07/17/2026
Recently a fellow yoga teacher asked me why I prefer Yoloha cork blocks over the Manduka brand natural rubber blocks. Here are some comparison consoderations reinforcing my preference for Yoloha cork blocks
The Yoloha cork yoga block offers superior environmental sustainability compared to a natural rubber counterpart due to its carbon-negative raw material harvesting and completely plastic-free manufacturing processes.While Manduka is highly committed to sustainability—utilizing sustainably harvested natural tree rubber for their YOGA mats only, with zero-waste manufacturing for its rubber-based gear and offering its own high-quality cork blocks—comparing a pure rubber option has key ecological differences.
First of all, Manduka doesnt make a natural rubber block.
The Manduka foam blocks are NOT made from natural rubber. Their Foam Block Material is 50% to 75% recycled EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) foam. EVA is a type of soft, flexible, and durable plastic. All three of those chemicals - EVA - are harmful to your health.
Raw material sourcing
Cork: The cork used in the Yoloha Cork Yoga Block is harvested by manually stripping the outer bark of Mediterranean cork oak trees. The trees are never cut down, and a stripped tree absorbs up to five times more carbon dioxide than an unharvested one. This makes the raw material naturally carbon-negative.
However, lets still compare cork to rubber...
Natural rubber: Natural tree rubber is tapped from rubber trees. While it is a renewable resource, rubber processing requires significantly more intensive mechanical refinement, coagulation, and heat vulcanization to achieve stability, resulting in a higher initial carbon footprint than raw cork bark.Manufacturing and additives
Yoloha cork: Yoloha utilizes the highest grade of solid, raw cork bark rather than compressed sawdust and cheap synthetic glues. Their blocks are entirely chemical-free, latex-free, and PVC-free.Manduka rubber: Manduka’s natural rubber series is strictly non-toxic, avoiding harmful foaming agents, plasticizers, and toxic glues. However, rubber formulations frequently incorporate a small percentage of binding agents, compounding ingredients, or synthetic mesh layers (such as a polyester blend) to ensure structural integrity under heavy stretching.
End of life and packaging Biodegradability: Both raw materials are fully biodegradable at the end of their lifecycle. However, a solid cork block degrades completely back into organic matter without leaving any trace particulates.
Packaging: Yoloha Yoga enforces a strict corporate policy using zero single-use plastic throughout their entire supply chain, shipping props strictly in 100% recycled or recyclable cardboard and kraft paper. Manduka similarly prioritizes reducing operational waste and reducing environmental packaging footprints across all collections.
Are cork or EVA yoga blocks better?
Cork yoga blocks are generally more stable and less slippery.
Let me know in the comments of you have questions or thoughts on this.
Also, message me to order Yoloha cork yoga blocks.
