Which Yoga Mats are made in Europe?
Discover in this article an overview of the yoga mats designed in the EU and sold on the French market today. We are talking about made in the EU because there is currently no yogaaccessories made in France.
Find out in this article:
- Does a yoga mat made in Europe exist?
In Germany: yoga mat made of non-toxic PVC
In Portugal: yoga mats made of cork or recycled rubber
In Lithuania: woolen yoga mat certified Oeko-Tex Standard - Where are the others made in the world?
Natural rubber and microfiber yoga mats in China
Yogom Performance Yoga Mat
Travel Yogom Yoga Mat
Natural rubber and polyurethane mats
Yoga mat in TPE - Why do you prefer to buy a yoga mat made in Europe?
The best performing EU-designed yoga mats according to Yogom
Does a yoga mat made in Europe exist?
In Germany: Yoga mats made of non-toxic vinyl chloride
- Germany is one of the largest yoga mat producing countries in Europe with Portugal. The country mainly creates yoga mats made of Polyvinyl chloride non-toxic imported from ChinaSo if you are looking for eco friendly yoga accessories, the selection of this material is not recommended even if it is made in Europe!
- Indeed, the Polyvinyl Chloride is made from two raw materials: sea salt (57%) and petroleum (43%); it is the only plastic material made up of more than 50% of mineral-based mp.
- It has certain qualities: inexpensive, does not contain Latex or azo dye, chemical fixative or Phthalate. That’s why there are many such mats on the market at low prices.
- However, it has a lot of disadvantages: its weight is quite heavy (between 1.5 and 2.5 kg), it has a greasy and sticky texture very unpleasant to the touch, a bad adherence (it slips) as well as a bad resistance in time. It is a material with a very low technical performance.
- In addition, this material is neither bio, nor biodegradable nor recyclable It releases harmful substances during its incineration. It is made of chemical materials, toxic and polluting for the planet, with the sole purpose of being antibacterial and antifungal.
- Although they can now be made in Europe, transportation from Asia has a significant carbon footprint.
This is why Yogom does not offer these mats in its online store.
TPE: THE ALTERNATIVE TO POLYVINYL CHLORIDE.
For the manufacture of its carpets, Yogom favors the use of TPE: thermoplastic elastomer, a synthetic material that revolutionizes polyvinyl chloride.
- TPE is light, soft, resistant, odorless, hypoallergenic, shock-absorbing thanks to its thickness and the flexibility of its foam and very anti-slip!
- It does not contain neither latex nor polyvinyl chloride. no phthalate, glue, solvent or chemical fixative DOP.
- In addition, it offers excellent grip thanks to the textured effects of its design.
- Although TPE is recyclable, it is created in Asia, so it also has a significant carbon footprint.
There are very few alternatives to TPE that are designed in European countries and are non-polluting, which is why Yogom chose to import its TPE from China. TPE is a recyclable material, even though the recycling factories are located in Asia. Indeed, TPE is recyclable and recycled in Asia but not yet recycled in Europe.
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Yomad Om Duck yoga mat
Original price was: 68,00€.47,60€Current price is: 47,60€. -
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In Portugal : Yoga mats in cork and or rubber
Recently, it has become possible to produce environmentally friendly yoga accessories outside of Germany, more specifically in Portugal. Indeed, many brands of yoga accessories make their mats in Portugalthey are made from materials that respect the planet .
There are 3 types of yoga mats made in Portugal:
The 100% cork yoga mat: technically not very efficient
For some years now, there have been yoga mats made of 100% cork oak in Portugal. Not only were they very expensive (over 150€) but the technical performance was poor. Indeed, it is very heavy, difficult to roll up, hard, very dense and therefore not very shock absorbing. This type of carpet still exists on the market and we do not recommend them, especially since the manufacturing technology has evolved.
The cork yoga mat with a RECYCLED rubber base: the good alternative
Yoga mats with a cork coating and a rubber base are finally the right alternative because its base brings comfort, cushioning and stability to the floor! It is the ideal material for yoga articlesIt is rot-proof, anti-bacterial, anti-slip, which is very hygienic for the practice of yoga. It would not be sufficiently cushioning. That is why their base is made from rubber, allowing a certain stability and resistance. However, this material often has a high carbon footprint because it is imported from Asia.
The MICROFIBER YOGA MATS WITH RECYCLED RUBBER BASE: LATEST NEWS!
As efficient as the cork mat because the base is the same: recycled rubber. The covering is a little different since it is not cork but a rough recyclable microfiber which is anti-slip. This mat is even lighter than the cork mat but less dense because its base does not contain cork but only recycled rubber while the cork mat has a base composed of a mixture of recycled rubber and cork.
The cork yoga mat with recycled rubber base
The best ecological yoga mat!
