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Polypropylene Mats made out of Recycled Plastic are the Ultimate in Stylish Sustainable Homewares
Recycled Polypropylene Rugs and Mats - 100% Recycled from Discarded Plastic Have you seen our gorgeous recycled polypropylene rugs? Not only are they crafted from recycled plastic, they are also UV treated for long-lasting durability. You can now picnic, style your home or garden, or laze about on the beach in style while saving the planet too. They come in square, rectangle, round and runner shapes too. A FIRST - Authentic Indigenous Designs on Recycled Polypropylene Rugs and Mats Designed in Australia, the recycled polypropylene rugs and mats feature the artwork of Australian Indigenous, New Zealand Maori, and Pacific Islander artists. Owner and founder of the company Recycled Mats, JJ works with each individual artist to bring their vision to life. All artists aim to share their culture and stories through their artwork designs. Manufactured offshore in China and using plastic that would otherwise end up in landfill, recycled mats come in all kinds of sizes, shapes and colours. All recycled mats are reversible, meaning you get two colour choices for the price of one too. However, the consistent theme is that all of JJ's recycled mats feature a stunning, colourful, and eye-catching design that tells a story of local culture. A Plastic Mat that Loves You Back! Importantly, recycled polypropylene mats are not just nice to look at – the plastic mat is soft and comfortable, hard-wearing, mould resistant, easy to pack up, and easy to clean. These lightweight mats are a cinch to carry, and cleaning them is no hassle. Just use a broom or a dustpan brush to sweep sand and grass off the recycled mats. Another option is to hose the recycled mats down after each use – recycled mats are quick dry. (You might like to read our blog post on how to care for your mat - we promise it's a breeze!) Recycled mats fold up to fit inside a carry case, making them easy to store until next time you need them too. Recycled mats keep you clean and comfortable and make you easy to spot in a crowd. Plastic Woven Mats are The Perfect Outdoor Mats for Picnics Colourful Recycled mats are perfect for: The Beach! Picnics, family gatherings, bbq’s and fish ‘n’ chips in the park Caravanning and camping expeditions, keeping the sand and dirt at bay (Super handy if you are travelling with kids and animals!) Stylish indoor and outdoor floor coverings Beach adventures and fishing expeditions Festivals, events, outdoor shows, and open-air musical concerts Relaxing in the garden or by the pool Group and team gatherings at sports events (cricket, rugby, soccer, netball, baseball) Team building events and workshops Indoor and outdoor play mats for the kids both at home, and in childcare settings (see below) Childcare centres and preschools (lunchtime picnics, circle time, invitations to play, home corner set ups, organising the space, storytelling times) School excursions and school sports days Craft groups, weaving groups, and women’s gatherings Recycled Polypropylene Rugs are sustainable too! Recycled polypropylene mats are sustainable and support the planet too. How, you might ask? Well, did you know that "Recycled Mats" has recycled over 1,000,000 used plastic shopping bags in 2016 alone - bags that otherwise would have ended up in landfill. Now you can have stylish AND sustainable in one beautiful and practical product for the home. Our recycled mats are loved by all kinds of people! We are proud of our dedication to ethical manufacturing, the use of recycling and "upcycling", and their commitment to fair trade practices. Recycled Mats is a proud signatory to the Indigenous Art Code too, which ensures we uphold ethical and transparent business dealings with Indigenous visual artists. But our most important validation comes from our customers. We love knowing that our stylish recycled polypropylene mats have now found homes in schools, early learning centres, libraries, hotels, and houses across Australia. When you buy from Recycled Mats, your contribution helps to support Indigenous families, other small businesses, and local communities. This is why we do what we do. Raving Fans of Recycled Mats Plastic Outdoor Rugs Did you know that some of Australia’s most recognisable businesses, personalities, arts organisations, theme parks and zoos, local councils, tourism destinations, and community organisations are fans of our recycled mats too? We are proud to have sold recycled plastic outdoor rugs/mats to: World Vision The Australian Musuem The Royal Flying Doctor Service The Arts Centre Gold Coast Taronga Zoo Child Australia Warner Bros Movie World University of Melbourne Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) Ability Links (St Vincent De Paul) Save the Children Fund Brisbane City Council The Salvation Army The Department of Education and Training SevGen Indigenous Corporation City of Armadale Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Community Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Allure Stradbroke Resort The Karijini Experience Gowrie Australia Recycled Mats in the Media Our Recycled plastic outdoor rugs have featured on Channel 7 and Channel 9 News with PM Malcolm Turnbull, and in the Gold Coast Bulletin. A sharp-eyed reader also spotted one of our Aboriginal Designs, the Campfire Mat, at the wedding of My Kitchen Rules star, Pete Evans to Nicola Robinson, along with the Aroha Maori designs mat that was used as their Wedding Aisle runner. Outdoor plastic mats are bringing families, children, colleagues and students together all over Australia and the team at Recycled Mats loves that the most! Take a look at the range of Recycled Polypropylene Rugs and Mats by Recycled Mats and choose your favourite. There's so many wonderful colours and designs, we bet it won't be easy!
