Best yoga mats for sustainable gyms UK
This article focuses specifically on sustainable yoga mats and yoga mat companies.
For our insights on sustainable gym equipment see here and for our wellness studio / leisure space design page (including yoga studios) see here.
THE FORM - ethical yoga accessories
The Form yoga mat company was founded in 2016 to create high-performing sustainable fitness equipment that does no harm to the environment, primarily focusing on a carbon neutral concept.
These sustainable gym friendly yoga mats combine recycled materials and eco-friendly packaging, with striking visual designs inspired by nature, providing an optional element of nature connection or biophilia.
They use the certification standard Climate Neutral as a guide on how to minimize their carbon emissions by calculating total carbon emissions based on COGS (costs of goods sold). The Form also independently calculate their own carbon emissions to ensure they offset more than they use.
When they do this, they utilize the embodied energy of the material used in their mats + carbon emitted by transporting from their factory in Asia to their warehouse in England + carbon emitted by transportation from their warehouse to customers. In other words, it’s a case of including emissions from the full lifecycle of the business and taking responsibility for the production and delivery of the mat until it reaches its customer.
Carbon Offsets are purchased via Climate Neutrals’ offset program; specifically they have recently contributed to three programs to offset their carbon: Grouped Small Hydro (China), Forestry Conservation (Zimbabwe), and Sustainable Waste Management (India).
These sustainable yoga mats are made from 100% recycled materials with a base of recycled tree rubber and a grippy top made from recycled plastic bottles. All mats are free from silicone, toxic glue, PVC and phthalates. When the mats reach the end of their lives, the rubber base of the Pro collection can be recycled while the Onyx mat can be biodegraded - making it a winner in sustainability terms.
As you would expect, this brand also focuses on sustainable packaging, ensuring that there is zero plastic used in their packaging, opting for a recyclable cardboard box sealed with biodegradable tape. All components of the packaging are 100% recyclable and compostable.
HOLDEREIGHT - sustainable yoga accessories
HolderEight is a yoga mat brand based out of Ireland. Their goal is to create beautiful, environmentally safe yoga products that will bring joy to their customers and brighten up a sustainable gym or yoga studio with their funky designs.
To make their premium quality eco yoga mats more sustainable all their mats include a base made from natural biodegradable rubber, which decomposes very slowly over time. Their yoga mats are also made using non-toxic dyes and materials, and they work with an ethically sourced factory.
Most yoga mats use a polyurethane resin cover for the top of their yoga mats to lock in the design. This is an inherently eco-friendlier alternative to most other plastics. It doesn’t contain any chemicals that can interfere with the endocrine or hormone systems.
Holder Eight also uses minimal packaging that is 100% recyclable with no signs of plastic, from the outer box to the labels to the polybag protecting the product, making these products a great addition to your yoga practice.
YOGAMATTERS - eco friendly yoga accessories
Yogamatters was founded in 1996 with a desire to make sustainable yoga equipment available to all. They have an eco-yoga mat collection that features yoga mats of varying designs, all crafted using environmentally friendly resources including cork, organic cotton, recycled materials, and more.
They have a sustainable cork collection that features eco gym equipment, including their sustainable cork yoga mat made from natural cork tree bark, the cork oak is the only tree that regenerates its bark once it’s been harvested, it can also survive for more than 200 years.
Another aspect of sustainability with the material cork is it is naturally anti-bacterial and helps to kill germs and bacteria that cause bad odors. Natural rubber comes from sustainable rubber farms; making this product vegan, 100% recyclable and biodegradable, and free from toxic chemicals and dyes.
The latest addition to their yoga matters mat collection is the Eco Flow Yoga mat made with sustainably harvested natural tree rubber, free from toxic chemicals and dyes, and produced with the highest respect for legal environmental and labor standards. It is certified OEKO-TEX standard 100, which certified that it is non-hazardous. 100% of the yoga mat is recyclable and biodegradable. We like the yoga mat bag options on their website too!
LIFORME: ethical yoga accessories
Founded in 2008, LIFORME has been pushing boundaries and creating new products that are eco-friendly, ethical, and socially just. Since the beginning, eco-friendliness has been at the forefront of their brand, making their yoga mats in the most planet-friendly way possible.
Their mats are PVC-free, biodegradable in 1-5 years (in normal landfill conditions) and made using the highest quality non-toxic materials. A natural rubber base has an added felt portion between the layers which provide support and cushion.
LIFORME has a unique patented 3-layered construction that they call their “Clean Grip Technology” aimed at delivering extra grip, maximum hygiene, and a quick-drying top surface, the latter helps to evaporate sweat and keep the yoga mat hygienic.
The middle layer is exclusive to LIFORME, is waterproof and wicks away moisture which prevents it from reaching the rubber base layer (where it can’t be cleaned). This, in turn, pushes the moisture to evaporate which keeps the mat hygienic and easy to clean.
https://liforme.com/pages/sustainability
COMPLETE UNITY YOGA: sustainable yoga accessories
Complete Unity Yoga was founded by yoga teachers looking for a more sustainable alternative to the materials much low-quality yoga equipment was made from.
Their signature collection of eco-friendly yoga mats using natural fibers and materials for a sustainable and high-performing product made from sustainably harvested natural tree rubber and natural jute fibers.
These are nontoxic; plastic-free, PU-free, BPA-free, TPE-free, PVC-free, and microfibre-free with a zero-waste manufacturing process to create truly vegan-friendly and sustainable mats with a purpose.
Complete Unity Yoga uses its CompleteGrip design technology comprised of a layer of precision-crafted jute fabric combined with sustainably harvested natural tree rubber, it comes with a 100% Grip money-back guarantee if customers are unhappy with the grip quality upon using the product.
Complete Unity Yoga also stands by its zero plastic packaging policy, with every product packaged in FSC-certified craft paper that can be 100% recycled upon delivery.
BULLFROG BOTTLES & YOGA: eco friendly yoga accessories
Bath-based Bullfrog started out with a collection of sustainable bottles and have successfully branched out into sustainable yoga wear and equipment for studios or gyms with an eco-friendly value system, or individuals looking to go beyond a reusable bottle into an entire outfit, and the yoga mat to match.
Reasonably priced in the £60-£80 price range at the time of writing, the collection includes sustainable cork yoga mats with a laser printed pattern with position markers.
The surface of the mat is made from 100% sustainably harvested natural cork bark while the base is 100% natural rubber (biodegradable and recyclable).
A premium feel underfoot combine with a lightweight design and just the right amount of bounce for comfort.
The non-slip surface responds well to perspiration and it’s easy to maintain thanks to cork’s natural antibacterial properties (beware of products that have added chemical antimicrobials - only natural antimicrobials are our friends!). These mats measure 183cm x 61cm with a 4mm thickness.
The other eco-friendly yoga mats for sustainable gyms and yoga studios in the Bullfrog collection are made from 5mm thick natural tree rubber base with an eco-polyurethane top surface meaning they are non-toxic, ultra grippy, easy to wipe clean with soap and water, and approximately 2.5kg in weight.
Further Reading
A Guide To Uk Purpose-Built Student Accommodation Gym Design
Gym Design For Hotels, Resorts, Workplaces And Residential Developments
Gym Design Consultants For Hotels, Resorts & Real Estate Developments
Designing And Decorating A Luxury Home Gym: An Essential Guide
Discover the Top North American Gym Brands for Sustainability and Diversity in Fitness