Articles by Isabella Wolfskein

Spending so much time practicing yoga on various mats has led me to wonder whether my mats are truly good enough to support my active yoga habits. After thoroughly studying a variety of mats on the market, I’ve arrived at the firm conclusion that whether you’re a brand-new yogi or a master of Sirsasana, sustainable, eco-friendly, and non-toxic yoga mats are perennially the optimal choice

What I hate most about the majority of yoga mats on the market: Inferior materials

Did your yoga mat give off a strange odor when it first arrived or perhaps after it was left out in the sun for too long? This unpleasant phenomenon is the product of toxic off-gassing from PVC-polyvinyl chloride, a material used to make the majority of yoga mats. Like all plastics, PVC is made from petroleum: a substance associated with harmful environment impacts. For example, petroleum production processes ultimately pollute the air, water, and soil—not to mention the carbon footprint required to ship the final product to all corners of the Earth. PVC is also a non-recyclable material.

As PVC is naturally a very hard plastic, phthalates—which are hormone disruptors—are added to make it soft and flexible. Your body can also absorb toxins from PVC yoga mats via inhalation and contact with the skin. 

It’s for these reasons and more that eco-friendly, sustainable yoga mats are always the best choice: for your health and Mother Earth as well.

When evaluating your options, be sure to look out for these top choices with respect to the best sustainable yoga mats on the market.

The 10 best eco-friendly and sustainable mats we discovered

We evaluated acclaimed sustainable yoga mats and highlighted our top choices below:

1. Manduka eKO Yoga Mat: Premium 5mm Thick Travel Mat
2. JadeYoga Harmony Yoga Mat
3. Lululemon Take Form Reversible Yoga Mat
4. AbhiNeh Krafts YogaKargha Grass Fiber Yoga Mat
5. Yoloha Aura Cork Yoga Mat
6. Scoria Yoga Mat
7. SUGA Recycled Wetsuit Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat
8. Gaiam Jute Yoga Mat
9. Pharamond Life Pro Yoga Mat
10. Yoga Design Lab Infinity Mat

1. Manduka eKO Yoga Mat: Premium 5mm Thick Travel Mat

Founded in 1997 by Peter Sterios, Manduka has become a renowned yoga mat and accessory brand among yogis. We’ve chosen to zero in on the brand’s well-known eKO mats. 

Manduka eKO mats are made from biodegradable, non-Amazon harvested, natural tree rubber containing non-toxic foaming agents and non-AZO dyes. They are also 99% latex-free.

Although eKO mats are manufactured in China (per Amazon), Manduka claims to use production practices that respect all employees. However, the brand has not provided evidence of the same

Features

• Standard: 7.0 lbs; 71” x 24”; 5 mm thick
• Long: 8.0 lbs; 79” x 24”; 5 mm thick
• Made of natural rubber

What Customers Love

• Thick
• Well-made, robust and stylish mat
• Natural rubber gripping helps prevent slips
• Perfectly pairs with the MANDUKA eQua TOWEL for hot and sweaty yoga sessions

What Customers Do Not Love

• Fairly strong rubber odor persists despite cleaning with a vinegar solution and essential oils (though this gradually decreases over time)
• Poor customer service
• Heavy, cumbersome design

2. JadeYoga Harmony Yoga Mat

JadeYoga is the first US brand to produce yoga mats using natural rubber materials.

Non-toxic: Jade mats contain no PVC, EVA or other synthetic rubber materials and are produced in the United States while adhering to all environmental, labor and consumer protection laws.

Through a partnership with Trees for the Future, Jade claims to plant a tree for every mat sold: with over TWO MILLION trees planted thus far. Jade also claims their yoga mats contain no heavy metals, ozone-depleting substances, PVC, TPE, phthalates, formaldehyde or glues.

Jade’s Color Cause program donates $5 to ovarian cancer charities for every teal mat purchased, with $5 donated to autism charities for each saffron mat purchased and $5 donated to breast cancer causes for every pink mat purchased.

