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WHY ARE PVC YOGA MATS SO BAD???

WHY ARE PVC YOGA MATS SO BAD??? - Yogi Peace Club

HEY YOGIS!! What is your Yoga Mat made of?

Thank you for wanting to know more about why PVC is so bad, here's a discount code to purchase one of our PVC FREE Yoga Mats, click link and enter the code 'MAT10' at checkout to receive 10% off.

As a yogi, it's so important to know what your mat is made of and what you are practising on. If you have a plastic PVC mat, this may assist you in keeping informed and empower your decision making.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or vinyl, is one of the most environmentally hazardous consumer materials ever produced. PVC is dangerous to human health throughout its entire life cycle of production, use and disposal, mainly because of the large quantities of chlorine, used in making it, being roughly 30% of the world supply.

PVC is the single worst plastic according to several health organisations. Greenpeace has been lobbying to stop the use of PVC because of the dioxin produced during its manufacture. Toxic for humans and the environment and unfortunately many yoga mats are 100% PVC.

Simran Sethi Journalist and educator writes "The majority of yoga mats are manufactured in Taiwan and made of polyvinyl chloride. PVC makes a great mat due to its grip, durability and price point. But, unfortunately, there is no safe way to create, use or destroy these mats.

Yoga mats made with PVC can also contain chemicals like phthalates, which are used to make PVC flexible. Phthalates are linked to reproductive issues including shorter pregnancy duration and premature breast development in girls, and they can leach out over time, especially in warmer temperatures like those found in many hot yoga studios. Phthalate particles then cling to dust, which can be inhaled.

Sethi also comments "PVC isn't just in yoga mats. It's in children's toys, sex toys, shower curtains, fake Christmas trees, IV bags and more. That new car (or new yoga mat) smell is the scent of plastic softened with phthalates, and stabilized with lead and cadmium."

PVC became the plastic of choice because it's cheap, but considering the impacts on environmental and human health, it's actually priceless. PVC can't be recycled due to the toxins embedded within it, and when it's incinerated or buried in landfills it releases dioxin, a known carcinogen."

Andrea Cespedes from Livestrong writes "A sticky mat is pretty much a must for yoga, but it's safety is in question. Yes, the mat will keep you from slipping and falling — but it contains chemicals that may linger in your system for years." Here is a wonderful link to the Livestrong website with further website resources for information on PVC and Phthalates. www.livestrong.com

Although research specifically examining yoga mats is limited, studies of other household products made with PVC materials have found that they can emit chemicals that pollute the air. Also, in order to make yoga mats with PVC, potentially harmful chemicals like chlorine gas, ethylene dichloride, vinyl chloride, mercury, and dioxins may be used and released into the environment which can be carcinogenic for the workers. PVC does not readily degrade and when it does it gives off a number of toxic materials. 

So when shopping for a yoga mat keep these things in mind.

PVC free yoga mat

Ask your self....

What is my yoga mat made of?

Are there unnecessary chemicals
added to into my mat?

Does it smell toxic?

How can I repurpose it?

Yogi Peace Club Yoga mats are made of Recycled plastic bottles on top which is heat bonded to 100% natural biodegradable tree rubber/recycled tree rubber. No PVC, phthalates or toxic chemicals. No Latex or Silicon. No toxic chemical Smell.



 

 Some other great features of the Yogi Peace Club Mats include:

Every mat comes with a matching durable, beautifully printed Yoga strap, made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Use for carrying your yoga mat and to enhance your yoga practice. 

YPC Yoga Mats are light weight and great for travelling. They weigh 2.4 kilos, a perfect size for the plane.

Free from the nasties - latex, silicone, toxic glue, PVC, Chlorine and Phthalate with zero odour and no toxic smell, YPC yoga mats are eco-friendly, crafted from natural tree rubber and printed with water based inks.

Each YPC Yoga mat has been designed by resident and local artists with alignment in mind. Use the print to position your feet in the correct place each time you are in an asana.


To ecologically re-energise your yoga mat leave in the rain, wipe down and dry in the sun. No more stinky mats. Go to your class with a clean and fresh mat.

The more you sweat the better the grip. Once you get warm the mat becomes grippier, so perfect for Yoga, Bikram, hot yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa, pilates, and general exercise classes. This extra cushion, rubber stability and responsive grip can help to reduce injuries

With every YPC purchase, the YPC team are able to support the Carbon Positive to help replant and restore Australian native plants & vegetation. You can read more about the Carbon Positive Foundation  here

BEST OF ALL - DESIGNED BY A YOGI FOR YOGI’S! 

NOTES ON PVC IN THIS BLOG WERE SOURCED FROM THE FOLLOWING SOURCES. 

LIVESTRONG JAN 2018  www.livestrong.com

YOGA JOURNAL BY MIKE SCHADE  |  MAR 23, 2015 

BY CYNTHIA MORRIS  |  yogajournal.com

ECO NOVICE | 24/9/2013 eco-novice.com

OPRAH.COM BY SIMRAN SETHI |12/0/09  oprah.com

IMAGES VIA GREENPEACE WEBSITE © Kevin Castle / Greenpeace