Yogom has succeeded in developing a range with a carpet and a brick made of cork and recycled rubber, certified vegan. It is made from a recycled rubber base from shoes made in Portugal. Its coating comes from from sustainably managed forests in the Alentejo region of Portugal.
This carpet is therefore both eco-designed, has a low carbon footprint, a soft touch very pleasant and technically very powerful very resistant, stable on the ground, antibacterial, non-slip and very light because it is is lighter than non-recycled! Its design is clean and its carbon footprint is very low unlike those made of Polyvinyl chloride or thermoplastic polyurethanes. It is also certified vegan.
This Yogom yoga mat is perfect for an occasional to daily use, it gathers all the assets: practical, durable, responsible and respectful of the environment: light, soft, non-slip!
The MICROFIBRES yoga mat with recycled rubber base
Yogom’s recycled rubber yoga mat is made in Portugal and certified Vegan. It is made of recycled rubber, which makes it the most ecological yoga mat sold in Europe. It is also recyclable and durable, non-slip and super light. Technical features include extra-long dimensions, thickness comfortable enough to cushion joints, light weight, rough microfiber for a natural, soft feel, perfect grip on the floor and easy maintenance. The recycled rubber yoga mat is suitable for a variety of sports, including yoga, pilates, meditation and fitness, and can be used indoors or outdoors. However, it may contain latex, so it is not suitable for people with latex allergies.
The yoga mat made of Oeko Tex certified wool and made in Lithuania by Yogom
The wool promotes relaxation and improves the ability to purify the air of harmful positive ions. In addition, its wool is hydrophobicwhich is ideal for yoga practice!
This yoga mat is designed for activities such as Yin Yoga, Nidra Yoga, Kundalini Yoga or meditation, but can also be used but can also be used for Hatha Yoga or Vinyasa Yoga or Iyengar Yoga . It can be folded on itself to increase the cushioning of the knees for more comfort during meditation for example.
It is suitable for any season and surface, it is foldable and rollable: you will be able to carry out your meditation on vacation as well as at home, indoors or outdoors. It is non-slip and has a very good grip thanks to its rubber base.
The wool yoga mat was created and made in Europe, so don’t worry about its carbon footprint!
What is the Oeko Tex standard?
The Gentle Range also includes yoga and meditation accessories made of Oeko Tex merino wool: you will find cushions for yoga and meditation (zafu and bolster), a mini meditation mat, a blanket for relaxation and meditation and the large wool yoga mat.
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Natural wool yoga mat
139,00€ -
Meditation cushion wool
80,00€ -
Yoga blanket
109,00€ -
complex manufacturing in Europe facing a well-equipped Asia
Designing European yoga mats is complex: production centers do not necessarily have the right technology, and prices are very high. It is therefore more interesting to make them in China, by controlling the production as much as possible, rather than producing them in Europe with a very high purchase price. In order to prosper, China has revised its production criteria: there are now factories that have certifications proving compliance with strict standards in terms of production quality and working conditions.
In addition, carpets made in Germany are no less harmful to the environment than those made in Asia, they are made from plastic. Although it comes from European countries, it is both non-recyclable, and its transportation from China involves a significant carbon footprint. Learn more about the design of Yogom products.
According to Yogom, it is best to export carpets from China that are made from non-toxic rubber, microfiber or TPE, as these materials are recyclable. Rather than producing them in Europe from non-recyclable materials, which have made a long journey from Asia to Europe.
Natural rubber & microfiber yoga mats in China
For example, the Performance line and T ravel Yogom are made of a rubber with a synthetic microfiber textile coating printed with water-based inks. This material brings stability and resistance to the carpets, the microfiber is a soft and absorbent coating with a peach skin touch.
Although they come from China, they are eco-designed and are certified by : Hermes Hansecontrol GroupHAP Testing Services Co. Ltd, Attestation of Global Compliance Co. Ltd and finally SGS.
Yogom Performance Yoga Mat
The eco-friendly Performance Yoga Mat is ideal for both dynamic and gentle yoga practices: it is suitable for beginners and experts alike.
Its microfiber textile coating allows Yogis who tend to sweat, to keep a certain fluidity of movement between the different postures. *
Moreover, it is foldable, which allows to take it everywhere, it is ideal to leave on vacation!
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Pack 8 Yomad mats
208,80€ -
Green Toucan Performance Yoga Mat
Original price was: 87,00€.60,90€Current price is: 60,90€. -
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Yogom Travel Yoga Mat
The mat of this range has a durable base material: recycled rubber, which makes it very resistant and therefore ideal for practicing yoga, meditation or fitness indoors or outdoors.
It is very thin, very light, foldable, machine washable and very flexible. Their microfiber coating allows an ultra fast drying.
