• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Artisan Life
  • Dot Marker Pages
  • Valentine’s Printables
  • Journals & Planners
  • Preschool + K Printables
    • Alphabet Tracing Worksheets
    • Fine Motor Practice Pages
    • Spanish Preschool Pages
    • CVC & Sight Words
    • Dot Marker Pages
    • Preschool Math
    • Kindergarten Math Worksheets
    • Cut & Paste Puzzles
  • Coloring
  • Gardening + DIY
    • Gardening
    • DIY Cleaning Products
    • DIY Skincare Products
    • Craft Tutorials
  • Shop

Best Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats

52 shares
  • Share

Discover the best eco conscious yoga mats, including a top rated affordable eco friendly yoga mat made with jute!

Many yoga practitioners are conscientious consumers who care about the protecting the environment. Unfortunately, most inexpensive studio mats are made from PVC which is harmful to the environment and your body.

Luckily, there are a variety of eco-friendly yoga mats available today! This collection of the best eco-friendly yoga mats will help you find a mat that’s healthier for you and the environment.

The Best Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats. Includes jute, cotton, cork, and natural rubber yoga mats!

This post includes affiliate links, which means I may make a commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. 

Table of Contents

  • Are PVC yoga mats toxic?
  • The best eco-friendly yoga mats
  • Jute and cotton yoga mats
  • Cork yoga mats
  • Natural rubber yoga mats
  • More yoga resources

Are PVC yoga mats toxic?

What, exactly, is PVC?

PVC stands for Polyvinyl chloride. It’s an extremely popular plastic product that’s used in a wide variety of products from pipes to building materials and toys. It’s also what the vast majority of inexpensive yoga mats are made from.

PVC is toxic during all stages of its lifecycle.

PVC products can’t be recycled and release hazardous chemicals, including known carcinogens, both during the manufacturing process and during disposal.

Exposure to products made with PVC can also be detrimental and may also expose you to hazardous amounts of chlorine and phthalates. PVC products may also contain BPA. You can read more about the hazards of PVC in this article from the US National Library of Medicine.

Exposure can take place through physical contact and even inhalation of gasses from products made with vinyl. This means that when you do yoga on a PVC mat, you are potentially absorbing known carcinogens and suspected endocrine disrupters in two different ways!

The best eco-friendly yoga mats

Luckily, there are alternatives to toxic PVC yoga mats!

There are several main types of environmentally friendly yoga mat available: jute and cotton mats, or rugs; cork mats; and natural rubber mats.

In this guide, I’ll tell you a bit about each option and some things to watch out for if you want a truly responsible, healthy yoga mat! Let’s get started!

Jute and cotton yoga mats

An organic natural jute yoga mat is one of the most eco-friendly yoga mat options. When you’re shopping for a jute mat, make sure it doesn’t have a PVC backing. Unfortunately, many of the jute mats I’ve seen do have a PVC component.

The Anja jute mat is the most affordable eco friendly yoga mat I could find at the time of writing.

It is toxin free, vegan, and made from sustainable materials. The only downside to a jute (or cotton) mat is that they aren’t as grippy as one made from cork or rubber.

Ajna Organic Yoga Mat - Natural Jute Yoga Mats - Large Non Slip Eco...
Ajna Organic Yoga Mat - Natural Jute Yoga Mats - Large Non Slip Eco...
  • While other yoga mats are made from cheap and harmful materials that stretch and slide, or simply deteriorate after a few uses, Ajna Wellbeing’s...
  • Many mats claim to be thick yoga mats but actually lack the density needed to support your body, and make it impossible to balance. Ajna Wellbeing’s...
  • Don’t fall behind or miss another yoga pose to a workout mat that’s constantly curling up, too heavy to lug around, or distracts you with nasty...
Check current price

The Lottus Life mat is also made from jute and is extra thick at 8mm.

This makes it perfect for yin and restorative practices where you want a lot of cushion and don’t need much grip. It isn’t organic, though, so if that’s important to you then you should go with another option.