Learn morePatio Mats are Ideal Modern Floor Coverings for your Fashionable Home
Versatile Indoor and Patio Mats for Home and Work Recycled plastic indoor and patio mats have 100’s of indoor uses. Here’s a list of our favourites: Bright and colourful indoor mats can compartmentalise a space – childcare centres and educational facilities use recycled plastic indoor mats when they create "invitations to play" or learn for children. They also use them to separate areas in an open plan room, for example, as a rug in a home corner area, or to separate a block building area from the rest of the toys. Parents use them under high chairs and dining tables as an easy-clean and funky floor covering when they live with small children. We've seen them used to create an office nook, and to designate a waiting area in an open-plan office. Indoor mats provide a way to group children during learning experiences Round indoor mats are commonly used for circle time, where children come together to sing, listen to stories, participate in movement exercises, and when visitors come to share interesting talks. Indoor mats help to create book nooks. Simply add a comfy sofa or corner chair, plus a side table for your hot drink and sit back and relax with your favourite novel or magazine. Patio mats are often used as alternative floor covers over polished concrete or timber flooring, when you want to bring a picnic indoors or under cover, on verandas and patios, and on concrete floors in undercover areas Patio mats can be used to give a boundary line to imaginative play spaces so the kids toys don't take over! Indoor Floor Mats and Patio Mats - Where are they made and why? Our favourite indoor and patio mats can be found in our collection at Recycled Mats. We considered a large number of options for manufacture in the early years of our business, and we are always on the lookout for better, more sustainable ways to do things. Doing so is part of our company goal of providing a quality, authentically designed product that supports Indigenous artists, while remaining affordable and well-made for customers. Our indoor mats, constructed from UV-treated polypropylene made from recycled plastic bags, are ethically manufactured in China in family-owned factories. Manufacturing in China also allows Recycled Mats to take hold of the latest technologies to create a sustainable product made from recycled materials. We love that our indoor mats are made in a way that supports and cares for the planet. This is vitally important to all of us at Recycled Mats. Manufacturing in China allows us to take advantage of the competitive nature of business in China to demand the best quality products made in factories with ethical labour practices, streamlined production, and skilful outcomes. The speed at which the indoor and patio mats can be made and shipped ensures we can meet customer demand within appropriate timeframes, and this is important too. Floor Mats for Home Manufacturing offshore has benefits for the design community also. Less money spent on manufacture means more freedom to provide more advantageous payment arrangements to our local team members and artists. The team at Recycled Mats work hard to ensure that everyone who participates in the creation of these plastic indoor and patio mats benefits in some way - directly through income and royalties, or indirectly through education, or further opportunity. Our commitment to employ Indigenous artists of a number of cultures in the design process is but one of a number of initiatives that make us really proud.
Learn moreThis is How We Recycle at Recycled Mats
At Recycled Mats, our team is united in the understanding that we must walk our talk in all aspects of our lives, both professional and personal. It’s vital to our core message. Recycling discarded or unwanted plastic into brand new recycled products is not the only thing we do to play our part in helping the planet and slow down climate change. The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle motto is the shared philosophy of all our team members at Recycled Mats, and each one of us consciously and actively participates in the quest to protect Mother Nature. We do so with the long view in mind, as we want to play our part in preserving and honouring the beauty of our earth for our children and grandchildren. This is how we recycle at Recycled Mats... We actively: Recycle to reduce our impact on the earth Reduce the amount of waste we create Find ways to creatively Reuse our waste so that it doesn’t add to the landfill pile. We also take care to monitor our use of non-renewable resources, and redirect our unwanted items to people and places that want and need them. Our big list of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle actions... Here is a list of the things we do collectively, and individually, to make a difference on a daily basis. We use clean energy We installed solar panels at the Warehouse/Office in July 2021 and are proud to have installed solar panels at our old warehouses in 2018 and way back in 2015. The electricity used to power the warehouse is also green-subsidised by choice through our power company. Some of our team members have solar panels on their homes too. We installed roof insulation to reduce heating and cooling needs, and reduce the need for air conditioning units in the warehouse. We also turn off the lights, computers and electrical appliances when they are not in use, switch them to standby when we leave the room and use natural light where we can. We had a workplace "Green Audit" check completed on our previous premises to ensure that we were making every possible power-saving we can, and we'll do that here soon too. We embrace pottery Our workplace kitchen is full of china cups, pottery mugs, and glass tumblers. Staff and guests use these cups daily for that all-important morning coffee, and throughout the day for drinking water. Staff also bring their own reusable water bottles and fill them at our filtered water station. We ditched all single-use plastic bags We switched to recycled plastic and recycled polyester carry bags for mats & rugs. We made the change to compostable mailer bags for the smaller items we sell, and we aim to re-use packaging wherever possible. Wherever possible, we invite our customers to click-and-collect too, reducing the need for packaging, while also lessening the carbon footprint of posting it. We action cardboard recycling en masse with a collection once or twice a month to be taken for shredding and re-purposing. We wrap and package our orders using eco-friendly materials In 2019 we switched to packaging that is not only recyclable but comprised