Choosing to use a natural yoga mat can help you stay in unison with your personal values, while enjoying many of yoga’s other benefits. There are several things to consider when looking for a more eco-friendly yoga mat. Greener yoga mats are often more expensive than plastic mats. Which makes sense, when you think about it. Production costs associated with pumping out PVC laden mats are much lower than working with natural materials. Also, because these mats are made from natural materials, they can break down more readily than the PVC mat competition, however technology and improved manufacturing methods have made this more of a moot point. In addition, some eco-friendly mats will emit a natural odor, but in most cases this can be solved by airing out your mat for an hour or so before its first use.

The environmental impact of the production, use and disposal of plastic mats is enough to make most people think twice. The production of plastic mats emits a large amount of pollution and greenhouse gases into our atmosphere and also, often produces a chemical called dioxin which not only acts as an environmental pollutant, but also is suspected to be associated with human immune and reproductive disorders. Yuk! In addition, the PVC often used in plastic mats is connected with several types of cancer and is non-recyclable, and non-biodegradable, which means that all of these mats have no where to go but landfills. And the best part is, that when some of these mats are exposed to heat or sunlight, they can release harmful chemical odors for the user to inhale.

When looking for a eco-friendly yoga mat, you have several choices. As Yoga has several different styles, natural yoga mats are offered in several different materials, with varying properties. Here is a top mat in each category.

Natural rubber mats are made from a renewable resource, the rubber tree, and are also biodegradable. One of the best natural rubber mats out there is the eKO mat by Manduka. This mat is composed of closed-cell natural rubber which means that it will not absorb moisture that can breed bacteria but, it is also very high quality and super durable, so it will not fade or flake. The eKO mat also has a great texture in a sea-grass type pattern that provides superb stickiness and traction. This eco-friendly mat uses a toxic-free softening process and is totally void of foaming agents and plasticizers that can be found in many other mats.

Another option for an earth conscious yogi is a plant fiber mat, made from various plant materials such as organic cotton, jute, or hemp. These fibers are also inherently renewable and biodegradable. A top contender here is Barefoot’s Natural Jute and PER mat. Jute is a vegetable plant that is incredibly fast growing, while PER stands for Polymer Environmental Resin which is an eco-friendly, nontoxic and carcinogen free alternative to PVC. This decomposable mat has a unique look and feel due to the ingenious coupling of these two materials.

What about alternative plastic mats? These are mats that are made from greener plastics such as PER or TPE, Thermoplastic elastomers, which are both made without toxic substances. A great choice in this category is the Eco Yoga Mat from Natural Fitness. This mat is made from TPE and provides great traction and is incredibly lightweight. The mat is also free of cadmium, lead and phthalates, which make it safer for yogis everywhere.

Another category is yoga mats made from cork. Which is actually surprisingly ideal. Cork naturally provides great shock absorption and cushion, while being incredibly durable. Cork also repels moisture and bacteria, and is hypo-allergenic for those allergic to latex. Cork is also harvested in a very green way. Cork comes from the outer bark of certain oak trees which completely regenerates. Combine that with Korq’s Eco-Foam and you have one beautiful green yoga mat. Korq natural yoga mats are made by hand in New York City, where they combine cork, their Eco-Foam backing and an organic cotton binding to complete their stunning and original mats.