Millions of yoga mats travel thousands of kilometers every year before reaching consumers
Every day, millions of people roll out their yoga mats in search of balance, wellbeing and inner connection. However, few ever wonder how far that product has traveled or what emissions it has generated on its journey to their studio or home.
It is estimated that around 70 percent of the yoga mats available on the market are made with petroleum based plastics such as PVC, TPE or EVA. Most of these products are manufactured in Asian countries, mainly China, Taiwan or India, and then travel thousands of kilometers on cargo ships and land transport before reaching Europe and other Western markets.
This extensive supply chain significantly increases the product’s carbon footprint, while making it more difficult to ensure fair working conditions at origin and to manage the waste generated during production.
“We want people to buy less, but with higher quality and greater traceability”, says David Almazán, founder of oléyoga. “Choosing mats that are locally made with natural materials and fair processes not only reduces environmental impact, it also supports the people behind the product”.
We want people to buy less, but with higher quality and greater traceability
Beyond their climate impact, many yoga mats made with flexible PVC contain phthalates and other chemical substances. Over time, heat, sweat and friction can degrade these materials and release microparticles that come into direct contact with the skin during practice.
From an environmental perspective, the production of flexible PVC is one of the most polluting processes in the plastics industry. To give it elasticity, manufacturers add plasticizers, mainly phthalates, and other additives. Once the material becomes post consumer waste, recycling becomes extremely complex. The mix of compounds and contaminants prevents obtaining a homogeneous recycled material, and very few facilities are prepared to process this type of PVC, whose treatment can also release toxic gases.
In response to this reality, several brands are promoting alternatives based on renewable raw materials. Natural rubber, extracted from the sap of the rubber tree, is considered a sustainable option because it is biodegradable and potentially recyclable or compostable at the end of its life cycle. While a PVC mat can take more than 500 years to decompose and release microplastics, a natural rubber mat can degrade in approximately five to seven years under landfill conditions.
Local production also plays a key role in reducing environmental impact. Manufacturing locally lowers emissions associated with international transport, reduces dependence on large maritime and land fleets and enables greater transparency throughout the production process.
______________________
oléyoga is a sustainable yoga mat brand made without plastics, using natural rubber. Designed to offer high performance, safety and low environmental impact, its mats promote a conscious, ethical practice that is aligned with the care of the planet.
