When shopping for bath rugs and mats, we suggest buying products made with bamboo or organic cotton and avoiding those made with PVC and polyurethane foam. Our favorite bath rugs and mats are certified by GOTS, OEKO-TEX, or FSC.

Materials

Cotton

Cotton is the most widely used natural fiber on the planet. Unfortunately, it is a water intensive crop that takes a significant toll on the soil and is associated with deforestation. Cotton is also particularly vulnerable to pests and other insects, which has led to a flourishing agrochemical industry around its cultivation. Almost 5% of global pesticide sales and 10% of global insecticides sales come from the cotton industry. Luckily, some cotton is grown in ways that can be kinder to our planet (see Organic Cotton below). In general, a plant-based material like cotton requires less energy to manufacture than a petroleum-based alternative like polyester. 

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton means that the crop is grown without relying on the use of harmful chemicals, leaving the soil, air, and water with fewer contaminants. In an LCA looking at the differences between organic cotton and conventional cotton, the Textile Exchange found that organic cotton produces 46% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, creates 70% less acidification of land and water, the potential for soil erosion drops 26%, surface and groundwater use falls 91%, and the demand for energy can drop by as much as 62%. While we think bath mats and rugs made with organic cotton are the best option, we recognize that they’re harder to come by. Less than 1% of all cotton produced is organic. If you can’t find organic cotton options, we still recommend using conventional cotton bath rugs and mats over plastic. 

Microfiber/Polyester

Microfiber is a textile made from ultrafine (hence ‘micro’) synthetic yarns, namely polyester and nylon. Since each fiber is many times smaller than a human hair, it can get into every crack and crevice. Due to its high absorbency, microfiber has become a popular textile for bath rugs and mats - it can absorb 7-8 times its weight in liquid. While this is quite the feat, we have a couple of bones to pick with microfiber and other polyester or nylon based options… First, they’re derived from fossil fuels. Extracting petroleum (which is needed to produce polyester) involves drilling and fracking, which have a host of negative environmental consequences (*cough*, oil spills, *cough*) that are not infrequent and can devastate already fragile wildlife populations. The environmental effects of drilling overwhelmingly impact people of color and low-income folks, who are more likely to live in communities near these sites. 

If that wasn’t bad enough, the chemical treatments used by polyester manufacturers are toxic and known to cause neurological damage and even cancer at high levels of exposure, putting factory workers at risk. Plus, every time polyester gets washed, it sheds tiny pieces of plastic threads that enter our waterways and devastate marine ecosystems or even find their way into our bodies. The Plastic Soup Foundation estimates that up to 35% of plastic polluting in our oceans comes from microfibers shed by synthetic fabrics. We’ll pass!

If you really prefer bath mats or rugs made of polyester, look out for ones made with recycled materials. Recycling uses significantly less energy than making polyester from scratch. Studies have found that using recycled polyester cut water requirements in production by two-thirds, and that using recycled polyester could lead to a 59% reduction in energy use.  

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Many bath rugs and mats are made with polyvinyl chloride. PVC is designed to be water-resistant, which helps prevent slipping in the bathroom. Unfortunately, it’s one of the most harmful plastics to human and environmental health. PVC contains dangerous chemical additives including phthalates, lead, cadmium, and/or organotins, which can leach out or evaporate into the air over time, posing unnecessary harms to children’s health. Just as with polyester, PVC releases microplastics when it’s washed, which is a big no-no, and it’s one of the most difficult plastics to recycle. For these reasons, we suggest avoiding PVC mats and rugs at all costs. 

Polyurethane Foam

Polyurethane foam is a common material in plush bath mats and rugs. It’s made from polyurethane, which is a plastic. As we know, plastic is made from crude oil (AKA the fossil fuel industry) and has significant emissions, resource use, and waste implications. Additionally, polyurethane foam is a significant source of VOC emissions. Why do VOCs matter, you ask? According to the EPA, exposure to VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, and nausea, not to mention liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage. Some VOCs are also carcinogens… something we definitely don’t want to expose ourselves or our loved ones to. 

Bamboo

Bamboo bath mats have become a more popular option. Aside from giving your bathroom a spa-like feel, bamboo mats resist mold and mildew better than fabric alternatives. Plus, bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth. This renewable resource can be easily harvested without impacting the surrounding environment or contributing to deforestation in a meaningful way. In fact, it stores four times more carbon dioxide and releases 35% more oxygen than the average tree. This means that bamboo is able to fight climate change more efficiently than most trees by removing greenhouse gas pollution from the atmosphere at a faster pace. Not bad! To get the full reduction impact of a bamboo-based bath mat, make sure you compost it. Bamboo can decompose in as little as 4-6 months, but if it ends up in a landfill it could release methane, a greenhouse gas that is 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide. When it comes to bath mats and rugs, we think bamboo is one of the more superior options.

Certifications

Here are some certifications to look for when shopping this category.