Form is a British carbon-negative fitness company that has created one of the first circular yoga mats in the world. In addition to the unique shape, the yoga mat has been designed with sustainability and the environment in mind – even finding a way of recycling 'single-use' plastic!
Along with the circular shape, the toxin-free yoga mats have a number of unique features including:
- Sustainability: The mats are made of recycled natural rubber and recycled plastic bottles so no extraction of resources and helping the fight against single-use plastic. The company also actively supports SolarAid, a charity working against climate change.
- Packaging: Every bit of packaging will be fully biodegradable from December onwards.
- Nonslip: Mats are non-slip even when sweaty (essential for Bikram yoga etc).
- Colorful designs inspired by nature (in addition to solid colors).
- The Form GRID is a feature on the mats designed to help with common poses adopted in yoga, Pilates, conditioning and ab workouts. Helps with alignment.
Themats are shipped around the world and can be purchased on our website and also through Amazon.
I had a chance to do an interview to learn more.
Why was this yoga mat created?
Quote from our founders Tony Marshman and Heidi Benham: "Having spent our early working careers in roles dedicated to sustainable development, it quickly became clear to us that we wanted to do more. As fitness enthusiasts we have always been inspired by the energy and impact of the health and fitness industry, and the growing awareness of the importance of keeping fit and healthy.
We began to consider the future of this industry: the clothing, the equipment and the gyms and studios billions of us travel to everyday. Contemplating the pressure the rapid growth of this industry is putting on the planet, It quickly became clear that this is where we should focus our attention.
We want to revolutionise the future of fitness, leading industry change globally to make sustainable thinking the standard, not the exception. By creating fitness products that are not only beautiful, but also put the environment first, we can ensure that whilst we maintain our own health and fitness, we also maintain the health of our planet. So, we are starting from the ground up (literally) with a mat that is recycled, recyclable, durable and reduces your carbon footprint.
Form is all about the future and we are so excited to share this idea with all of you, because it only works if we are all on board. So join the movement; get on top Form knowing you are making a difference."
What are the benefits of a round yoga mat?
The Form round mat creates a large open space, allowing you to take your workout in any direction. Perfect if you are feeling a little creative with your workout. This large space means more time spent on the mat and no need to turn during classes. The extra space is also perfect for pregnant women and those practicing yoga with their young children or even a partner.
Aside from the many symbolic meanings attributed to circles, a body of research has proven the positive effect round shapes have on the human mind. Circles have been shown to help increase focus and evoke feelings of completeness which can be helpful in exercise such as yoga and during meditation.
How can it be carbon-negative?
Our aim is to take more carbon out of the atmosphere than we put into it. To do this, we used the following methodology:
- Firstly we calculated how much carbon is emitted per mat: this is based on a number of factors including:
- Embodied energy from production;
- Distance travelled from our factory to our warehouse in England;
- Average distance travelled from our warehouse to our customers. We also took into account different modes of transport used for customers in different countries.
- Next we calculated the average carbon emitted by the Form team from our day-to-day work, including electricity used and mileage travelling to and from events;
- Finally, we offset this through a fantastic charity which is working to reduce the carbon in the atmosphere through a global portfolio of different projects from hydroelectric generation to wind turbine installations.
Resources for those who practice yoga at home
Sustainability is at the heart of Form, that's why we offset more carbon than is produced during the production and transportation of our products meaning that they have a positive impact on climate change. We support SolarAid, a charity working against climate change by providing solar powered lamps to people in Africa who currently use kerosene lamps to light their homes. Find out more about their amazing work on their website. Thank you for your support.
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