Lottus Life Natural Jute Yoga Mat [New & Improved] Extra Thick 8mm....
Lottus Life Natural Jute Yoga Mat [New & Improved] Extra Thick 8mm....
  • KEEP YOUR YOGA HOLD STRONG: This natural jute yoga mat provides traction, support and stability, preventing your hands and feet from sliding and...
  • DEFINE YOUR YOGA SPACE: Providing insulation between your body and the ground, this thick yoga and exercise mat provides the comfort, cushioning and...
  • FEEL GROUNDED NATURALLY: Let this earth-friendly yoga mat give you a deep grounding experience and a complete sense of wellbeing every time with its...
Check current price

The Astra organic cotton & jute mat is a wonderful, environmentally-friendly option.

It’s naturally dyed with plants, which awesome, but sometimes the mats do have an earthly smell to begin with. Like most cotton yoga mats, the Astra mat is more like a rug than a ‘normal’ yoga mat, but it does have ridges to help improve grip.

Organic cotton yoga mats are, in my opinion, not quite as eco-friendly as jute but still much better than many other options. This is because jute takes fewer resources to grow and it’s primarily watered by rainfall while cotton requires significant extra water.

An organic cotton yoga rug is a a popular choice for Ashtanga, restorative, and yin classes.

Cotton rugs tend to be a bit softer than jute and organic cotton is always a better choice than conventional cotton! A cotton rug can also work well in lieu of a ‘normal’ yoga towel on top of another yoga mat.

Ekaminhale Organic Yoga Rug - Blue - 70 x 198 cm
Ekaminhale Organic Yoga Rug - Blue - 70 x 198 cm
  • GOTS Certified Organic Cotton & Dyes - 2 Years Warranty
  • Using a Rug for Practice Makes You Stronger
  • Hand Loomed By Weaver in Villages Not Made In Factories
Check current price

Cork yoga mats

There are many great cork yoga mats on the market today! Just like with jute mats, make sure there isn’t a synthetic backing to ensure you get a mat that’s eco-friendly and completely sustainable.

Cork mats are incredibly eco-friendly because cork is an entirely renewable resource.

Cork trees are not cut down – instead, layers of bark are peeled away every few years. Because cork trees store up carbon to regrow their bark, cork trees absorb more carbon dioxide when they’re harvested!

The Yoloha cork mat is a great example of an environmentally-conscious yoga mat made by a responsible company.

Yoloha is a small, family owned company that never uses single use plastics in their packaging. Additionally, Yoloha donates thousands of mats to nonprofits that bring yoga to classrooms, especially Title I schools.

Yoloha Yoga Unity Cork Yoga Mat - 6mm thick - Non Slip, Eco-Friendly,...
Yoloha Yoga Unity Cork Yoga Mat - 6mm thick - Non Slip, Eco-Friendly,...
  • ॐ PREMIUM PERFOMANCE, OPTIMUM DURABILITY: Our Unity Cork Yoga Mat is a harmonious blend of two recycled materials: cork and rubber. The result is a...
  • ॐ PERFECT FOR ANY PRACTICE: Regardless of what type of yoga you practice, the Unity Cork Yoga Mat will work for you. Our premium-grade cork/rubber...
  • ॐ NON-TOXIC: The Unity Cork Yoga Mat features natural, properties that make this highly sustainable material very easy to clean. Non-toxic and...
Check current price

Many cork mats combine natural cork with an organic natural rubber backing for extra cushion and grip. There are also mats with recycled tire backings! Just be on the lookout for any PVC backing so you can make sure to avoid it.

4PCS Eco-friendly Cork Yoga Mat Set Non-slip Organic Cork & Natural Rubber...
GURUS Sweat Proof Durable Cork Yoga Mat 4.5mm Thick Non Slip Exercise Mat...
Gaia Guy Custom Natural Cork and Natural Rubber Yoga Mat, 72" x 24" x 5mm...
4PCS Eco-friendly Cork Yoga Mat Set Non-slip Organic Cork & Natural Rubber...
GURUS Sweat Proof Durable Cork Yoga Mat 4.5mm Thick Non Slip Exercise Mat...
Gaia Guy Custom Natural Cork and Natural Rubber Yoga Mat, 72" x 24" x 5mm...
-
-
-
4PCS Eco-friendly Cork Yoga Mat Set Non-slip Organic Cork & Natural Rubber...
4PCS Eco-friendly Cork Yoga Mat Set Non-slip Organic Cork & Natural Rubber...
-
GURUS Sweat Proof Durable Cork Yoga Mat 4.5mm Thick Non Slip Exercise Mat...
GURUS Sweat Proof Durable Cork Yoga Mat 4.5mm Thick Non Slip Exercise Mat...
-
Gaia Guy Custom Natural Cork and Natural Rubber Yoga Mat, 72" x 24" x 5mm...
Gaia Guy Custom Natural Cork and Natural Rubber Yoga Mat, 72" x 24" x 5mm...
-

Natural rubber yoga mats

When selecting a natural rubber mat, try to find one that’s from sustainable, non-Amazon harvested rubber.

