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Yoga mats: Ecology and Environmental issues

Our interest is in promoting Yoga as a balanced and kind way of life. Sustainable trade, healthy living, and an ecological approach are all interests of ours.

We try to incorporate Green and ethical products and services into our website and have set up a Yoga products rating scheme so we can monitor how we are doing.

We help manufacturers develop and promote Yoga equipment made from natural materials like rubber, which solve many questions about recycling and waste but these mats may not be for everyone.

Rubber Yoga mats are generally considered Environmentally friendlier than synthetic vinyl Yoga mats simply because they will rot away more easily in landfill sites.

Although marketing campaigns by some mat manufacturers is often too generalised and can also be quite misleading about PVC !

We agree with, and support any aim to promote less production of PVC in the world.

For this reason we stopped promoting standard sized Sticky PVC mats altogether in June 2007.

If you must get one, for whatever reason then please look for Certificate Oeko-Tex 100, which is an independant, scientific test that can be applied to many textiles, including PVC - this makes the (Human) Ecology MUCH better than untested Yoga mats.

ECO is becoming an oversused marketing term which has all but no meaning but it seems to infer at least an EFFORT to harmonise the manufacture, use and disposal.

BUT PLEASE DO KEEP IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE

PVC is (generally) an ENVIRONMENTALLY damaging plastic, but only 6% of the worlds PVC production is for flooring and an even smaller amount must be for Yoga mats !

Flying onboard a jet airliner to a Yoga retreat is contributing more to the worlds environmental problems than staying at home and practicing on a synthetic vinyl mat !

YogaPlaces lists Yoga events and retreats within Europe to try and cut down on emmisions caused by going on a Yoga retreat and travel in general.

It is quite practical to use old Yoga mats for insulation in a garden shed and some people use them to top furniture from sliding around - recyling?

RecycleYourMat also handles old Yoga mats for re-use etc.

In terms of disposal through Landfill sites - the number of Yoga mats being tipped in relation to the number of (much more) potentially hazardous items such as freezers, car batteries, and packaging probably isn't worth thinking about too much when you see it all going on every day.

MORE IMPORTANTLY we DO NOT think that anyone needs to feel that they are getting *beaten up* over using a PVC yoga mat - because that is not very Yogic either !

What do we do about this?

We stopped promoting standard sized sticky PVC Yoga mats in June 2007, we know we have lost lots of money in making that decision but we are happy that we did.

The problem seems to be that PVC is used for everything (cars, buildings etc etc.) - and so we feel that these industries also need to be targeted more.

We have also set up RecycleYourMat - the worlds FIRST dedicated Yoga mat and equipment reuse and recycling service.

PS. Did you also notice that this website runs on a 100% solar powered webserver - cool huh ?

Other articles related to yoga, mats:, ecology, environmental, issues etc.

The life and times of the Sticky Yoga mat

Yoga mat and equipment use

Sticky Yoga mats - Ecological issues

The Benefits of Yoga

Cotton Yoga goods: Ecology and Environmental issues

Disclaimer: All exercise activity contains an element of risk. The information provided in this article is intended to augment, rather than replace professional guidance from a qualified instructor as may be necessary. The information is provided as is, without any claim, representation or warranty as to its suitability in any circumstances. Specifically, the information provided shall not constitute personal advice or recommendation, and in any case may not necessarily reflect an authoritative or the official view of YOGA NETWORK C.I.C. The entire risk as to the accuracy, completeness and suitability, or otherwise of any of the information provided is accepted by you. YOGA NETWORK C.I.C. does not assert any legal responsibility for accuracy, errors, or omissions etc. in this article.