Yoga Mat Materials, Testing & Sustainability

🌿 Renewable Natural Materials | 🧪 SGS Tested | 🏭 ISO 14001 Certified Manufacturing | 🏆 Clean + Conscious Award

Our Commitment to Transparency

At Second Earth, we believe choosing a yoga mat shouldn't require guesswork.

We know sustainability claims can be difficult to navigate, and many people are understandably cautious about greenwashing. That's why we've chosen to be as transparent as possible about the materials we use, how our products are made, and the independent testing and certifications that support our claims.

This page brings together the information we most commonly share with customers who ask about our materials, manufacturing and sustainability credentials.

🌿 Renewable, Plant-Based Materials

Our flagship 2E Connected Eco Yoga Mat is made from renewable natural tree rubber and woven jute.

We deliberately chose these materials because they deliver exceptional grip, comfort and durability while avoiding the need for PVC-based construction.

Our Connected mats are:

✔ Made from renewable natural tree rubber and woven jute
✔ Free from PVC, TPE and plasticisers
✔ Designed for exceptional grip and long-lasting durability

The yoga mat and complimentary cotton carry strap each feature a small woven logo tag made from recycled polyester. We deliberately chose recycled polyester for these tags after testing alternative materials, which did not provide the durability required for everyday use. This was a considered decision to maximise durability while keeping the amount of synthetic material to an absolute minimum.

🔨 No Surface Glues

Unlike some yoga mats that bond different materials together using adhesives, the woven jute in our Connected mat is embedded directly into the natural rubber during manufacturing using heat and pressure.

This creates a durable reinforced structure without the need to glue the jute onto the surface.

🧪 Independently SGS Tested

Both our Connected and Affinity mats are independently tested by SGS, one of the world's leading testing and certification organisations.

Testing is conducted to the European Union REACH Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs), covering more than 250 regulated substances.

The testing confirms that no REACH Substances of Very High Concern were detected above the applicable reporting limits.

Examples of substances included within REACH testing include a range of phthalates and other chemicals of concern.

It is important to understand that REACH testing is not intended to certify a product as "non-toxic". Rather, it independently verifies that the product does not contain the current list of regulated Substances of Very High Concern above the reporting limits.

🏭 Manufactured Responsibly

Our Connected mat manufacturing partner operates under internationally recognised management systems, including:

ISO 9001

Quality Management

Providing assurance around consistent manufacturing quality and production processes.

ISO 14001

Environmental Management

Supporting continual improvement in environmental management and responsible manufacturing practices.

QC080000

Hazardous Substance Process Management

Helping ensure hazardous substances are effectively managed throughout manufacturing.

Manufacturing certifications vary between our manufacturing partners. Where applicable, we list these separately.

🌏 Carefully Selected Natural Materials

We carefully select suppliers that align with our sustainability goals.

Natural Rubber

Our natural rubber is sourced from sustainably managed rubber tree plantations in Vietnam.

Natural rubber is a renewable material harvested from rubber trees without the need to cut the trees down.

Jute

Our jute is a natural plant fibre grown in Bangladesh.

Jute is one of the world's most renewable natural fibres and provides excellent reinforcement while maintaining flexibility and grip.

Cork

The cork used in our cork yoga mats and cork yoga props is sustainably sourced from Portugal.

Cork is harvested from the bark of cork oak trees without harming the tree itself, allowing it to naturally regenerate and be harvested again over time. It is a renewable natural material valued for its durability, grip and unique natural texture.

🏆 Independently Recognised

Our 2E Connected Eco Yoga Mat has received a Clean + Conscious Award.

The Clean + Conscious Awards are independently judged by a panel of experts who assess products against criteria including:

• Ingredient safety
• Sustainability
• Ethics
• Social responsibility
• Overall product integrity

While awards are different from laboratory testing, we believe they provide another valuable layer of independent assessment.

♻️ Designed to Last

One of the most sustainable products is one that doesn't need replacing.

Creating products that last is an important part of sustainability. Replacing a yoga mat every year has a much greater environmental impact than using a well-made mat for many years.

That's why we designed the Connected and Affinity mats to combine exceptional grip, comfort and durability, helping it withstand years of regular practice. A longer-lasting product means fewer replacements and less waste over time.

💚 Our Approach

We're continually looking for ways to improve our products and reduce our environmental impact.

That doesn't mean we're perfect.

Every manufactured product has an environmental footprint. Our goal is to make thoughtful choices, continually improve where we can, and be open about the decisions we make along the way.

Transparency is important to us because we believe our customers deserve to know exactly what they're practising on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't you use PVC?

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a plastic polymer commonly used in many yoga mats.

For our Connected and Affinity mats, we deliberately chose natural rubber and woven jute or cork instead because they are renewable materials that also deliver excellent grip and performance.

PVC products can take hundreds of years to break down under typical environmental conditions. There are also ongoing environmental and health concerns associated with some of the chemicals and plasticisers used in certain PVC products. 

Does REACH testing mean the mat is "non-toxic"?

Not exactly.

REACH testing is designed to determine whether products contain any of the current European Union Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) above reporting limits.

Our Connected, Affinity and Play mats are all independently tested by SGS and no REACH SVHCs were detected above those reporting limits.

Do Second Earth mats contain phthalates?

No. Our yoga mats do not contain phthalates.

All of our mats are independently SGS tested to the European Union REACH Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs), which includes a range of regulated phthalates.

The testing confirmed that no REACH Substances of Very High Concern, including regulated phthalates.

Do all Second Earth mats undergo independent testing?

Why is the logo tag polyester instead of cotton?

The complimentary carry strap is made from cotton.

The small woven logo tag on the carry strap and yoga mat is made from recycled polyester because it provides significantly greater durability than the natural alternatives we tested.

Why don't you identify your manufacturer?

We've invested considerable time and money in finding a manufacturing partner that aligns with our high tandards for product quality, sustainability and responsible manufacturing.

While we don't publicly identify our manufacturing partners for commercial reasons, we're committed to being transparent about the materials used, the independent testing undertaken and the certifications held by the facility.

Will you publish your test reports?

We intend to make additional supporting documentation available over time as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency.

Still have a question?

If there's something you'd like to know that isn't covered here, we'd love to hear from you.

Transparency is an ongoing commitment, and we'll continue updating this page as new questions arise.

Last updated: July 2026