From raising money for breast cancer awareness and research to giving people who don't have the opportunity to practice yoga the chance to do so, their campaigns and charitable contributions do not go unnoticed. Material: Natural rubber that has been sustainably sourced and FSC™ (Forest Stewardship Council™) certified. Durability: Your yoga mat won’t have to withstand intense HIIT workouts or dropped dumbbells, but it should emerge unscathed from dynamic practice, without any rips or dents. The grass is tropical and grows along the swamps and riversides, commonly found in the Deccan Indian region. It is an evergreen Perennial grass; its flowers, leaves, root, shoot, and stems are harvested and used. The fibers from this grass have been used to create these mats. Because cork has a natural waxy substance that does not absorb water, it's the perfect option for a good sweat-sesh! The sweatier, the better. Hot yoga, here we come!

As you’ll see below, Prolana’s mats, Brentwood Home’s mats, and Green Earth’s yoga mats carry with them a ton of certifications, including from Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), GOTS, Fair Rubber, QUL, Eco Institut, kbA, and kbT.

Keep an eye out for any mats that have our WH Lab Approved logo proudly displayed on their picture, as these items have all been given our resident PT and yoga expert’s seal of approval. With this list, you already have several examples so you don't have to worry about anything other than focusing on nailing that astavakrasana. Don't let that PVC smell interrupt your zen; rather, increase its flow in your yoga practice with a sustainable mat. There is a variety of yoga mats that suits every priority and preference. Besides colors and patterns, you can now choose from a variety of lengths, textures, and many different materials which makes it even harder to choose the perfect yoga mat for you. To make it short, you will need a mat that is comfortable, keeps you stable in your poses, and doesn’t slip during your workout. The first choice is the Original Eco Yoga Mat which is made from natural rubber (which does contain latex) and jute. Jute is a beautiful eco-fabric. It has no chemical additives and is 100% biodegradable. Although materials like cork and jute are antibacterial and don't need regular cleaning (according to the brands), I recommend keeping your yoga mat clean and fresh.

I've highlighted some excellent alternatives to PVC in this post. A non-toxic yoga mat should be made of natural rubber, cotton, jute, or cork. These are all renewable resources that can be ethically manufactured. Natural rubber is still manufactured with chemicals but is way better than synthetic rubber. Some people do have allergies to rubber. PVC alternatives that are touted as "toxic-free" are not any better. I touched on PER and TPE in the post, but let's break it down further. The Green Earth Wool Yoga Mat with Lavender has the added bonus (depending on your tastes) of relaxing lavender flowers interspersed in the edging. The lavender scent might be a real boon for anyone using the mat at home to do a more relaxing type of yoga or meditation. However, if you plan on using the mat in a class setting, consider the unscented Green Earth Yoga Mat (which is almost exactly the same). Gurus offer two Natural Cork Mat options, the Roots Yoga Mat which has a natural rubber base layer, and the Sprout mat that is made with TPE. As such, the Roots Mat makes the Leaf Score cut, but the Sprout does not. All their materials come from certified places, which means they are ethically sourced and collected with only the highest standards. They also carry a Fair Trade certification which ensures that employees are paid a fair living wage and work in safe and controlled environments that regulate labor laws.

Type

Before you start searching and trawling through all the non-slip yoga mats, rubber yoga mats, yoga towels and exercise mats out there - including Sweaty Betty yoga mats and Nike yoga mats, obvs - we've answered all the relevant yoga mat questions you may have. Best yoga mats at a glance One downside with this mat is the potential for a lingering rubber smell. Airing the mat out (not in direct sunlight) and cleaning the mat can help, but it may still take weeks or months for the smell to dissipate, and the smell may transfer to your hands and body. Thankfully, the natural rubber smell is not as bad as that of synthetic rubber, but it does seem to be more of an issue with the Manduka eKO than with the Prolana Rubber and Wool Mat and with the Hugger Mugger Para Rubber Mat.

We believe yoga should be accessible to all and we‘ve steadily grown our range of yoga mats to meet all abilities, needs and tastes. It all began with our Signature mat in 2008, and our technology and environmental credentials are now embedded across our ranges.

Colour

They have three variables of eco mats: the Combo and Infinity mats, both made of natural tree rubber and recycled microfiber from plastic bottles. The Cork mats are made of—you guessed it— cork. Those are 100% biodegradable. They even have an ultra-thin mat, which makes it the perfect sustainable travel yoga mat. As it’s designed specifically for yoga and is susceptible to scratches, the brand says to avoid wearing shoes on the mat and to take off any jewellery that could get caught on the fabric. All of their mats are made in the United States except for their Mysore Yoga Rug, which is made in India, but they still ensure good working conditions and fair wages by following U.S. consumer and labor laws.

On our quest to find the best on the market, we also considered sustainability, style and any original features before naming our favourites. How we tested the best yoga mats The vegan top layer provides a fantastically grippy platform for all your high-energy, fast-paced sessions, yet the plush rubber base means it’s also the dream for slower, most focused sessions when you need some extra cushioning. The Green Earth Wool Yoga Mat is made from wool, cotton, flax fiber, and natural rubber. The top layer comprises 100 percent kbT wool from New Zealand and the underside comprises an anti-slip coating made of flax and natural latex. As such, this mat offers both grip and a natural feel, with a little more absorption and a little more texture to the top compared to the cotton surface of Green Earth’s other yoga mat offering. I've also included brands that consider sustainability and ethical labor practices in all facets of their business. Ones that have third-party certification in place and fully transparent ones. If I can't find that info, I will tell you. To sum up, try to avoid these materials:The cork used in their mats is extracted from the outer bark of the cork oak in the Mediterranean area. However, they do not cut down a single tree. Instead, they debark the trees by hand every nine years. And the image on the mats is simply stunning! It will be hard to choose one. Another top-quality option from our pals at Les Mills. Unlike the MBX mat above, this one is designed specifically for yoga, with a vegan leather top layer that absorbs moisture (read: sweat) and stops you from sliding around, no matter how clammy your paws are. Sure enough, our resident yogi stayed rooted in their poses during vigorous vinyasa flows, without any distracting slipping around. Music to our ears! PER and TPE are both made from petroleum (Thermo Plastic Elastomer). Some are worse than others, but since you can't tell, it's left up to you to ask the brand.