How Good are Cork Yoga Mats? A Scoria World Review

Today on the blog we’re talking about cork yoga mats and my experience with this plastic free yoga mat option. If you’ve been looking for some alternatives to the traditional foamy yoga mat or have been curious to know about cork yoga mats, read on!

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A Yoga Mat Alternative

After a year of pandemic eating in 2020, I started to work out at home a lot more this year. I was on such a roll that I actually wore out my yoga mat! It was an old thing I’d had around for years and, honestly, I hadn’t thought much about replacing it until it started to shed. I began finding little flecks of purple plastic all over my living room from my plastic mat.

Those little bits of plastic were what gave me a wake up call to what my mat was made of. And it made me want to search out an alternative to the mats I see readily available. That’s how I came across Scoria World and their cork yoga mats.

I purchased one of their yoga mats because I was motivated to try out a natural, more sustainable yoga mat option.

What are Cork Yoga Mats Made of?

Scoria World yoga mats are made out of two materials. The top layer of the yoga mat is made from cork and the lower layer of the mat is made from natural rubber. These two layers are fused together using high heat and a natural water based eco adhesive. Some of Scoria’s yoga mats have designs and these are done using water-based, non-toxic inks.

Are Cork and Rubber Sustainable?

When I hear the word cork, I automatically think of cork stoppers for wine bottles and cork boards for messages. Associating cork with a yoga mat was a strange idea for me and made me wonder what cork and rubber really were and how sustainable they are.

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Some Facts About Cork

• Cork is harvested by stripping the outer layers of bark from the “Cork Tree” or Quercus suber.
• A tree must be at least 25 years old before it can be stripped and then can be stripped every 9+ years from then on.
• This process of harvesting cork is sustainable as it allows cork to regenerate on the tree.

Some Facts About Natural Rubber

• Unlike synthetic rubber, which is made from chemicals, natural rubber comes from a tree–Hevea brasiliensis to be exact.
• Natural rubber is made from the milky white liquid from plants (mostly from Hevea brasiliensis currently). This milky white substance is called latex.
• Being a natural, plant based product, natural rubber is biodegradable. Depending on the item made with natural rubber, it is not guaranteed how fast the item will degrade.

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Scoria World Cork Yoga Mat

I purchased my cork yoga mat from Scoria after searching out a more sustainable yoga mat option. There were a few main things that swayed me towards making the purchase and giving these yoga mats a try.

First, I was intrigued by the natural material of cork and how much healthier that would be than plastic.

Second, I fell in love with the artistic designs that I could choose from.

And third, but not the least of my reasons, I connected with their values. Not only is this company woman founded and led, but it is also promoting creativity and mental wellness. Creativity and playfulness are two things that have helped me through some of my rougher years and I am so happy to support companies that are reminding us how important these things are for our mental health and well-being.

At Scoria we believe that reconnecting with lost creativity as if we were children again enhances mental and physical well-being. We create products that encourage grown ups embrace a youthful mindset such as playfulness, imagination, and story-telling. So, let’s rediscover who we were before the world told us who to be. 

Scoria world, Story of Scoria

Cork Yoga Mat Review

I’ve been using my mat regularly for a couple of months now, so the question is: how do I like it?

Things I love about my yoga mat:

• The mat feels amazing! I was concerned the cork would be a hard surface, but the cork + rubber combination makes it incredibly comfortable to be on.
• It’s gorgeous! I love the beautiful design on mine and am so happy I treated myself to one of the artist design mats. It’s a little thing, but it brings me joy to bring out my mat every time.
• Cork is anti-microbial, which means there’s no need to worry about germs, mold, or mildew.
• The cork material is crazy easy to clean. Because cork is anti-microbial, there is no need to clean it regularly, but when you’re ready to clean it, all you need to do is wipe it down with a warm, wet, soft cloth.
• It’s good for me and good for the planet. I don’t have to worry any more about little pieces of plastic from my old mat or off-gassing from a new plastic mat. Instead, I can feel good about a sustainable, eco-friendly mat in my home.
• It was shipped in eco-friendly packaging. From the packaging of the product to the shipping/packing material, everything except the tape that sealed the box was reusable or recyclable.
• I got to purchase a great product from a small, Canadian business and, as you know, we LOVE supporting small businesses.

Things to consider when getting your own:

• The mat is heavier than a standard mat. For how little I would be carrying it, that is not a problem for me. It also comes with its own carrying strap (as can be seen in the pictures) which makes it easier to carry.
• If you’re not sweaty, the mat needs to be sprayed with water to activate a grip. I don’t spray mine and do okay, but if you are looking for a strong grip, keep in mind that one extra step as the grip is activated when the body is warm and palms are sweaty. 
• You need to be aware of how you roll the mat. The best practice for your mat is to roll it with the cork side out as this helps to preserve the lifespan of your mat.

To sum it up, I love my new cork yoga mat and am so glad I made the switch to an eco-friendly option.

Save 10% on Scoria Products

If you’re interested in getting your own eco-friendly cork yoga mat or any of Scoria’s yoga accessories, you can save 10% with our discount code!

Shop here: Scoria World
Discount Code: SIMPLELIFE10

What are your thoughts on cork yoga mats? Have you ever thought about getting one?

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