The Greenwashing Of Your Yoga Mat
http://www.consumeradvocate.org
Passion Force has asked Hummingbird Studio to share their article with you in regards to choosing your yoga mat. They have done some great research, comparisons, and analysis on the different yoga mats available to consumers. Please take time to read through their article, I think you will find it very interesting. You can also check out their web site for even further information in helping you pick out your very own, high quality, environmentally friendly, yoga mat.
Yoga is all about connecting with your body through your breath. There are countless styles and asanas that you can do to exercise your body and relax your mind but there is an important part of your yoga practice that you might not be aware of: the yoga mat.
This story begins with PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), a substance that presents a number of problems —from the pollution it created during manufacture and the risks its chemical additives can present, to the harmful effects its incineration can have in countries and states where trash is burned. Well, you might ask yourself, “what does this have anything to do with my yoga mat?” Actually, a lot. Most yoga mats on the more economic side tend to be made of PVC and other harmful materials.
And it has come to light in recent months that there are some yoga mat companies that are rebranding PVC as PER (Polymer Environmental Resin or Polymer Environmentally Friendly Resin, as it is sometimes referred as.) PER is basically PVC with some other fancy sounding additives and fillers. Read this article for more information on PER and PVC in yoga mats.
As practicing yogis we believe in supporting yoga companies that are upholding Yoga Sutras values and principles. This is why it’s in our core values at Passion Force to support truly eco-friendly yoga mat companies with environmentally supporting business practices. Therefore, any attempt by a company to rebrand a toxic material as eco-friendly is what experts are calling “greenwashing.” This phenomenon is when a product brands itself as environmentally friendly when in reality it is far from it.
With the current state of affairs in climate change, consumers are leaning towards more environmentally conscious products. But this should never come at the cost of buying something thinking that it’s good for the environment when in reality it’s just false advertising.
For those of you that are yoga newbies and just getting into the flow of it, it’s convenient and easy to get a cheap mat at your local discount store or borrow one at your local studio. Although there are several reasons why getting a durable eco-friendly mat will become essential to your flow.
Investing in a durable, non-toxic mat can keep you safe in more ways than one. Depending on the mat, it can help you improve your grip so you can hold your poses comfortably, it can cushion your knees if they happen to be sensitive, and it will be a worthy lifetime investment.
If you’re committed to your practice purchasing your own environmentally conscious mat can be a reassuring act. Not only are you showing up for the health of our ecosystem, but you’re showing up for yourself on the mat.
