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10 Best Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats for the Ethical Yogi

10 Best Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats for the Ethical Yogi

There are endless benefits to practicing yoga. Whether you started to simply facilitate relaxation or to enhance your rigorous workout routine, being a yogi comes with a particular lifestyle. That being, one that cares for the world around you! That is why it is crucial to find only the best eco-friendly yoga mats that also keep you engaged in your yoga flow.

Why buy eco-friendly yoga mats?

Listen, yoga is extremely popular! This means that there is a HUGE market out there for yoga mats and accessories. Big companies have taken advantage of this demand and mass produce all of the essential products we are looking for to start our yogi journey.

What’s more? These products catch many eyes due to their beautiful colors and textures. Plus, since these mats are not made from ethically derived sources, they are cheap! The perfect price for anybody new to yoga. However, it is necessary to do a little research into what your yoga mat is made up of to ensure you have only the highest-quality and eco-friendly yoga materials out there!

Materials used in mass-produced yoga mats

Studies have been done looking at the materials used in yoga mats that are mass-produced in larger stores. The findings? A 2016 report from Reuters showed that the most used material was polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This is a synthetic plastic polymer that is typically used to make things like bottles and credit cards.

The main ingredient in PVC is vinyl chloride. This particular material has been listed as a Hazardous Air Pollutant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Not exactly ‘eco-friendly’ is it?

It is time to turn into a new direction when it comes to purchasing a yoga mat! Don’t worry. The hard part is done for you! We have gathered a beautiful list of only the best eco-friendly yoga mats available on the market.

10 Best Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats

Manduka

Manduka is ready for any yogi looking for a new mat! Whether you are new to the yogi scene or a seasoned professional, they have just the mat for you. Are you a beginner and not quite sure where to start?

Never fear!

Manduka has a quiz to help direct you to exactly where you need to be based on your answers.

These mats are OEKO-tex certified (meaning) and latex-free! you can find your mat now for anywhere between $20-$150.

PrAna

Is Fair-Trade important to you? Look no further! Prana takes their ethics game a step further in not only caring for the earth but those on it too. This eco-friendly yoga mat company was the first in North America to produce Fair-Trade Certified clothing.

In doing so, this company has given over $400,000 back to workers worldwide and promises to keep doing so in the future.

As for material, this mat is the perfect choice for any outdoor session since it is made of non-toxic TPE material that is UV resistant! Don’t forget your sunscreen though!

Gaiam

Looking for more than just yoga mats? Gaiam might just be the place to start. This company offers everything from yoga blocks to meditation chairs all made from recycled, natural, and sustainable materials like cork and rattan. If you are simply looking for an eco-friendly yoga mat, you can purchase one of their all-natural jute mats!

SugaMats

SugaMats takes a new twist on using recycled and upcycled materials for its products by using recycled wetsuits! Through their recycling process, each mat is tested for several criteria including density, elasticity, durability, and liquid permeability meaning you are getting the highest-quality natural mat available!

Lottus Life

If you take your mat everywhere (like many yogis do(, you may be worried about cleaning your mat. The last thing you would want is to purchase a mat that is difficult to clean! With Lottus Life’s Jute Yoga Mat, you won’t have to worry for a second. This mat has anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties since it is made of SGS-certified natural jute fibers.

Ekaminhale Yoga Rugs

For only $100, you can adopt a different approach to yoga by using a GOTS-certified organic cotton yoga rug! These rugs are a great alternative to a regular plastic yoga mat since they provide extra grip stretch making certain yoga positions easier.

Yoloha

Family-owned, Yoloha strives to incorporate sustainability, nature, and adventure into their products. The fun and unique thing about this company? Yoloha is the company that made the first-ever cork yoga mat! Their mats can be found for $20-$180.

Jade Yoga

What about more colorful eco-friendly yoga mats? Well, just shop at Jade Yoga! Their yoga mats come in bold colors and the company itself makes bold moves toward sustainability. With each purchase, Jade Yoga plants a tree!

Mukti Mats by Create Flow

Another company that promises ethical work environments, Mukti Mats commits itself to sweatshop-free practices! These mats are made from biodegradable natural rubber, jute, and cotton.

Lov Earth

Are you already active in yoga but looking for a new mat? Are you possibly looking at more eco-friendly yoga mats? Well, if you aren’t sure what to do with your old mat once you have found a new one, Lov Earth may be your one-stop-shop. Here, you can send in your old PVC yoga mat for them to recycle!

Practice yoga ethically

Whether you are just starting or you have been in the world of yoga for years, you can’t deny the fact that the yogi lifestyle appreciates a love for the earth. Finding a way to incorporate this love into your yoga practice is important!

Switching over to one of these eco-friendly yoga mats is the best first step in your journey!

 

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