Update on Sneaks and Yoga Mats
By Karina | August 18, 2008
Here’s a couple of news items to update some of the things we’ve talked about here at Tiny Choices:
Yoga mats: Guest Blogger Roz tackled the question of what kind of yoga mat to use with grace and style. But the question of what to do with your old grody yoga mat still remains. Well: how about recycling it? Check out Recycle Your Mat for some great options: either mail it to Eugene Oregon, drop it in a collection box, or even set up a collection box at your favorite yoga studio or business. Right now they don’t have a recycler lined up, but they are in negotiations to find someone to take these mats off their hands. From their FAQs:
Currently, RYM is collecting mats and continuing talks with a number of really amazing manufacturers! RYM is offering the mats to companies that support “conscious consumers” or “LOHAS - Lifestyles of Health And Sustainability” purchasing trends. They are companies and manufacturers that focus on the environment and community as part of their mission and produce products we are proud to support.
Sneakers: we had sneakers week at Tiny Choices earlier in this year, with a post about recycling sneaks and another post about the true sustainability of Nike sneaks. I read on Treehugger about an innovative new sneaker and hiking shoe company that is really exciting: END Outdoor (Energy Neutral Design) is making shoes that are of high content recycled material. They say:
The day will come when we are creating and manufacturing 100% Environmentally Neutral Designs, products that we can tell you to throw into your compost pile when used up. That will be a good day for all of us, a day we can then say we have reached END.
Treehugger has a great interview with END here. First they start by making a shoe rich with recycled materials and without complex multi-material gadgety additions, and next they work on reducing the amount of glue or cement in the shoe. I can’t wait to see where this company goes! I keep meaning to hike more, and knowing I can get some sweet eco-shoes that are truely designed with the environment in mind first, and not as an after thought, well, that is just HUGE. And maybe this will be my next pair of sneakers, too! According to the Treehugger articles, these shoes should be available at zappos.com and REI any day now.
Photo from flickr user garethjmsaunders via creative commons license.
Related posts:
- Yoga Mat Graveyards
- (Approximately) 20 Ways To Recycle Your Running Shoes
- Tiny Choosing Shoes
- I’m Rubber, You’re Glue
- Choosing Tiny Impact Shoes
- Sustainable Sneakers
- Tiny Choices Weekly Round Up
Topics: Waste, Yoga & Fitness |
[…] Original post by Karina […]
oops, typo! corrected link to END: http://www.endoutdoor.com/
Thanks Brandy– I fixed the link!
This is great news! I need a new pair of hiking bots stat, and it would be amazing to buy greener ones. Thanks for the info!
[…] Update on Sneaks and Yoga Mats […]
Hi Karina,
Thanks for the shout out! I’m very excited to be collecting mats and keeping them out of the landfill. Thanks for the boot information! :)
thank you for the initiative on the take-back program!
Thanks for the Recycle Your Mat link. Decent options for recycling yoga mats are few and far between.
[…] What is the one environmental Tiny Choice you make that people question (in either a positive educational or a negative hassle way) you the most about? The yoga mat recycling business. [Ed note: we talked about it here!] […]
The Bolder Mat Company accepts used yoga mat donations that are refurbished, and then shared with Yoga Charities teaching yoga to at risk populations.
www.theboldermatcompany.com
Turn your yogi trash into another person’s treasure!
[…] of course, Karina has written about the Recycle Your Mat program, which “upcycles” (or “downcycles”, depending on your point of […]
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