentwood home

  • GOTS certified organic cotton yoga mats 
  • Non-slip base of FSC certified natural latex   
  • Climate Neutral partner, to reduce and offset emissions 
  • Vegan and cruelty free 

/ SHOP BRENTWOOD HOME


YogaKargha: The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

10. yogakargha

  • Handwoven yoga mats from natural fabric like organic or recycled cotton 
  • Unique natural fibers like banana, grass, and wool options 
  • Natural rubber coating for anti-skid option

/ SHOP YOGAKARGHA


Urbivore: The 11 Best Non-Toxic + Sustainable Yoga Mats  

11. urbivore

  • All natural, non-toxic cork yoga mats 
  • Little to no waste in production process
  • Each purchase plants a tree 

/ SHOP URBIVORE

So, would you give one of these sustainable yoga mats a try? Let me know in the comments below!

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