Why Choose Cork and Natural Rubber
Our yoga mat is made from 100% plant based cork and latex free natural rubber that is 6P free. 6P is a type of toxic chemical called Phthalates and it is used to soften and increase the flexibility of plastic and vinyl. These chemicals are hazardous to your health and they are present in a lot of yoga and exercise mats.
Natural Cork
Cork is a natural raw material that is 100% biodegradable, recyclable and renewable. Cork is harvested by stripping the bark of the cork oak tree. Only about 50% of the bark is removed at the time of harvesting and can be harvested every 9 years until it is around 200 years old and as the tree regrows its bark, it absorbs up to 2 times more CO2 from the air providing a net positive effect towards combating global warming. Cork waste from production is also reused and ground to make other cork products.
Self-Cleaning and Antimicrobial – Cork is naturally antimicrobial. It contains compounds called phenolics which kills bacteria and fungus. Cork secretes an oil called suberin when it is wet that not only creates a grippy surface, but also inhibits growth of fungi, bacteria, and mold. This makes cork surfaces resistant to the growth and colonization of these organisms, clean and free from the odour of perspiration. It is ideal for people prone to allergic reactions. Cork does not absorb dust, so is ideal for use by people who suffer from allergies or asthma.
Elastic and Resilient – Cork has a honeycomb cell structure and it gives it an anti-static, water-resistant and resilient property. Each cell is a 14-sided polyhedron filled with air with an extremely strong and flexible membrane that is waterproof and airtight. The cork cell membranes are extremely flexible, compressible and elastic, so it tends to always return to its original shape, no matter the pressure. This cell structure also naturally insulates both hot and cold. In its natural state, cork is flame resistant, and these trees have a history of being sole survivors in natural forest fires due to their nearly impermeable outer protection system.
Light – It has such strong watertight cell membranes means that it will not absorb water and gain density or mass in humid conditions.
Impermeable – Cork has a magic chemical in its cell membrane that makes it completely impermeable to liquids and gases. This chemical is a mixture of fatty acids and heavy organic alcohol called “suberin” which, in addition to rendering cork impermeable also stops it from rotting or degrading over time.
Durable – Cork is extremely durable and has a high friction coefficient, so a cork yoga mat will survive repeated usage even in extreme conditions.
The Ehirim yoga mat is mad from 100% natural cork and natural rubber perfectly engineered and merged to be the perfect surface for your workout routines or yoga practices.
Natural Rubber
Natural rubber is anti-bacterial, biodegradable, dust mite resistant, sustainable and green. It is durable and hygienic for use indoors or outdoors, wet or dry. Natural rubber polymer has great natural elasticity and memory. The 100% pure rubber in our mat provides high traction for better grip of the supporting surface. The thickness of rubber also gives support and comfort to the user and this is good for maintaining positions and meditating for several hours.
The elasticity and memory of natural rubber helps reduce the amount of stress on joints. Our Yoga mat has also been improved with anti-tear technology that makes it last even longer.