of recycled materials. Our corrugated cardboard is made from recycled paper and card, and our green PET strapping (used to secure pallets and large parcels) is made from 100% recycled plastic pieces, joined using metal seals rather than throw away plastic ones! We practice office paper recycling and recycle what else we can too The cupboards are full of A4 recycled copy paper, but we’ve also shifted our mindset and now only print what is absolutely necessary. We also regularly do a “fling out” where we clear out our old unnecessary files, shred it, and get it back into circulation via office paper recycling. Cardboard boxes are taken to our local recycling centre, and we direct 90% of our other waste on-site to either our green composting or yellow recycling bins. We recycle our bubble wrap, our glass bottles, and our aluminium cans too. We also reuse all of the strapping that comes off any stock delivery from overseas. Plus we've recently (Feb 2021) switched from polyester to recycled polyester for all of our Australian-made cushion covers too! and an IMPORTANT 2021 UPDATE....drum roll please!! We have purchased machinery to allow us to re-recycle our unwanted outdoor mats into fantastic, new, practical, Aussie made products! It's now 2023 and YOU can get involved....how cool is that?!! Read here for more info on our plight towards a circular economy! We're so excited! We carbon offset our flights Prior to Mar 2020, JJ and other team members flew interstate or overseas to meet new suppliers, check on product quality, source new products, touch base with our Indigenous artists, and visit our community of rug artisans & craftspeople, and their families. While we've always tried to minimise our flights and combine tasks and activities so we could make one visit instead of two, carbon offsetting our flights helped us to minimise our impact that little bit more. When required, some staff members work from home. This reduces fuel consumption and also limits traffic on the road. We bought our car with fuel economy in mind. We suggest alternatives We encourage our customers to think of new and innovative ways to fill their cushions, pods, and beanbags. Alternatives to foam or beans include upcycling clean clothes that no longer fit, and repurposing old linen, blankets or soft toys that have been sitting unused in cupboards to be used for stuffing. These clever alternatives save our customers money too. We revamped the loo! Yes. Even our bathroom features recycled eco-friendly products. The tissues, the paper towel, and even the loo paper are purchased with the minimal impact ethos in mind. We practice sustainability at home We encourage our team to research the reasons to recycle. That, along with seeing the benefits of recycling in action at work is usually enough impetus for action at work, and equally as important, in our homes and personal lives. Our homes have or use: Solar panels Rainwater tanks Gas heating, heat pumps or solar panels for hot water Water flow restrictors in showers, and for those who love their showers, employ 4-minute timers too! Organic or chemical-free vegetable and herb gardens Fruit trees that are kept pest-free naturally Compost bins to compost our food scraps Worm farms Recycling bins for domestic and garden waste But that’s not all. As caring citizens, we also: Spend our money wisely Purchase eco-friendly and/or low or no plastic packaging where possible for soaps, shampoos, skin products, washing powders, cleaning supplies Ensure our cleaning products are chemical-free and earth-friendly Purchase recycled, eco-friendly paper products for home too (toilet paper, tissues, paper towels and baking paper) Shop locally with other earth-friendly small businesses - saving time, fuel, and supporting those with a similar ethos Avoid the big conglomerates where their recycling efforts may be questionable Buy quality - we want our clothing, bedding, and homewares to last for years and years, not just a season Avoid fast-fashion trends. We purchase goods and clothing pieces that never go out of style. Buy only what we truly and deeply love with all our hearts, so it doesn’t end up in landfill. Image Credit Care for our kitchens and homes responsibly Reuse stainless steel coffee pods or opt for compostable ones Employ waxed-cotton food wraps in place of gladwrap or foil Line our bins with biodegradable bin liners or newspaper Refuse to buy one-use plastic water bottles and favour stainless steel and glass reusable drink bottles Say no to plastic straws and instead keep stainless steel or paper drinking straws Reuse old towels, t-shirts, and sheets for cleaning rags Use linen to wrap fragile items while moving house Take care of our e-waste Drop off our electronic waste such as out-dated desktop PCs, laptops, flat batteries, computer accessories such as keyboards and mice, power cords, memory cards, hard drives, printers, scanners, entertainment equipment such as televisions and dvd players, electrical appliances, and broken phones to the recycling centre Image credit Eat consciously Buy organic and locally grown, spray-free produce from our local street stalls and farmers markets when possible Love our leftovers, bringing them to work for lunch Bulk buy staple foods from the local co-op to save on costs and plastic packaging Reuse our shopping bags to carry our supermarket hauls home Switched to jute or cotton bags for shopping expeditions Use glass jars to store flours, cereals, seeds, nuts, and perishables Use old carpets for weed mat in our garden beds Warm-up in eco-friendly style Rug up in layers and pull out our cosy blankets during cold weather before turning on the heating Cover our wooden and slate floors with Indian rugs during colder months to lock in the warmth Close the blinds or curtains during winter to retain the heat Support and donate our money to planet-friendly charities Love secondhand Love op shops. We buy and sell our “pre-loved” clothing, shoes, and furniture. Most importantly, if we don’t love it, we pass it on to someone who will, making space for the things we truly love. Buy books from op shops and recycle them after reading Visit our local libraries to borrow books, magazines and kids videos on loan. Buy and sell second-hand goods on Gumtree, or Facebook Marketplace Use freecycle groups to give away unwanted furniture or things we’ve since replaced that are still in good working order or old things in working order we’ve replaced on freecycle Gift unwanted items to charity shops Make do, or do without We travel responsibly We car-pool where we can. We walk or bike instead of using the car when possible. We catch public transport. We combine trips and our