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As somebody who enjoys yoga and spends a little bit time every single day in numerous poses, I do know the wrestle of utilizing a yoga mat previous its prime. Some mats put on down sooner than others, however I discover that I normally want to switch my mat each couple of years. So, discovering a sustainable technique to get rid of it’s a prime precedence.
Fortunately, there are extra choices out there than merely sending outdated yoga mats to the landfill. They may be reused in a wide range of methods. But recycling them may be fairly a problem.
How To Recycle Yoga Mats
Most standard yoga mats are constituted of PVC (plastic resin code #3), which is without doubt one of the most tough plastics to recycle. Even in case your native recycling heart accepts PVC, they might not take yoga mats, so you should definitely name first. If your native heart received’t settle for them, there aren’t many recycling choices out there.
A only a few corporations do settle for outdated yoga mats for recycling. One firm that provides a recycling program is LovEarth in Australia. When you buy one in all LovEarth’s sustainable yoga mats, they supply the choice to request a mailing slip so you’ll be able to ship them your outdated mat for upcycling or recycling. Not solely will you eliminate an outdated PVC mat, however the brand new mat you buy from them is biodegradable and far safer for the setting.
Another possibility is Manduka.com’s LiveON program. When you purchase a new Manduka mat, you’ll be able to select so as to add the LiveON program to your buy. After your new Manduka mat arrives, you merely ship again your outdated mat — it doesn’t matter what model — in the identical field. If the outdated mat remains to be usable, it will likely be cleaned and donated; in any other case, it will likely be downcycled into new merchandise.
If you’d wish to buy a recycled mat, check out Suga’s recycled wetsuit yoga mats. The firm additionally accepts worn-out SugaMats (and outdated wetsuits, in fact) for recycling into new SugaMats.
Other corporations have began yoga mat recycling applications, solely to close them down. Before you buy your subsequent mat, contemplate calling the producer of your outdated mat to see if they’ve a take-back program. And verify with the producer of the brand new mat you’re buying to search out out if they’ve a recycling program.
How To Reuse Yoga Mats
There are many artistic methods to reuse outdated yoga mats to present them a little bit extra life earlier than it’s time for disposal. Here are a couple of strategies, however you’ll be able to discover much more concepts on Jade Yoga’s web site.
Use as a Doormat
Use a couple of outdated mats as doormats. They’re good for friends to maintain their footwear on and are additionally very straightforward to scrub. Simply wipe them right down to eliminate any grime and so they’re good to go.
Use as a Liner or Padding
Yoga mats work nice as makeshift liners. Whether you utilize them in kitchen drawers or on bookshelves, these mats have simply the proper texture to carry issues in place. Just measure the mat to the proper dimension, reduce it out rigorously, and match it into place. Old mats additionally work nicely underneath space rugs to cease slippage and add padding.
Use within the Garden
An outdated yoga mat could make an important kneeling pad for whenever you’re working within the backyard. Just trim it right down to the suitable dimension. You may even reduce a couple of strips and glue them collectively — or just fold it over a couple of instances — to present your self much more cushioning.
Donate Your Yoga Mat
If you gave yoga a strive for some time after which determined to give up, your mat most likely nonetheless has some life left in it. You can attain out to native yoga studios or neighborhood and youth facilities to see in the event that they settle for mat donations. In some instances, they are going to take them and provides them out to others who can’t afford their very own.
However you resolve to recycle or reuse your outdated yoga mat, you’ll really feel much less confused understanding you’re doing all your half for our planet.
Feature picture: StockSnap, Pixabay. Originally revealed on January 16, 2019, this text was up to date in November 2021.
