How Safe Is Your Yoga Mat Really?

At Second Earth, our ethos is centred on honouring Mother Nature and our health. Before we launched our very first natural yoga mat, we invested a lot of time and money researching and testing various materials to ensure our products would be genuinely people and planet friendly.

Along the way, we learned some important lessons — including how much misinformation and greenwashing exists in the yoga mat industry.

Lesson 1: Greenwashing

Greenwashing is when brands claim their products are environmentally friendly to capitalise on the growing demand for eco-conscious products — even if those claims aren’t true.

The tricky part is that there are no regulations around terms like “eco-friendly,” so some brands use them freely without backing up their claims. From our experience, if a business can’t provide facts and transparency about a product, it’s worth being skeptical.

For brands like us genuinely committed to producing eco-friendly yoga mats, the cost of sustainable production is high. Seeing others falsely advertise mats as “green” can be super frustrating.

Lesson 2: Yoga mats to be suspicious of

PVC Yoga Mats

Verdict: Would we use a PVC mat? No. Not ever.
Are PVC mats biodegradable? No.

PVC mats are still common because they’re cheap, but PVC is one of the most toxic plastics on the planet. Its main ingredient, vinyl chloride, is a known carcinogen, and toxic dioxins are released during production or when burned.

PVC mats also often contain lead and phthalates. Phthalates make mats soft and flexible but can cause developmental issues, reproductive harm, and cancer. They can migrate to the surface while in use, exposing you and the people who produce the mats to these toxins.

Human exposure risks include:

• Lowered fertility
• Increased incidence of endometriosis
• Developmental and neurological issues in infants, as phthalates can pass through the placenta and breast milk

Check out our eco-friendly yoga mats to avoid harmful plastics.

PER (Polymer Environmental Resin) Yoga Mats

Verdict: Would we use a PER mat? No.
Are PER mats biodegradable? No.

PER mats are essentially PVC stabilised with acetyl tributyl citrate instead of phthalates or lead. While less toxic than PVC, PER still contains vinyl chloride, a carcinogen, and shares similar risks during production, use, and disposal.

• PER is not truly PVC-free, despite its claims
• Safety data on acetyl tributyl citrate is limited, so the long-term health impact is uncertain

TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) Yoga Mats

Verdict: Would we use a TPE mat? No.
Are TPE mats biodegradable? No.

TPE mats are advertised as “less toxic,” but TPE is a petroleum-based, ambiguous blend of synthetic materials. Cheap versions may contain styrene and butadiene, both human carcinogens.

Without detailed ingredient transparency, it’s difficult to trust the safety claims of TPE mats.

Lesson 3: Better Options for a Yoga Mat

After years of research and testing, we found several safer, eco-friendly options:

Natural Rubber Yoga Mats

• Biodegradable, dense, and grippy
• Made from the sap of natural rubber trees
• Vulcanised using natural sulphur for durability
• Choose mats sourced sustainably from rubber farms, not rainforests

Note: New mats may have a slight odor, which fades, and they contain naturally occurring latex proteins — sensitive individuals may need to take care.

Explore our natural rubber mats

Cork Yoga Mats

• Durable, buoyant, grippy, and antibacterial
• Harvested sustainably from the bark of cork oak trees
• Supports carbon absorption, helping reduce greenhouse gases

Tip: Look for mats with natural rubber backing rather than PER or TPE.

Shop our cork yoga mats

Jute Yoga Mats

• Extremely strong, biodegradable, and eco-friendly
• Requires minimal water and no pesticides to produce
• Often combined with natural rubber for extra support and grip

How Safe is Your Yoga Mat? - Comparison of PVC, PER, TPE, natural rubber, cork and jute

Why This Matters More Than Ever in 2026

Consumers are becoming more conscious of what they bring into their homes—and onto their bodies.

Choosing a non-toxic yoga mat isn’t just about performance anymore.
It’s about:

• Reducing daily chemical exposure
• Supporting sustainable production
• Aligning your practice with your values

Final Thoughts

Choosing a safe yoga mat is about protecting your health and supporting a sustainable planet. PVC, PER, and TPE mats may be cheap, but they come with hidden health risks and environmental harm. Natural options like rubber, cork, and jute provide a safer, sustainable choice.

For a step-by-step guide, see our Complete Beginner’s Guide to Yoga Mats.

FAQs About Yoga Mat Safety

Are PVC yoga mats dangerous?

PVC mats can contain harmful chemicals like phthalates and VOCs, which may pose health risks with long-term exposure.

What is the safest material for a yoga mat?

Natural materials like cork and natural rubber are widely considered the safest and most non-toxic options.

Do yoga mats release toxins when heated?

Yes—synthetic mats can release more VOCs when exposed to heat and sweat.

Are cork yoga mats good for hot yoga?

Yes. Cork naturally becomes more grippy with moisture, making it ideal for sweaty practices.

How to Tell If Your Yoga Mat Is Toxic

Ask yourself:

• Does it have a strong chemical smell?
• Does it feel overly plasticky or artificial?
• Was it very cheap compared to others?

These can all be signs of lower-quality, synthetic materials.

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Disclaimer: This blog is based on our research and testing over many years and is not professional health advice.

Last updated: 2026