So...I learned a few things about the best places of origin. Seems the pyramid goes something like this: China on the bottom, U.S. and Taiwan next....Germany, and Europe in general, on the top (since, apparently this is where the mat originated in the '70s - go figure).
Ta Da! Manduko's mats are German-made. Their "Black Mat Pro" seems to be the yoga industry standard...the go-to mat, considered to be the best in the world (by several review sites). They last "forever", so even though they are not biodegradable, they are sustainable b/c you will never need another mat in your life. And they are made in an environmentally friendly way (no toxins, etc.).
A great article on choosing the perfect mat...says that Manduko takes the cake in this market, and has for years. Their product life is 5-50 years (way more than any other company's product). The eco mats break down faster, so the thinner the mat, the quicker it will wear out.
Jade Yoga and Manduka consistently came up as the companies with the highest green standards. You can buy directly from their sites or from gogreenyogamats.com.
So there you have it...Manduka wins.
Can I just say...thank god I'm done with that? It did cost a bit more than I had originally intended, but, I figure if it will be a product I can use for years and years, it's worth spending $70 one time instead of $20 five times (better for the planet, too). Amazon has a deal on an eko mat + mat sak for $103.00. With shipping, it's just about the same price as buying direct, as Manduka is offering free shipping on orders over $100.
Phew. Time for a glass of wine.
1 comment:
So, I got my mat in the mail today...already used it and definitely was impressed by its stickiness and how well-made it appears to be. I do have to sadly admit, though, that the package said "Made in Taiwan". Grrrrr. I did so much research to make sure I'd buy a mat not made in China or Taiwan. Apparently, Manduka's Pro-series are made in Germany (they are PVC)...but their eco mats are made in Taiwan. Seems to be most common for "eco" mats from lots of companies to be made in Taiwan. Dammit. I'm not disappointed with the product, just disappointed that these companies are not more transparent about the origin of the items they make. It seems to be possible to buy mats made in Europe...but I don't know how since these companies use the euro and don't give info. on selling outside of Europe. I found a few companies in the U.K. that sell jute mats or other eco-type mats that are made there. So, if you are really set on a product not made in Asia...I'd suggest Jade (as long as you don't have latex allergies) or going with a European company. Neither option works for me.
I have done a bit of follow up research and am still fairly certain my choice was the best one I could've made, despite the "Taiwan" issue.
It simply shouldn't be so hard to find well-made, safe, affordable products that are made right here in the U.S. Why oh why have we outsourced our ability to invest in ourselves?
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