errands and don’t drive unnecessarily. Our team members also care for their cars responsibly, with regular car services, oil changes, wheel alignments, and tyre rotations. Keeping the car up to scratch means cars last longer and drive cleaner. Every little bit helps. We love our Earth. It’s as simple as that. As a team, we love what we do – we all adore working for a company that reimagines waste and turns it into a stylish, everyday product for home and living. We are proud that many of these recycled products are designed by local Indigenous Artists. Recycled Mats plays an active role in sharing culture, bridging communities, and closing the divide. Stretching the ethos of sustainability outwards to our homes and families is our mission, and we will not rest on our laurels. There are always more things to tweak, and other practices to embed. Where can I stay up to date with the latest on your ever-evolving, earth-loving contributions at Recycled mats? It's now 2023, and our efforts and options are increasing by the day. We recognise that every bit helps, and we are constantly looking for new ways to save energy, resources, look after our staff, and do better all-round. We want to be fully transparent in our efforts, so you can read more about our GreenKPIs here and stay up to date with the very latest info! 2023 Learning Resources with a difference! We would also love to help you share our plight with the next generation, and demonstrate the importance of doing our bit. Educating kids about recycling doesn't have to be dull! There are so many fun ways to teach the fundamentals of a circular economy; Check out our blog post here, and let all styles of learners be inspired by our ideas! Have you read about our latest endeavour to save bottle tops from landfill? Get involved NOW by clicking the link. Prepare to be inspired! If you have suggestions on other helpful ways that you believe Recycled Mats can use to reduce our impact on our fragile environment, please feel free to email your suggestions to supertroopers@recycledmats.com.au We'd love to hear and share your good ideas too.
Learn moreRecycled Floor Mats for Kids - Try them in Imaginative Play & Home Corner Areas
Recycled Mats has a range of floor mats for kids of all ages These Recycled Mats come in a variety of colours, designs, and shapes that kids will love. Kids play mats can be used indoors or out - as floor mats for kids play time, to create a nook for story book reading, when going on picnics and beach outings, in bedrooms as stylish culturally-inspired carpet alternatives, and in the garden, or by the pool. They are so versatile, and easy to brush or wash down so there's no worries about spills or accidents. Colourful, fun floor mats for kids Our favourite floor mats for kids are colourful, affordable and they tell a story about our world and these plastic woven mats by Recycled Mats fit the bill. Our Indigenous mats are designed here in Australia by Indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. The Maori designs are created by New Zealand born Maori artists, and others feature logos and patterns by artists who hail from our nearest neighbouring islands in the Pacific. The most popular floor mats for kids are: 1. Yarning Circle This large Yarning Circle 2.7m x 2.7m kids mat comes in Green/White or our favourite, Orange/Black by Aboriginal Mat artist, De Greer Yindimincarlie of Wiradjuri Country. The motif symbolises the coming together of community for sharing and storytelling. 2. Water Dreaming The Blue/White combination on this baby floor mat is so striking, it looks good everywhere but our favourite use? To brighten up a young boy’s room over carpet in a rental home. These mats make great LEGO mats too – they are lightweight, easy to pick up, and make a great funnel to slide your LEGO pieces back into their box. It also comes in Red Wine/White for a more organic look. 3. Ancestral Connectedness The Purple & White mandala-themed mat is a beautiful addition to any teenage girl’s bedroom design. We know from experience that teenage girls love the flowery lotus-inspired design and it makes a great talking point with their friends. We love it for outdoor picnics too. It's so vibrant and cool! It comes in another beautiful orange & white colour too! 4. Go Fish 'Go Fish' is but one of our popular previous designs. The best thing about Recycled Mats is that our dedicated graphic designers and local artists are developing new and exciting mat designs all the time! Recycled plastic mats make for the perfect party floor. No need to worry about spills, or stains – these kids mats are made from UV-treated recycled plastic (Polypropolene) and are easily cleaned with a soft hose down or a gentle broom. Children just love to take these on picnics and to the beach, and they're obviously soft enough to take a nap on! How cute! For all recycled plastic mat designs check out the website and browse to your hearts content! Floor mats for babies and children of all ages (and big kids too!) These recycled, soft play mats are manufactured in China. The Recycled Mats team chose China because of their cutting edge textile technologies, and the maker’s ability to fabricate a large volume of kids mats without compromising on quality or standard. They now use a family-owned factory that is renowned for their ability to stick to the schedule and ship in a timely fashion, meaning they can get their mats to us sooner! It’s also comforting to know that these recycled mats and infant play mats are made in factories that are free of child labour. It’s just another check and balance that Recycled Mats are proud of in their quest to provide an ethical, sustainable product for families. Best of all, these floor mats are the perfect solution for that time when babies start to move and crawl around indoors or out. Placing a recycled plastic woven mat on the floor is a great way to help them explore while staying relatively clean, safe and happy to move about, and these plastic woven mats are easy to wipe down when the little one has a dribble. They are super popular in daycare and educational settings, helping to 'section off' or designate play areas, craft stations and reading corners! Older kids love them too. They are the perfect floor covering for craft activities to catch potential spills, and provide a base for rainy day fun. You can also rest easy knowing they're crafted from recycled plastic - a big win for Mother Nature. At Recycled Mats, we want to ensure that everyone, from the mat artist, to the factory staff and ultimately, the customer, is happy with the kids mats. We love them for both indoor and outdoor use, and we hope you will love them too!
