Don’t let a PVC Yoga Mat Ruin Your Om
Nama-stay away from this material
Yoga is the perfect way to destress while still giving your body a good workout. It’s as beneficial for the mind as it is for the body! Plus, it doesn’t hurt that you don’t have to leave the house to practice it. But while yoga might be good for your health, your yoga mat could have hidden health risks.
The Problem With Yoga Mats
When you think of a yoga mat, you probably picture a soft, sponge-y material that you can easily roll and bend. Turns out, most yoga mats are made from polyvinyl chloride- otherwise known as PVC or vinyl. While this material is good at proving grip and padding, PVC is actually a type of plastic. PVC starts out as a really hard material, but becomes flexible when phthalates are added during production. Your super flexible yoga mat probably has a lot of phthalates added to it, which means you could be exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals during your downward-facing dog. Yoga mats are also known to peel and flake as they age. These little crumbs could end up all over your house and you could be exposed to harmful chemicals even when you’re off the mat!
Plus, the production of PVC is horrible for the environment and can be a big source of pollution. It has also been known to contribute to climate change. That’s just not a material we want to purchase!
What You Can Do
Never fear! There are tons of PVC-free yoga mat options out there. Try looking for a yoga mat that’s 100% made from natural materials like cotton, cork, or natural rubber. These materials will still provide padding while reducing your exposure to harmful chemicals. Jute is another great option, but be sure to avoid any mats that mix jute with polymer environmental resin (PER), which contains PVC (1).
You can also look for yoga mats that specifically say they’re PVC-free, but make sure to carefully check out the materials the mat is made up of. Just because it’s advertised as PVC-free doesn’t mean it’s made from better materials.
If you have an old yoga mat you’re no longer using, call your local recycling facility to see whether or not they could recycle it. But be aware that it might be difficult to find a facility that will accept it, since PVC is notoriously hard to recycle (2).