Yoga is great; I think most of us can agree there. But how about eco-friendly yoga? Most yoga mats are made out of PVC, which is super harmful to our environment and often has a tendency to get sticky during our yoga or pilates session.
This is why we’ve come up with several eco-friendly and much more environmentally friendly options for you to try out.
So let’s get to it!
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Tiggar Yoga Mat – Best Support
The Tiggar Yoga Mat is made out of natural tree rubber, and the high-quality material is ideal for all types of floor workouts – yoga and pilates included!
With the mat, you’ll get optimal support, and you can also rest assured that the mat doesn’t contain any toxic agents.
On top of that, the Triggar Mat is 100% eco-friendly and goes through a zero-waste manufacturing process – which we’re all for.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Vivomora Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat – Best Natural Rubber Yoga Mat
The Vivomara yoga mat is made out of environmentally-friendly materials that you won’t feel guilty about!
Boasting 4.5mm of thickness, the mat is soft enough for plenty of floorwork and ideal for balancing poses as well.
Because the mat is made out of natural rubber, you can rest assured that it’s free from any harmful toxins, and it won’t leave a negative effect on the environment either.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
KAIZENLY Pro Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat – Best Cork Yoga Mat
A yoga mat made out of natural cork?
That’s right!
The KAIZENLY yoga mat is made out of natural cork material, and it’s completely free of latex or PVC.
Best of all?
The mat is also hypoallergenic – meaning that if you suffer from any skin irritation, you can enjoy any workout routine without worrying about the mat’s effect on your skin.
Moreover, the Swiss brand promises to donate 1% of all its sales to help protect the planet.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
GADEL Extra Thick Yoga Mat – Softest Yoga Mat
Soft yoga mats are great for holding poses for a really long time or if you need some more support during floorwork.
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The mat is about 12mm thick and ultra-cushiony. It’s also made out of a TPE material, which is eco-friendly, non-toxic, and very easy to clean.
Live Well 360 Handmade Yoga Mat – Best Cotton Yoga Mat
How about a cotton yoga mat?
While it may not sound practical, it’s actually pretty great!
The yoga mat/rug is made out of 100% organic cotton, and it’s super strong and long-lasting. It’s especially great if you like to practice hot yoga often – as it won’t slip and slide as much as other materials.
The mat is also easy to keep clean – all you need to do is to throw it in the wash! Plus, it’s much easier to stow it into the suitcase while you’re traveling.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
TOPLUS Yoga Mat – Most Color Choices
The TPE material yoga mat is a fantastic improvement to our traditional, everyday yoga mats. Especially since these mats are non-toxic, contain no unwanted chemicals, are odor-free, and contain zero latex.
Plus, there are so many colors to choose from!
The 0.6 cm thick mats come in various tones such as dark green, red, black, blue, and much more – so everyone can find a mat to match their style.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Wild Hemp Yoga Mat – Best Biodegradable Yoga Mat
A biodegradable yoga mat may just be the next best thing.
The Wild Hemp yoga mat boasts itself to be the best natural alternative to our commercial PVC yoga mats in that it’s made using all-natural and eco-friendly materials.
Some of which include wild nettle, wooden bead, and hemp cotton – it doesn’t get more natural than this.
Plus, the mat comes with ultra-soft padding and various aesthetic tones to choose from.
Oh, and it’s 100% handmade, too!
Custom Printed Yoga Mat – Best Yoga-Themed Gift Idea
How about a custom printed yoga mat?
Surprise a loved one or treat yourself with a truly unique yoga mat – that’s built around your design!
The non-toxic, plastic-free, and eco-friendly yoga mats can feature a logo, image, or style you prefer, all of which are printed using eco-friendly ink.
Yarn Yoga Mat – Best Hand Woven Yoga Mats
Yoga mats are becoming more creative, especially when looking at these natural yarn woven mats.
The earth-friendly yoga mats are made in India and created out of natural cotton for a truly unique and stunning look.
Moreover, the actual mats are very sturdy and durable; plus, they’ll last you a long time as well!
Natural Cork Yoga Mat – Most Eco-friendly & Simplistic Yoga Mat
The natural cork yoga mat features a unique anti-slip finish for even the sweatiest yoga and pilates classes.
Plus, we love the simple yet gorgeous mandala design and the fact it’s made out of eco-friendly cork material.
How To Choose the Best Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat?
Choosing the best yoga mat to suit your lifestyle doesn’t have to be complicated!
However, there are some things worth considering when buying a new mat, like:
- Thickness & weight – This is important. Thinner mats are great for standing poses and increasing your stability. In contrast, thicker mats provide extra cushioning – meaning you can expect more comfort when holding poses for more extended periods, like during Yin Yoga.
- Material – As we talked about before, the material is an essential factor and PVC is a big no-no. While it’s durable, it won’t degrade, and it contains dangerous additives like phthalates, lead, and cadmium—which are pretty toxic for us. Yet natural materials like cork, bamboo, and TPE are naturally biodegradable and won’t irritate our skin or environment!
- Design – No one wants a boring yoga mat, right? This is why it’s crucial to choose a mat that showcases your personality through color tones or different designs. Luckily, we have presented a ton of aesthetic yet eco-friendly alternatives so that you can find the right fit for you.
What did you think of our eco-friendly yoga mat selection? Is there a particular type that sticks out to you the most? Let us know in the comments below, and thanks for reading!
For more eco-friendly and sustainable ideas, why not check out the best zero-waste starter kits?
Anna Miller is a content manager at TrashBackwards. She’s passionate about living a zero-waste lifestyle. Anna has been writing about eco-friendly tips for years now, and she’s got some great ideas on how you can go plastic-free! She loves sharing her knowledge about eco-lifestyle with others. Her articles are always witty and insightful! Shoot her a message if you’ve got any questions about how you can start going green.