Learn moreKids Floor Mats can be used as Childrens Play Mats too!
Recycled Plastic Mats make the best kids floor mats for children’s play scenarios. They are by far the best floor covering we've found for two reasons: One, they keep your floors free from spills and stains - a blessing in any household. And two, children's play mats, made from woven plastic threads, cushion the children’s knees, legs, and arms when they are deeply engrossed in their ‘work’. The fact they look so beautiful both inside the home, and outdoors, is a bonus! Our outdoor/indoor recycled plastic mats create the perfect "play space" Placing a childrens play mat on the floor is also a way to keep all their toys and play things in one place. You can place a mat near your work desk so your little one can be near you when you have to shoot off a quick email that just can't wait. There's one at our Recycled Mats home office too. We fill our one with a selection of toys, and the kids are as happy as Larry to amuse themselves for a time. A childrens' play mat can also be used to style a child’s bedroom, or playroom. There’s so many childrens play mats in the Recycled Mats range, you’ll definitely find one to match your current décor or, for a complete change in style, pick something out of the ordinary. All the recycled plastic childrens play mats with cultural designs are designed by Indigenous artists from their respective countries – JJ (the owner of Recycled Mats) commissions Aboriginal Australian, Maori New Zealanders, and Polynesian artists from the Pacific Islands to create designs that tell stories of their culture in a way everyone can understand. These mats are then manufactured offshore in family-owned factories in China, which helps Recycled Mats to keep prices affordable AND ensure their Artists are paid above-average remuneration. Eye-catching motifs and stories Best of all, the childrens cultural mats made by Recycled Mats are so eye-catching they encourage kids to look at the motifs and decipher them to gain deeper cultural understandings. No matter which childrens play mat design you choose, it’s an opportunity to discuss cultural diversity and difference through the art of pictorial storytelling. If animals are your child's thing, then we can help with that too! Recycled kids floor mats - shapes and sizing Our recycled floor mats / rugs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There’s round mats, square mats, rectangular mats, and hallway runners. Sizes begin at 0.9m x 1.8m - this mat is suitable for a small room or deck, or perhaps near a work desk. A number of the childrens play mats are square. We recommend at least a 1.8 x 1.8m square mat for play – it’s enough room for at least 2-3 children without them being on top of one another. But, if you have a large family, or the room to spread out, a 2.7m or a 3m mat might be just your thing. You may find that a rectangular mat will optimise your space, and in this case, the 1.8 x 2.7m size offers heaps of play space! Circles work for some areas too, and at Recycled mats we are partial to a round mat, simply because it's the easiest way to gather children. Just ask them to sit around the edge of the circle mat, and you have your attentive audience, quick smart! Invitation to play Use them to set up an 'invitation to play'. Invitations to play are just that - it's where you, the adult, set up a small selection of play materials and props that 'invite' the children to take a look, touch, feel, imagine and create from the base materials. Some people include 'art/craft' set ups in this definition but we like to think it's more about setting up opportunities for 'real life work' (what children do in play.) For example, you might set up a doctor's surgery, or a simple shop, or pop a kid's table and chairs in the centre with paper and pens and a 'post box' to encourage kids to write letters to special people in their lives. Kids love an 'office' with typewriters, stamps, and notepads for writing sums. It could be a kitchen, or a toolshed, or a high tea adventure too! Used in this way, our recycled mats are a helpful tool when you need to get on with cooking the dinner, finishing up some urgent tasks, or when the children just want to be near you. If you would like to purchase your very own kids floor mat, we recommend taking a look at the options at Recycled Mats. There's new designs coming through all the time!
Learn moreWe've Saved over 380 Tonnes of Plastic Waste From Landfill!
