When we first set out to create our zone yoga mats, yoga blocks and massage balls and accessories, our main goal was to find a material that is high in quality, performance and sustainability.
We landed upon cork. Not only is cork sustainable, it's also naturally antimicrobial and has a smooth natural feel that gets grippier the more you sweat, making it the perfect material to use in yoga equipment.
Cork has a beautiful natural feel under foot and hand and has a unique cellular structure that allows it to easily compress and expand, which helps with shock absorption and comfort.
We want to help you to cultivate an eco-conscious yoga practice that is good for you and great for the earth which is why we've spent a lot of time and love developing our cork yoga mats, cork yoga blocks and cork massage balls.
Cork leather and cork moulded products like our yoga blocks and massage balls are a perfect choice for the earth conscious yogi. They are soft to the touch, easily cleaned, durable, waterproof and anti-bacterial - naturally repelling dust, dirt, and grease.
The cork tree or (Quercus suber) is the only type of tree that can have its bark removed without damaging the tree. Amazing!
The cork bark is harvested every 7 to 10 years and by harvesting the bark, it actually makes the cork grow back stronger and thicker so the tree is able to photosynthesise more carbon dioxide. Each year cork oak forests are estimated to retain around 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. This is a huge tick for the environment and is why cork is considered one of the most sustainable forestry production practices in the world.
Cork trees can also store a large amount of water in their root systems, which helps keep them hardy and prevent soil erosion where they are planted. This storage of water also means that they can absorb nutrients from deep in the earth and sustain themselves without human interaction, even in dry climates.
Our cork comes from Portugal - which is the worlds largest cork producer supplying 70% of the world’s cork products. Once the cork bark is removed from the tree, it is stacked to air and season. The planks are then boiled to soften and clean them and ready them for further processing.
From planks, the cork is then ground into granules to form cork agglomerate. These granules are mixed with a food-grade adhesive and then processed into cork leather or compressed cork products like our cork yoga blocks and cork massage balls.
Is cork antimicrobial? Yes, cork is naturally antimicrobial which means that it suppresses the growth of micro-organisms such as mould or bacteria. Because most allergies are caused by particles found in mould, dust and dirt, cork products are also non-allergenic, because the microbes can’t enter the cells and it doesn’t absorb dust and dirt.
Yep, there’s a reason for why cork is used in our wine bottles!
Our ZONE cork yoga mats are made from cork leather and natural rubber. Using a high temperature machine, the rubber and the cork layers are adhered to each other without the use of glue or harsh chemicals.
Cork contains a substance called suberin, which has a waxy, rubbery texture and is released with moisture. So when moisture hits the cork (like sweaty hands in yoga) it actually creates extra grip, when you need it most.
We recommend using our Australian made yoga mat sprays which use our signature blends of Australian essential oils to lightly moisten your mat before practicing, to infuse your mat with amazing scents and initiate the suberin for the ultimate non slip experience.
ZONE by Lydia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia of where we work, rest, create and live and their continuing connection to land, culture and community.
We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
