This Jute Yoga Mat is Gorgeous, Supportive, Light and Green!
If you enjoy yoga, or know someone who does, you or they will probably want a nice, eco-friendly yoga mat. But it’s not that easy to find one. There are plenty that CLAIM to be green and eco-friendly, when when you look closely, you’ll see that many greenwash.
So, although this yoga mat is not perfectly green, it’s a lot better than most. Here’s why I like this specific yoga mat – and then I’ll tell you about the problems with most yoga mats.
Jute Yoga Mat With PER
The jute yoga mat with PER is not perfect, but it’s much safer for you than a PVC mat, and better for the environment too.
Many yoga poses have you facing down – that means you’re breathing in the mat. So you definitely don’t want a full PVC mat because you don’t want those toxic fumes.
- Jute comes from plants and it feels lovely (and looks good too). This jute yoga mat is made from organic jute. It’s fully recyclable, natural and vegan.
- Reviewers say the mat offers excellent padding, which makes it easier on your knees.
- It’s thin and light (even though it supports you well), so it’s easy to carry.
It comes with a cotton carry strap, which you can sling over your shoulder or use it to hang the mat. The strap also doubles as a stretching strap – instructions are provided- It’s easy to clean – simply wipe it down.
- When you purchase a mat, a portion of the price is donated to a tree-planting organization, so you’re helping, in a small way, to slow climate change.
Jute is a very eco-friendly material, so no problems there. But the non-slip backing is made from PER (Polymer Environmental Resin). It’s called eco-friendly but it isn’t really – though it IS much better than PVC. PER mats are still made of plastic but are not softened with toxic pthalates.
Below you can read more about PVC, why it’s a problem, and what else can be used to make a yoga mat non-slip. In the meantime, you can check out the jute yoga mat on Amazon here. It’s also great as a gift!
Most Yoga Mats Are Plastic
Most yoga mats are made from plastic. PVC to be exact – one of the worst types of plastic (see below for why it’s so horrible). So a cotton or jute mat sounds ideal. But the trouble is, it’s not non-slip. And the best materials for making something non-slip are plastic and rubber.
PVC is definitely not eco-friendly. Rubber can be, but it’s more expensive, and also the glues might contain formaldehyde (a carcinogen or cancer-causing agent), plus you need to check how ethically the rubber was produced. It can be recycled after use, but won’t work if you have a latex allergy.
What About TPE Backing?
TPE (or Thermal Plastic Elastomer) foam is said to be eco-friendly, because it’s not PVC and doesn’t contain latex or toxic chemicals. The trouble is, I can’t find out what it IS made of (apart from plastic). And that makes me VERY suspicious of it!
The Problem With PVC Plastic
Poly-vinyl chloride or PVC is cheap to produce, that’s why it’s so widely used. It makes a yoga mat non-slip, which is important, and it’s quite durable. But it’s horrible! That “new car” smell is the scent of plastic softened with pthalates (which are dangerous to our hormones) and stabilized with lead and cadmium (heavy metals that can damage our brains).
PVC can’t be recycled due to the toxins embedded within it, and when it’s incinerated or buried in landfills it releases dioxin, a known carcinogen.
So, avoid PVC yoga mats and go the more eco-friendly route instead – it’s better for your health, and for the planet too !
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Warm regards,
P.S. Don’t forget to download your free green living handbook “Live Well, Live Green” here.