With your help, as at Aug 2018, Recycled Mats has saved over 160 tonnes of waste from going to landfill through our recycling efforts! *EEEKKK CORRECTION - It's now 2024 and that number has GROWN to a massive 380,000+ !!! Regardless, you get the drift...that's HEAPS of stuff that we've re-purposed from landfill!* That’s 2.2 Boeing 747 Jet Planes, Or 80 Asian Elephants, Or 5,000 Adult Male Kangaroos... It’s a LOT! Thanks to you. Reducing recycled plastic waste is a big job and we are in it for the long haul. Plus, we want to keep the cycle of recycling going, all over Australia. Recycling plastic is a simple but key action we can take to make a difference, right here, right now, so that our children, and our children’s children, inherit a world of beauty. Three Cheers for the Recycle-Friendly Councils of Australia We know not all councils across Australia value recycling in the same way. Some councils in Australia have contributed a magnificent effort in reducing recycled plastic waste. Some councils have also established large-scale composting systems, set up green bin services for all households in the community, and operate Resource Recovery Centres (or tip shops!). Unbelievably, a select few councils in Australia are choosing to ditch their recycling programs altogether, saying it’s too expensive, or not viable in their budget. That's just not good enough in 2018, or any year for that matter! The War on Waste continues... The War on Waste has only just begun, and we want to ensure that we do our bit, and that you can too. As a Recycled Mats customer, we already know you care about the planet. (Your purchases speak for themselves.) But perhaps you live in a place where recycling your plastic and other waste is not as easy as ABC. What do you do with your plastic waste then? Did you know that Planet Ark has a website you can use to find your closest recycling centres, and a list of where to recycle what. Simply type in your location, and a pop-up directory listing will show you details of all the council kerbside recycling services in your locality, along with council clean ups if they happen in your suburb or city. You can also find out about opt-in recycling services. Some councils in Australia only offer green waste bins to those who request them. Make your councils work for you, and subscribe to that service today if you haven’t already. Next level recycling facilities The website also lists the facilities and services in your area, and direct you where to take: Electronic items – tvs, computers, printers, cables etc (If your local council doesn’t offer a facility to collect e-waste, click here for details of other service providers who can help. These are funded under the Govt. e-waste scheme) Large recyclable items such as white goods, scrap metal, concrete, bricks, and building materials Containers and/or Packaging such as paper and cardboard, aluminium and steel cans, glass bottles, and plastic containers Hazardous items such as gas bottles, paints, tyres, and vehicle and appliance batteries There’s easy-to-follow information on setting up compost bins and worm farms, and how to make great compost to feed your veggie gardens too! Reuse and repair Scroll down the page on the Planet Ark website, and you’ll find an index of: re-use centres such as Reverse Garbage (the ultimate art and craft supplies store!) repair cafes charity stores second-hand furniture dealers trade and exchange meet ups, and swap parties happening locally. Collaborative Consumption – The Sharing Economy The rise of the sharing economy promotes collaborative consumption where people share access to things such as bikes, cars, excess vegetables, and housing. Find details of “sharing libraries” – these are places where you can borrow tools and electrical appliances you don’t use everyday such as: chainsaws, jackhammers, slow cookers, ice cream makers, waffle toasters, Soda Stream soft drink makers, and juicers. It’s all about sharing, and saving – both money, and the planet. You can also join Facebook groups such as “Friends with Things” and “Pay it Forward” to find things to borrow. Read more about it here. Donation websites for reducing recycled plastic waste and landfill The Planet Ark website also lists donation websites such as Givit, Good360, and Give Now. Community initiatives for the war on waste But our favourite is the register of community initiatives. There are groups out in the world repairing and refurbishing bicycles for both locals in need, and those less fortunate in places like Fiji and Indonesia. There are book swap schemes, online book forums for trading novels, and giant fundraising events such as the biannual Lifeline Book Sale where you can donate your unwanted books too. You can participate in the Boomerang Bags initiative, picking up a reusable shopping bag when you’ve forgotten your own, and returning it next visit for someone else to use. There are many, many Australians volunteering to help refurbish computers for students, seniors, new migrants, and those on Centrelink benefits who are seeking work. Yet others work at Soft Landings, a national social enterprise diverting mattresses from landfill by recycling components of them. Have excess stationery at your workplace or home? The Stationery Reuse Centre at the University of New South Wales will take it and redistribute it to students and staff. The ideas in this section are so good, we suggest bookmarking the page! War on waste action toolkit The 'Good for the Hood' War on Waste Action Toolkit created by Sydney mums, Corina and Jo is another resource worth a look. It’s a comprehensive guide on reducing waste throughout your neighbourhood, plus includes tips on setting up your own War on Waste campaigns if you are interested in jumping in deeper. National Recycling Week You can also put National Recycling Week into your diary. The dates for National Recycling Week are normally in November each year. National Recycling Week has been around for more than 25 years but it’s never been more important than now. Find all National Recycling Week events here. Recycle your 'Recycled Mats' products too Our most important tip is to remember that many of our Recycled Mats products can be put back into circulation when they’ve seen better days. Check with your local council or recycling centre to check whether they allow soft plastics in go straight into the yellow recycling bin. Some do, some don’t. It’s worth an ask. Click here for a quick reference of who to ask in your local area, and also have a read of our 'Circular Economy' blog here. You may even be able to return your mat to us! Indian rugs made from fabric, jute, and cotton can be used in the garden as weed control mats to stop the determined little fellows from invading your flower gardens and vegetable beds. Weed mats help reduce your water consumption too. Do you want to inspire a passion for learning about recycling? If you're a teacher, homeschooler or early childhood educator, and are looking for fun ways to teach your child/ren more about about the circular economy, we have put together some great ideas on how-to! Check out our fun blog post here. We also have a dedicated 'Learning Hub' which is updated regularly. Check it out today! Join us on this quest to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Caring for Mother Earth is what inspires us to get out of bed each morning, and it's never been more important than now. Mother Earth, our oceans and forests need us. We know she’s grateful. She’ll thank you too.
