What are yoga mats made of?

Yoga mats are made with a wide variety of materials.  The standard sticky yoga mat is made with a PVC material, but nowadays you also have your choice of sustainable, non-toxic materials.  Unfortunately, these yoga mats are usually identified with hard-to-understand acronyms.  We have decided to list the common yoga mat materials to help define the acronym and list some of their pros and cons.

Have something to add?  Please let us know.  We'll continue to add to this list as we learn more.

PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride

• environmental toxin/toxic plastic/carcinogen
• dioxins/carcinogens (by-products during manufacturing)
• plasticizers (to make elastic) includes lead, cadmium, phthalates.  Plasticizers offgas/leach during use.
• when PVC burns in landfills, they release toxins
• not recyclable

Natural Rubber - Open Cell Natural Rubber

• durable
• excellent traction - even when wet
• higher cushioning factor
• biodegradeable
• NO pvc

TPE - Thermal Plastic Elastomer (foam)

• NO toxic materials during manufacturing
• NO pvc
• NO heavy metals
• made primarily of carbon & hydrogen
• NO latex or rubber
• closed cell foam construction (no absorption of fluids - easier to keep clean)
• lightweight mats

PER - Polymer Environmental Resin

• NO phthalates
• NO heavy metals
• NO latex
• NO toxic materials during manufacturing
• NO dioxins, furans, phenal
• method of production is non-toxic
• static free and restitant to mildew

NBR - Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (buna-N)

• NO phthalates
• NO AZO, PAHS
• NO heavy metals
• NO pvc
• non-slip
• no smell (need to try to verify this statement)

EVA - Ethylene Vinyl Acetate

• high bouncing
• biodegradeable
• recyclable
• non-toxic
• NO phthalates
• skidproof / sticky
• lightweight mats
• NOTE:  we have foam rollers made of EVA foam