Eco-Friendly Yoga and Essential Oils Producers aren’t as Eco-Friendly as Fact

Eco Friendly Yoga Mat and Essentials Oils more and more people are using it but are they really buying a real eco friendly product.its good that more people now are aware of using eco product to save earth.I personally do yoga and buy essential oil whenever I see eco product it’s more appealing to me but now I found out that some of the materials use is not eco friendly as they say

A research found out that most “eco-friendly” yoga mat producers aren’t as eco-friendly as advertised, which is a little scary. In fact, some mats can reach levels of toxicity and non-biodegradability that may be harmful to us and definitely the environment. That seems to go against what I understand yoga to stand for, if you know what ahimsa-ying?

Here is what we found: https://www.consumersadvocate.org/yoga-mats

What's so bad about PVC?

Short answer:A lot, actually.

As we mentioned above, PVC can be said to be a pollutant during every step of the process, from its manufacture, throughout its use, and in the course of its disposal. And, although not much scientific testing has been done specifically on yoga mats and the repercussions of practicing on these types of materials, there are some things about PVC that we do know for sure.

Manufacturing PVC generates a significant amount of contamination and hazardous by-products. In the U.S. alone, PVC plants emit approximately 500,000 pounds of vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen, along with other toxins, into the atmosphere.One of these toxins, dioxin, is 

classified as a Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) chemical, in other words, “substances that can build up to levels that can be harmful to human and ecological health”. In fact, dioxin has been found in the tissues of every living species, from whales and polar bears to, of course, humans.

To make PVC flexible enough for household products 
(including yoga mats), manufacturers must add chemical plasticizers and/or heavy metals, many of which are also known to be harmful and which leach out over time, especially in warmer temperatures. These substances are known to be endocrine disruptors, chemicals that can cause developmental, reproductive, and neurological harm to both humans and animals.

In addition to all this, there is no way to truly recycle PVC and, in countries where trash is incinerated, the resulting emission of toxic chemicals can be hazardous to entire communities.

So, while the science on yoga mats per se isn’t in yet, the harm this type of material causes to the environment and communities where it’s manufactured or disposed of cannot be overlooked.

And yet, according to Procyshyn's research, “close to 50% of mats are still made from PVC.”  

There are obvious reasons for this. PVC is long-lasting, and mats made from this material often provide a fair degree of cushioning and traction at a low cost. However, it’s not only the budget mats that are made from it.

THE MATERIALS WE CHOSE

Polyurethane

Some mats labeled as eco-friendly, including two of the ones we tested in-house, Lululemon and Liforme, are made from polyurethane (PU).

While there are different varieties of PU and ecologically speaking, it is better than PVC, PU is not exactly a friend to the environment either. As a petroleum-based material, it cannot be considered renewable. Additionally, many varieties of PU contain isocyanates, toxic compounds referred to as carcinogens by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. While this doesn't mean that a yoga mat made from PU is necessarily toxic, the composition of these mats and the additives they use can vary wildly, making it difficult to ascertain what is toxic and what isn't.

The exception is Liforme, which manufactures their mats with what they label eco-polyurethane. 

To prove the quality of their components, the company commissionedan in-depth analysisof its mats, which determined that the blend of polymers they were using was non-toxic, as well as biodegradable in one to five years in normal landfill conditions.

See our review section for our take on the Liforme mat, which ended up being one of our testers' favorite mats.

Here is what we found: https://www.consumersadvocate.org/yoga-mats

 With so many essential oil brands out there, it can be hard to find the right one for you. Instead of a top ten list of the best essential oil companies, we took an in-depth look into the industry by reviewing 11 well-known brands. 

Our team spent over 600 hours of research; ordered, tested, and analyzed 33 essential oils; and collaborated with a group of experts who have dedicated their careers to researching and writing about essential oils.

After taking a deep dive into the industry, we understand that it can be nearly impossible to find the right brand of essential oil, especially with all the misconceptions and misinformation out there. That’s why our mission with this section is to arm you with the knowledge and know-how to navigate the industry and help you make the right decisions.

   How we tested: we took the labels off and gave each bottle a unique number, then sent it to a lab that tested the purity of the oils. Our findings are in the guide.

Here it is again for convenience: https://www.consumersadvocate.org/essential-oils

Hope this post help you more about eco-friendly product