Learn moreFind Authentic Maori Designs on Recycled Plastic Picnic Mats
Maori Designs Galore Maori Designs are very popular motifs on our Recycled Plastic Woven Recycled Mats, something that JJ and Nu, Owners of Recycled Mats and New Zealand-born and bred, are very proud of. Maori patterns on contemporary homewares From the very beginning, JJ was committed to ensuring that there would be a fair share of recycled plastic mats featuring New Zealand Maori Designs by Maori artists. This was high priority on her to-do list and it didn’t take long for JJ to achieve her mission. Five styles of Maori art patterns In 2017, there are currently five styles of Maori designs and Maori patterns on recycled mats, in nine different colour combinations. All the Maori designs have been created by Indigenous Maori artists whose heritage and culture inform their work. The Maori artists include Michelle Walters, Milton Tupaea, and Turumakina Duley. View our entire current collection of Maori designed mats here. As per the Aboriginal Mats, all artists are paid either as a once-off upfront commission or if they prefer, as royalties from the sales of their mat. All artists of Maori Designs are also encouraged to sell the recycled mats featuring their designs on their own websites and platforms, allowing them to earn secondary income via sales. Giving them the opportunity to do so helps to increase their visibility and standing as an Artist in their communities and provides further social proof of their success. Furthermore, all sales of the Recycled Mats featuring Maori art have a positive environmental impact, helping to rid the world of plastic bags that would otherwise have ended up in unsustainable landfill piles and transforming them into something of beauty and function. Read here how we're making an impact. Eye-catching Maori art The Maori woven plastic rugs are also eye-catching, colourful and a talking point. It’s amazing how many members of the public ask about recycled mats when they see them out and about, and in doing so, people learn about the stories behind the Maori designs as well as the symbols and meanings in Maori culture. Recycled plastic woven mats featuring Maori patterns are truly multicultural art. Recycled plastic rugs help people to celebrate the many different cultures, community values, and indigenous stories in the world. By using authentic styles, including Maori designs, Recycled Mats are helping to value diversity, focus on tolerance, accept difference, and learn from one another.
Learn moreMeeting the National Quality Standards
Exceeding the National Quality Standards As we embrace the cooler days of Winter and rapidly head towards the end of the financial year, educators are often keen to revamp their spaces, change things around, breathe new life into their rooms, invigorate their curriculums, and ensure their sustainable practices and cultural outcomes meet or exceed the National Quality Standards. Recycled plastic mats designed by Indigenous Aboriginal artists can be the solution for many problems that educators face. Quality Area 1: Educational Program and Practice These recycled plastic mats feature the symbols and motifs of Aboriginal Language from different regions of Australia to encourage storytelling and community building. Children are immersed in the motifs of Indigenous culture when they sit, sing, and play on these mats everyday, without the need for direct conversation or deliberate discussions. This will inspire their natural curiosity to learn more about the motifs and symbols and what they mean. Using Aboriginal Mats throughout the room also enhances each child's learning and development, building on their knowledge, their cultural identity, and the cultural understanding of the broader Australian community. The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) outcomes can be met by engaging children in discussion around culture, tolerance, and understanding too. Quality Area 3: Physical Environment Recycled Mats are a soft, pliable, all-weather alternative to traditional carpet mats, and come in circular, rectangular and square shapes to suit all kinds of learning experiences. These gorgeous outdoor/indoor mats can be: used to create specialised nooks and areas in the room for specific learning intentions - for example, in home corner, book corner, block areas, self directed play open spaces, outdoors for natural learning opportunities used to provide a safe seating alternative outdoors for those children who may be sensory aware, or sensory challenged, and who do not like to sit on grass, concrete, or timber moved around at will, giving children agency to manage and maximise their own learning opportunities appropriate to their own learning and development suitable for all kinds of learning activities, as they are washable, pliable, and hard wearing. They can be used under art and craft tables to protect flooring and carpet, during picnics and mealtimes when food may be dropped, and during both indoor and outdoor games and learning experiences. They are the perfect equipment to show exceeding practice in a service as they allow for multiple uses, as well as being safe, clean and easily maintained. used to promote inclusion of Indigenous understanding (and children) into the wider group Quality Area 3: Sustainable Practices Contribute to your goal of exceeding the National Quality Standards by employing these sustainable recycled plastic mats in your settings, both indoors and out. Recycled mats are made from recycled polypropylene plastic, reducing landfill and making something of beauty from discarded waste. Purchase of a Recycled Plastic mat shows the service cares for the environment and supports children to become environmentally responsible. Recycled plastic mats are easy to clean so they are the ideal indoor and outdoor rug in childcare centres and preschools. Hang them over a fence to hose off excess food, scraps or paint. You can also shake them or sweep them down. Mats are reversible too, so after washing, turn them over for a fresh new look and style in the classroom space. It's an instant revamp! Quality Area 6: Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities Recycled Mats can be incorporated as part of the educator's Intentional Teaching Moments in the day. Recycled Mats are a wonderful talking point to encourage discussion about Indigenous culture, and a starting point to learn Aboriginal history and practices. They can be used to develop collaborative partnerships with families and communities, as parents have a visual representation of the importance of Indigenous culture along with the children. Discussions of art and culture help to build understanding and tolerance, as well as help children find shared identities and common ground. When Indigenous parents see an Aboriginal design mat being used as part of the daily routine in the centre, they are empowered and know that the expertise, culture, values and beliefs of their family are respected by the centre too. This is how the service can build relationships with their families and engage with its' community too. Recycled Mats can help in so many ways Visit Recycled Mats to see the full range of Aboriginal Mats we have in stock, in all shapes, sizes, colours and designs. We stock classroom mats for everyone.
