The Magic within Cork: Suberin

The material choices for yoga mats are vast, but not all are equal. Most are detrimental for the environment, many are harmful to our health, and a good portion of mats in production these days don’t even benefit our yoga practice, in fact, they may hinder it.

Yoganomalous, however, strives to produce better mats and props that don’t cause harm, so I choose materials that are grounded in both sustainability and material science.

That’s why I chose Cork.

One of cork’s most important performance components is suberin, a complex, hydrophobic, and waterproof biopolymer naturally present in the cellular walls of cork harvested from the Cork Oak tree. 

Suberin accounts for roughly 40% of cork’s cellular composition, depending on harvest conditions and tree maturity. It is a structural polymer composed of long-chain fatty acids and glycerol-based compounds. This molecular structure is what gives cork its distinctive durability and resistance properties.

"So how does that translate to my yoga practice?"

It’s Hydrophobic & Water-Resistant.

Suberin forms a wax-like barrier within cork’s microstructure. At the cellular level, cork consists of millions of closed cells per cubic centimeter. These sealed cells are reinforced with suberin, and limit water penetration. Studies in materials science have shown that cork exhibits low water absorption rates, has dimensional stability when exposed to moisture, and is resistant to swelling and breaking down. For a yoga practice, this creates a surface that resists saturation from sweat, dries faster compared to open-cell foam materials, and retains structural integrity over repeated use. 

The Cellular Structure = Natural Anti-Slip Performance.

Cork’s anti-slip properties are not the result of surface coatings or synthetic texturing. They originate from cellular architecture and the mechanical behavior of suberin-rich cell walls under pressure and moisture. Cork is composed of approximately over 30 million cells per cubic centimeter. These cells form a uniform, closed-cell honeycomb-like structure and each microscopic cell is often hexagonal in cross-section, air-filled and surrounded by suberin-rich elastic walls.

(from Gibson et al., 1981)

So let's talk a bit more about the science of corks grip. When pressure is applied, like during Downward Dog or in a Plank, cork’s closed cells undergo elastic compression. Unlike rigid surfaces that remain unchanged under load, cork slightly compresses under body weight, increases real contact area between skin and surface and enhances friction through micro-conformity.

This means the mat subtly molds to the micro-contours of your hands and feet, increasing mechanical interlocking at the microscopic level. Greater contact area = greater frictional resistance. Because cork has high elastic recovery, it rebounds after pressure is removed, maintaining structural integrity over time.

Now, typically grip decreases when a surface becomes wet, but cork behaves differently due to its chemistry and texture. At a cellular level, suberin creates a hydrophobic barrier that prevents deep saturation, sweat remains primarily at the surface interface, surface tension and micro-roughness increase friction when moisture is introduced. 

By contrast, many synthetic mats rely on smooth polymer films. When moisture accumulates, these surfaces can experience boundary lubrication, reducing friction and increasing slip. It’s important to know that, with cork, this friction is mechanical, not adhesive like in synthetic mats. Your hands are not “sticking” to the mat, they are engaging with a responsive surface that resists shear force.

Suberin = Antimicrobial AND Odor Resistance.

Suberin contributes to cork’s resistance to microbial colonization. While cork is not necessarily sterile, research in wood science and biomaterials has demonstrated that cork’s chemical composition inhibits the growth of certain bacteria and fungi compared to synthetic polymer surfaces. This resistance is due to hydrophobic surface chemistry limiting moisture retention, naturally occurring phenolic compounds in cork, and low nutrient availability for microbial growth. For practitioners, this means reduced odor formation and decreased risk of mold or mildew buildup over time.

Performance Rooted in Biomaterial Engineering!

So to sum it all up, cork’s properties and behaviors are a function of closed-cell geometry, air-filled compressible structure, suberin-based elastic cell walls, and micro-scale roughness. Suberin, however, really steals the show! It is a naturally engineered composite material, optimized by the biology of the Cork Oak tree for protection and resilience.

At Yoganomalous, this matters because we prioritize performance derived from renewable biology rather than synthetic modification.

Your grip shouldn’t come from chemicals.It should come from cellular architecture designed by nature.

At Yoganomalous, we believe sustainability should not compromise performance, and performance should not require synthetic intervention. Suberin is nature’s engineered solution:

• Water-resistant with enhanced grip.

• Structurally resilient & long lasting.

• Naturally antimicrobial & odor resistant.

• All natural & biodegradable. 

  
  

There are no coatings, no plastic layers, no chemical dependency. Suberin is just intelligent, renewable material science supporting your practice, and the planet. What more could you want in a yoga mat?