Seventy percent of yoga mats contain petroleum-based plastics that can take more than 200 years to break down. A new generation of sustainable mats could change this reality.
Every day, millions of people roll out their mats to practice yoga. They seek balance, respect for the environment and inner connection. However, few know that their mat may be made with toxic materials, shipped from the other side of the world and carrying an environmental impact that will last for centuries.
Approximately 70 percent of yoga mats are made from plastics such as PVC, TPE or EVA, which can take more than 200 years to decompose and release toxic substances throughout their life cycle. In addition, more than 80 percent of the mats sold in Europe are manufactured in Asia. The transcontinental transport of millions of mats generates a carbon footprint that contradicts the principles of the practice.
“It is a paradox. We practice yoga to connect on a product that is disconnected from the planet”, says David Almazán, founder of oléyoga, a sustainable yoga brand. “The yoga industry needs to look beyond cost optimization and start acting with coherence.”
We practice yoga to connect on a product that is disconnected from the planet
The environmental consequences go far beyond landfills. Many mats end up incinerated or broken down into microplastics that pollute soil and oceans, contributing to an environmental crisis that, according to the United Nations, could lead to more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050.
In response to this reality, some yoga brands are beginning to transform the industry from within. oléyoga manufacture plastic-free mats made from natural and recycled rubber, produced locally and biodegradable in just a decade. Unlike conventional options, these mats do not travel thousands of kilometers, do not release toxins and can support yoga practitioners for years while caring for the planet.
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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.