Third-party testing results indicate mats might contain undisclosed additives. For example, a German organization found nitrosamines—a carcinogenic chemical used in rubber production—in the Jade Harmony yoga mat

Features

• Dimensions: 3/16″ thick, 24″ wide, available in two lengths (68″ and 74”) and weighs about 5 pounds. (For a wider, longer variety, see the Harmony XW at 28″ wide.)
• 68″ Mat Colors: Purple, Midnight Blue, Olive Green, Black, Jade Green, Raspberry, Slate Blue, Tibetan Orange, Pink and Teal
• 71″ Mat Color: Saffron
• 74″ Mat Colors: Black, Midnight Blue, Olive and Purple

What Customers Love

• Thin, easy-to-use design
• Great traction and grip with non-slip superiority

What Customers Do Not Love

• Lacks durability
• Difficult to clean
• Noticeable odor

3. Lululemon Take Form Reversible Yoga Mat

Not all Lululemon yoga mats are eco-friendly; we thus recommend Take Form, which is made from natural, FSC-certified rubber as a much better alternative to plastic and synthetic rubber. 

Lululemon’s natural rubber material is sourced in a sustainable fashion and FSC™ (Forest Stewardship Council™) certified to help protect forest ecosystems and everything that inhabits them

Features

• Dimensions: 66cm x 180cm (26″x 71″), 5mm (0.19″) and weighs 2.24kg (4.9lbs)
• Made with natural rubber material; may contain latex

What Customers Love

• Sticky and does not slip, even during hot yoga sessions
• Aesthetically pleasing design
• Ample thickness

What Customers Do Not Love

• A bit thinner than 5mm
• The top layer of the mat may detach and thus contain bumps/bubbles

4. AbhiNeh Krafts YogaKargha Grass Fiber Yoga Mat

AbhiNeh Krafts grass fiber yoga mats are produced using Darbha: sourced from India as naturally occurring Elephant grass and/or Indian reed-mace grass

This tropical grass grows along swamps and riverbeds and is most commonly found in the Deccan region of India. An evergreen perennial grass, its flowers, leaves, roots, shoots and stems are all harvested for a multitude of purposes. These yoga mats feature fibers from this specific grass.

Abhineh Krafts products are all handmade in honor of India’s storied textile heritage. The brand website notes, “Our partner artisans specifically with women in focus spread across the country help bring our designs to life. We believe in the magic of natural fibers.”

Features

• Dimensions: 28” x 72”, 4-4.5 mm thickness and 1.3-kilogram weight
• Made of natural grass from India

What Customers Love

• Authentic grass aroma
• Tropical grass Darbha (Desmotachya bipinnata) is considered holy in Vedic scriptures and said to help purify ritual and yajna practices
• Mats are machine washable

What Customers Do Not Love

• Longer shipping time (from India)
• The top portion feels rough
• May slip despite a natural rubber grip and protective backing

5. Yoloha Aura Cork Yoga Mat

Yoloha offers a fine selection of vegan and non-toxic, eco-friendly yoga mats: from their signature Unity to their Original Cork + Plant Foam.

Yoloha claims to extract cork used in mats from the outer bark of Mediterranean oak trees.

The company utilizes a zero-waste policy, using any leftover production materials to produce other cork products (e.g., cork dust used as fuel).

Yoloha claims brand mats are made in the USA and that the company provides over 100,000 jobs with a fair-wage policy and cork harvesting practices.

Yoloha actively participates in youth organizations, veteran programs and healthcare worker organizations including Warrior Surf and Empowered Minds: donating mats to veterans, doctors, youth etc. The company also makes products easily accessible to yoga teachers, who can enjoy product discounts of up to 15%

Features

• Dimensions: 72″L x 27″W, 6-mm thickness and 2.8-pound weight
• Materials: Top side cork, bottom side foam

What Customers Love

• Does not contain PVCs, latex, plastics or rubber odors
• Cork feels soft against the skin
• Does not slip when wet
• Thick material

What Customers Do Not Love

• Cork contains fine micro cork particles that separate from the mat
• A lack of robustness
• Dry hands slip (e.g., early on in a yoga session) 
• Thin cork laminar layer and foam (not rubber) bottom

6. Scoria Yoga Mat

Scoria is a sustainable yoga mat brand based in Canada. Founder Yara initially launched the brand on Kickstarter.

The brand claims that these yoga mats are made using cork and rubber harvested via sustainable practices. They are completely non-toxic, TPE- and PVC-free and are made with non-toxic and water-based inks as well as an eco-glue: and are hence 100% biodegradable.

