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Why make the switch to Eco-Yoga Mats?
Less Waste to Landfill
Extracted from Recycle Nation, written by Sophia Bennett Jan 28 2015.
Yoga mats are a fairly durable item that should not need to be replaced very often. But when yours finally wears out (or when you finally admit that yoga is just not for you), you may be wondering: Is it possible to recycle yoga mats?
Unfortunately your options are very, very limited. Two companies have found ways to re-manufacture yoga mats into new mats or shoes. If you cannot get your mat to one of them, you may need to look for a way to reuse it. Luckily the options for reuse are much more plentiful – but at complete worn off stage, its hard.
What are the off the shelf inexpensive yoga mats made out off?
Your inexpensive, run-of-the-mill yoga mat is most likely made with polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC or by the recycling number 3. It’s a good choice because of its non-stick qualities, but it’s a bad choice because it’s full of toxic chemicals including phthalates, lead and cadmium.
More bad news: not only are you breathing in some of the chemicals from your yoga mat during your practice, but PVC can be extremely difficult to recycle. There are businesses that specialize in recycling certain types of PVC products, like gift cards and vinyl siding. But most things made with this particular type of plastic – most notably consumer products like records, toys and yoga mats – are difficult or impossible to recycle.
That being said, it’s important to keep PVC out the waste stream whenever possible. Since PVC is a type of plastic, it will never biodegrade. Thousands of years from now, your yoga mat will still be sitting exactly where it ended up in your local landfill. In addition, the harmful chemicals in it can be released into the ground over time.
If your yoga mat is incinerated, the phthalates, lead, cadmium and a compound called dioxin can all be released into the air, harming anyone who breathes it.
How to recycle yoga mats
In America, Jode Yoga has program to return PVC yoga mats back to manufactures to melt down and reuse. But this program does not exist in Australia.
Herbal dyed products
Best of all, these plants offer an alternative to the poisons of the typical synthetic dyeing process. Your skin – the body’s largest organ – will no longer be soaking up the text book of unstudied chemicals found in artificial dyes. Innocent employees will no longer be handling carcinogenic chemicals. And small rivers - often those used for bathing, washing clothes, and drinking - will no longer be tarnished by mismanaged toxic waste.
Ethical and sustainable production & sourcing of materials
GOTS – Being certified by Global Organic Textile Standard means complying with high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain and adhering to social criteria as well. It covers all stages of the cotton's journey, from harvesting of the raw materials through to environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing and labelling.
Both Yaazh and EcoFemme hold GOTS certificates. Please refer to the manufactuer's sites to validate.
Supporting handloom artisans
The cities of India have been flourishing in the past 50 years with white-collar jobs and technological growth. The same cannot be said to rural India, where people have been pushed against their will to enter white-collar jobs regardless of their passions or natural skills. This is in a bid to uplift their socio-economic status and obtain greater financial independence.
The concept of minimum wages is not commonly followed by many employers, and it is not uncommon to hear cases of wage theft and abuse of employment in many Asian countries. This is why it is critical to research source manufacturers who treat both their employees and contractors above and beyond the minimum standards.
Yaazh is a Eco-Yoga Mat Manufacturer located in Southern India. We have partnered with them for Distribution in Australia. Yaazh works in partnership with Handloom Artisans such that the Handloom Artisans can set the price they will work for. This is respectful for their work and skill and they can sustain their profession in a dignified manner.
Every order placed within India or abroad greatly supports their skill and profession.