Learn moreKids Play Mats - Childcare Centres, Schools and Library Use
Recycled Mats have a range of sustainable play mats suitable for indoor or outdoor use. These kids play mats are the perfect solution when it comes to soft hygienic floor coverings that create enjoyable learning spaces. These mats also help educators fulfil a number of their formal education legislative requirements, being a sustainable product and promoting cultural awareness through the art designs incorporated. The play mat range for childcare centres, schools and libraries There are hundreds of ways you can make the best use of our kids play & educational mats. Don't limit your imagination to simply using them as a basic floor covering. There's so many other ways to use them too. Baby play mat - used indoors or out, these kids play mats are an easy-clean solution to the ongoing challenge of keeping crawling babies safe and clean when they start to explore. A large play mat will provide plenty of room for them to explore while staying out of harm's way. We love taking them outside and giving the babies and toddlers tummy-time under the shade of a tree too. Circle time - The kids play mats are particularly helpful with promoting positive behaviour. The edges of the mat functions as a boundary line, and gives children a directive of where to sit and the teacher has a direct eye-line to every single child in the class. Magic! Storytelling - the icons and motifs on the mats provide fodder for imaginative storytelling and sharing cultural stories from the dreamtime and other traditions Floor mats for kids - these mats can be positioned around the room to help create 'nooks' of activity and to help separate large groups into smaller clusters. Toddler play mat - setting up a toddler's favourite games or toys on a mat can help to send a clear message of where toys and games go. This can also help at pack away time - simply lift the mat by one corner and slide the toys back into their respective homes. Lego mats - ditto the above. We use our kids play mats as Lego Mats. It keeps the LEGO all in one place. At the end of the day, scoop the spare unused LEGO pieces up in the mat, and funnel them back into the LEGO box. Soft play mats - our animal themed mats bring lots of fun into the mix! Add a few cushions or beanbags on top and you've created a cosy nook for fun quiet activities like reading, felt pictures, puzzles, activity books and more. Activity Station Play Mat - take them outside to go underneath activity stations so that children don't have to sit on cold concrete or damp/prickly grass. These mats help to keep your preschool equipment clean and dry, and safe from mould too. Excursion mats - take along a kids play mat and you have instant seating for a large group of children, teachers and volunteer parents Picnic mats - we LOVE doing something out of the ordinary with the kids from time to time, and a simple outdoor picnic is just the thing. Outdoor picnics are particularly good after a week of rainy days couped up inside, or when tensions are running higher than normal. Children LOVE a surprise outdoor picnic, even when eating their own lunch! It's magical. Games - use the motifs and icons of the mat to play cultural and local games. Try jumping from motif to motif in a stepping stone game, or use a circular mat to play Duck Duck Goose and I Wrote a Letter to my Love. See what you can come up with too! Group time - kids mats These kids play mats are a great way to gather children into a group of storytime in a library setting, to separate a class group into working teams of five for workshop-style tasks, and as a way to interest children in Indigenous cultures. Each mat tells a story, and children love to hear what the motifs and icons they see actually mean. National Quality Standards - Meeting the Requirements These mats are by far the best preschool equipment we've come across and are a must-have on our list of essential equipment for working with children in preschool and childcare settings. We couldn't do without them! When it comes to the National Quality Standards that govern childcare and family day care settings, it's great to see that a product such as these kids play mats are not simply a piece of equipment. They are also a tool to ensure the environment is inclusive, promotes competence, independent exploration, and learning through play. For those children of multicultural heritage, the inclusion of familiar motifs and icons throughout the space helps them to feel supported and part of the decision making process. Conscious purchases when buying sustainable supplies and equipment shows that the service respects all relationships as well as engages with the local community. Preschool equipment and sustainability Buying a sustainable recycled product such as these recycled plastic mats for the centres also demonstrates that the service takes an active role in caring for its environment and contributes to a sustainable future, and that sustainable practices are embedded in service operations. Children are supported to become environmentally responsible and show respect for the environment too. Libraries, Primary and High schools can also become advocates of cultural awareness and sustainability by using these mats in their places of education. Bespoke Designs on Kids Mats Our outdoor mats feature a range of patterns, including contemporary mats with best-selling designs. You can also find a large range of Indigenous designs by artists hailing from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific. These designs have been created specifically for our play mats and can't be found anywhere else. We particularly love the Eucalyptus Mat (above) designed by Christine Slabb in either yellow/pink, blue/pink or pink/dark pink. It's so gorgeous! FREE learning resources! In case you hadn't guessed it, we're pretty passionate about doing good by and for the planet, and we love to share our passion. Do you work in education and are looking for tips on teaching your class about sustainability, recycling and the circular economy? Are you a homeschooler looking for learning inspiration with a green twist? Look no further! We have put together a fun blog post with so many ideas, it's bursting at the seams! Thank you for coming along on the journey with us!
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