A portion of proceeds is used to empower Indigenous youth through a play-based education program used to cultivate healthy living and life skills

Features

• Dimensions: 72″ x 24″, 4.5-mm thickness and 2.9-kg weight
• Top side cork; bottom side natural tree rubber

What Customers Love

• Intricate design
• Won’t slip during hot yoga sessions
• Cork feels soft against the skin
• Non-slip qualities, even when wet
• Flat mat design

What Customers Do Not Love

• Need to wipe down the surface pre-use
• Heavy weight
• Must flip over to roll up (with natural rubber on the inside and cork on the outside)
• Must treat delicately
• Dry hands slide out (e.g., at the beginning of a yoga session)

7. SUGA Recycled Wetsuit Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat

SUGA claims their yoga mats are constructed using recycled surfing wetsuits and also feature a closed-loop design that lends itself to recycling when they are no longer useful.

The company is also a member of the 1% for the Planet program, thus donating 1% of gross revenues to environmental non-profit organizations

Features

• Dimensions: 72″L x 25″W, 5-mm thickness and 5-lb weight
• 100% recycled materials
• Made in the USA
• Constructed with closed-cell foam

What Customers Love

• Thick design
• Solid grip and traction
• Nice non-slip cushioning and an aesthetically pleasing design
• Recycled materials are eco-friendly and sustainably sourced

What Customers Do Not Love

• Heavy construction
• Gives off an odor
• Mats may shed little black flecks during use
• May lack durability and fall apart after a few months of use

8. Gaiam Jute Yoga Mat

Gaiam claims the brand’s jute yoga mat is made using a blend of renewable, natural-fiber jute and polymer environmental resin (PER): which (although a synthetic material) naturally biodegrades over time in landfills, unlike PVC

Features

• Dimensions: 9.45″L x 1.87″W, 5-mm thickness and 3.43-lb weight 
• All-natural construction using jute and PER

What Customers Love

• Wallet-friendly
• Woven jute texture aids grip
• Non-slip qualities
• Sweat-absorbing jute
• Aesthetically pleasing design

What Customers Do Not Love

• Jutes may feel harsh and abrasive on sensitive skin 
• Blue jute specks may shed

9. Pharamond Life Pro Yoga Mat

Pharamond claims this mat is constructed using eco-friendly TPE and is PVC-free, recyclable and biodegradable. 

Comment: Nevertheless, the broad term of TPE encompasses a wide range of materials: many of which are not proven safe. We could not locate specific information on the brand website regarding specific mat materials or any biodegradability/recyclability certifications.

Features

• Dimensions: 183cm (72”) x 66cm (26”) thickness, 6-mm (920-g) weight
• Materials: Organic rubber and eco-friendly TPE

What Customers Love

• Solid traction
• Lightweight design

What Customers Do Not Love

• Sweat can result in a slippery surface
• Easily stains
• May experience lengthy shipping/delivery times

10. Yoga Design Lab Infinity Mat

YOGA DESIGN LAB claims their yoga mats are made of ethically sourced natural tree rubber with designs printed using water-based ink.

The brand website claims YOGA DESIGN LAB products are made in China by BSCI-compliant factories that foster ethical and safe workplace conditions. However, the company does not mention the exact location of where manufacturing materials are sourced. 

$1 from every purchase is donated to support urban youth yoga programs in need. Likewise, an affiliation with the Earth Child Project aims to share the brand’s love of yoga with under-resourced schools scattered across Canada, South Africa, and NYC (with these efforts ultimately sponsoring 500 children in 2019).

Features

• Dimensions: 71 in (180 cm) long x 24 in (61 cm) wide, available in 3mm & 5mm thickness, 4 lb to 6 lb weight
• Material: Rubber & TPE

What Customers Love

• Aesthetically pleasing design
• Non-slip and solid grip qualities perfect for hot yoga

What Customers Do Not Love

• May give off an odor
• The top layer may detach from the rubber base after a few months

A final word on choosing sustainable yoga mats

Eco-friendly yoga mats bring even more Zen to your yoga practice! At its very core, knowing you’re using an ethical, sustainable product just feels plain ol’ good.

This list offers up several examples so you can focus on nailing your asanas. Don’t let any foul PVC odors interrupt your mindfulness as you practice your flow on a sustainable mat.

If you found this post helpful, please help someone else out by sharing this article. Sharing is caring, after all. 🙂