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Blue Mandala Travel Yoga Mat
70,00€ -
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Toucan Travel Yoga Mat
70,00€ -
Travel yoga mat Leo taupe
70,00€
Natural rubber and polyurethane mats
The T he Yogom Star Yoga Mat is clearly the best non-slip yoga mat on the market for an intense yogic sport without accidents!
Its polyurethane coating ensures excellent grip on the groundIt is perfect for dynamic or static practices in which you slide and need stability (Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Bikram, Hot Yoga, Hatha, Iyengar, Pilates). The Yogom Star carpet also has a Bodyline System for a better body alignment thanks to the markings on the mat!
It contains 0% of Polyvinyl chloride for a practice respectful of nature. This is the most non-slip yoga mat in the world!
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Star Samadhi Blue Yoga Mat
104,00€ -
Star Moon Yoga Mat
Original price was: 125,00€.87,50€Current price is: 87,50€. -
Yoga mat Star Samadhi Yellow
115,00€ -
New
Yoga mat in TPE
Yogom has chosen TPE to make its carpets , This is the generic name of the thermoplastic elastomer. TPE is a very light, resistant, non-slip, shock-absorbing material, very soft to the touch, it has an excellent adherence with its two textured sides. It is perfect for the practice of yoga and especially very eco-responsible because 100% recyclable, toxin-free, latex-free, odorless and hypoallergenic.
It is made of an anti-slip and odorless material: it does not contain Latex: it is the yoga and fitness mat in TPE foam that revolutionizes those in Polyvinyl Chloride which stick, in which one sinks during the exercises and which smell the plastic!
Why do you prefer to buy a yoga mat made in Europe?
There are many positive aspects to buying an EU made yoga mat ! Indeed, this ensures: less transportation and therefore less pollution, a local economic dynamic, product certifications (ecological, sanitary…), environmental standards and controlled working conditions. There is no technically efficient organic yoga mat on the market in France: only woven organic cotton yoga mats exist and are recommended for meditation in addition to a zafu or zabuton to compensate for the lack of comfort of the thin organic cotton mat.
CARBON FOOTPRINT
Carpets designed in China, India, Canada or the United States have a long way to go to reach the EU: the carbon footprint is very important. It is therefore important to favor articles made in the EU with materials present in the region, respectful of nature and the health of consumers. The yoga mat made of merino wool from Lithuania by Yogom is a perfect example, choosing these countries has allowed to reduce the transport distances and decrease the CO2 emissions while guaranteeing the quality of the article.
ETHICS OF WORKING CONDITIONS
It is important to question the ethical working conditions of the workers in the yoga mat factories. The European countries chosen by Yogom for the production of its yoga products have perfectly regulated working conditions. Lithuania and Portugal focus on health, safety and hygiene, but also on waste management, working hours and employee compensation.
TRACEABILITY OF MATERIALS AND THE PRODUCTION PROCESS
Producing its products in the EU allows for better control of production cycles and traceability of materials thanks to the proximity of the factories, which facilitates control visits. The traceability is very important in the production process, it allows to identify in which countries and under which conditions the various stages of production of a textile product were carried out. Traceability implies to follow the whole logistic path: its conditions of supply, production, storage, and finally distribution. It allows to give concrete information to the consumers its origin. It is essential to know how they are designed, and with what materials, so it is essential that the production factories are transparent about the traceability of their items. From this point of view, it is easier to work with factories in the EU than in Asia and to ensure compliance with the established rules.
Why is it okay to buy a yoga mat made in China?
The yoga mats designed in China have a technical performance unmatched today. Indeed, China is the only country with the technical means (factories, very expensive machines, know-how…) to produce quality yoga mats from vegetable materials such as natural gum.
It is essential for Yogom to offer items created from high quality materials and having a low impact on the ecosystem (recyclable, biodegradable …), China is the only country to offer this! Indeed, no country in the EU has factories efficient enough to offer yoga mats made of vegetable material and at a reasonable price.
China is one of the only countries to combine technical performance and ecological certification in the production of yoga items!
The best performing yoga mat made in the EU
The recycled yoga mat from Portugal is truly the best created in the region, at this time.
And here are the main criteria to keep in mind when choosing your ideal carpet:
- The type of yoga practiced The type of yoga: gentle or dynamic (Bikram, Vinyasa, Hatha, Ashtanga…)
- The technical characteristics resistance, adherence, damping…
- The frequency of use daily, weekly…
- The place of practice outdoor, indoor, type of floor…
- The level of yogaBeginner, intermediate, expert…
- The aesthetic : plain colors, patterns…
- The material : wool, TPE…
It is very important to take all these parameters into account to find the most suitable carpet!
For more information, visit the Yogom Buying Guide! AND discover on the online store all the articles and accessories for yoga and meditation: carrying bag, strap, bricks, bolster, zafu cushions, card games, books, suit, etc.