The Mankuka EKO Lite is a great example of what to look for in a natural rubber mat.

It’s made from non-Amazonian rubber that’s processed in a zero-waste, non-toxic way – hooray! Like most natural rubber mats, it will have a rubbery scent when it’s new, but it will air out with time. The EKO Lite comes in a variety of beautiful colors and patterns.

The Jade Harmony mat is another great example of what to look for in an eco-friendly yoga mat.

It’s made in the US from all natural rubber and Jade plants a tree for every mat sold! Because they’re manufactured in the US, these mats comply with all US labor laws, EPA regulations, and US consumer protection laws. Since many mats are imported, this is pretty unique!

The Lifeform yoga mat is a bit pricer than many of the other mats here, but it’s wider, thicker, and longer than standard mats.

It’s made from a mixture of natural rubber and includes a felt layer for cushioning. Amazingly, it degrades completely in 1-5 years in normal landfill conditions! Like most natural rubber mats, it’s on the heavier side and can lose it’s stickiness when it becomes dirty. Whenever I notice my rubber mat is losing it’s tack, I simply wash it off and allow it to dry.

Manduka eKO Lite Yoga and Pilates Mat, Acai, 4mm, 68"
JadeYoga Harmony(™) Yoga Mat, Natural Rubber Home Exercise Mat, Durable &...
Liforme Original Yoga Mat – Free Yoga Bag Included - Patented Alignment...
Manduka eKO Lite Yoga and Pilates Mat, Acai, 4mm, 68"
JadeYoga Harmony(™) Yoga Mat, Natural Rubber Home Exercise Mat, Durable &...
Liforme Original Yoga Mat – Free Yoga Bag Included - Patented Alignment...
-
-
Manduka eKO Lite Yoga and Pilates Mat, Acai, 4mm, 68"
Manduka eKO Lite Yoga and Pilates Mat, Acai, 4mm, 68"
-
JadeYoga Harmony(™) Yoga Mat, Natural Rubber Home Exercise Mat, Durable &...
JadeYoga Harmony(™) Yoga Mat, Natural Rubber Home Exercise Mat, Durable &...
-
Liforme Original Yoga Mat – Free Yoga Bag Included - Patented Alignment...
Liforme Original Yoga Mat – Free Yoga Bag Included - Patented Alignment...

More yoga resources

Discover my top yoga towel picks!

The best yoga towels - non-slip towels to keep you safe and protect your mat!

And, of course, there’s plenty of free yoga available on the blog and on my YouTube channel. 

child's pose yin yoga

Please let me know if you have a favorite eco-friendly mat I didn’t mention!

The Best Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats

The most eco-friendly yoga mats - including the most affordable eco friendly yoga mat pick! Eco friendly yoga mats on Amazon & natural jute yoga mats.

52 shares
  • Share

Buy me a coffee

Filed Under: healthy home, Yoga Sequences

Previous Post: « The Best Animal Books for Toddlers
Next Post: Nature Scavenger Hunt for Toddlers and Preschoolers »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

natashalh - the artisan life

Hi, I’m Natasha! I’m so glad you’re here.

I’m a former classroom teacher with a Masters of the Arts in Teaching turned homeschooler & gardener. I share educational & planner printables and tips for making gardening with kids successful and affordable.

I also publish printed coloring & activity books. You can also find me on YouTube.

Let's be friends!

Search The Artisan Life

The Artisan Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

The Artisan Life also uses affiliate links for other sites. For a full look at my policy, please visit its page here.

Buy me a coffee

Footer

Privacy Policy | Disclosure & Disclaimer | Terms and Conditions | Contact
COPYRIGHT © 2012 – 2023 The Artisan Life · ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly here: natashalh(at)stalkingthewildsnark(dot)com. I do not accept guest posts and will not respond to unsolicited requests for guest posts or links. Stock images by Depositphotos

Copyright © 2023 The Artisan Life on the Foodie Pro Theme