Sustainable Mats Made from Recycled Materials

At Recycled Mats, we create stylish indoor and outdoor mats using environmentally responsible materials. Our motto is “For the love of culture, for the love of our environment,” and wherever possible we use recycled materials in every product we make.

Each year we repurpose over 25,000kg of discarded materials, including recycled plastics (polypropylene and PET), rubber from car tyres, and fabric off-cuts like cotton and polyester. Every piece we reuse helps reduce landfill and gives waste materials a new life

Our colourful recycled plastic mats are made from recycled polypropylene, a durable material commonly found in items like shopping bags, drink bottles, and carpet fibres. The plastic is melted, coloured, and spun into strong threads before being woven into comfortable, lightweight mats.

The result? Soft, durable mats that are perfect for indoor or outdoor use - and incredibly easy to clean. Simply shake, wipe, or hose them down. No harsh chemicals required.

Recycled Rubber Doormats

Our rubber doormats are made from recycled car tyres, helping reduce one of the world’s biggest landfill challenges. These durable mats are produced in fair-trade friendly factories and then screen-printed in Australia with our unique designs using eco-friendly dyes.

Thoughtful Packaging

We also aim to minimise waste in our packaging. Many of our courier bags and carry bags are made from recycled plastic or recycled polyester, helping ensure our products are as sustainable as possible from production to delivery.

Stage 1: Design Process

Step 1: For some of our products, we collaborate with local Indigenous artists to create designs that can be translated into a mat designs. Each design is a genuine Indigenous artwork for which the artist is fairly remunerated. The remaining designs are designed in-house by a talented team of graphic artists. 

Step 2: The design stage of the process can take anywhere from a few days to several months depending upon the artist, the design involved, when the final product is required, and if approval needs to be sought from the artist's community. Each design is vetted by the artist for its end use eg. sitting upon and walking over.

Step 3: Once the design has been signed off by both the artist and Recycled Mats HQ we then proceed to sampling and production stages.

Stage 2: Manufacturing Process

Step 1: Please note that the process below relates to our recycled plastic mat range and not the recycled doormat range which are manufactured using a different process.

Over to our manufacturing side, which is based in China. Various types of recycled plastic materials polypropylene) are collected and melted down, then cooled into a pellet form while the moulds for the mats are being created. The pellets of recycled plastic are then mixed with the coloured dye that will become the base mat colour.

Step 2: The pellets and colour are then melted together which will form the coloured liquid for the plastic tube which is used to weave the mat. The recycled plastic tubes are checked for colour and thickness and then taken to the machines where they are placed in several slots from which the machine plucks the tubes to weave the mats.

Step 3: Each mat design has its own board "mould" which instructs the machine in the design details and how many colours are to be used in its formation.

Once the mould has been loaded onto the machine, it begins the mat weaving process. This stage is closely monitored by factory team members to ensure that each loop is threaded onto the loom at the correct time and place.

Step 4: Once the mats are woven they go onto a roll of approx. 200 pieces. They are then taken to the tables where a hot heat iron is used to cut and seal each mat end, and a black edging sewn into place.

Step 5: They are then packed, ready to be loaded into a container and sent to us for the Australian retail market. 

At Recycled Mats, we talk a lot about making ‘ethical mats’ but we understand that might mean different things to different people. We consider our mats to be ethically made and produced because:

• They are made from repurposed materials, like car tyres, plastic food containers and drink bottles, as well as non-toxic dyes. They're also easy to clean and maintain, which means fewer chemical cleaning products going down the drain. 
• We use authentic designs created by artists across Australia and New Zealand – and we pay our artists fairly for their work.
• We support our artists who, in turn, support their communities. We also donate recycled mats to non-profit organisations and support both tree planting and wildlife initiatives within Australia.
• We manufacture some of our products locally and others overseas. We have personally visited our factories in China and India and we’re very confident that they support fair trade practices.  

If you’d like to know more about who designs our mats or who benefits from our production methods, you can read more on our numerous blog posts here.

Are Recycled Mats ethical mats? Yes! If you have any further questions about the ways in which we commission designs, work with recycled materials and produce our mats, cushions and tables 

Why Do We Manufacture Overseas?

We create ethical, recycled mats designed by Indigenous artists, with a strong commitment to sustainability and authentic storytelling. A common question we receive is why we manufacture in China and India.

Quality, efficiency, and expertise

These regions are global leaders in textile manufacturing, allowing us to maintain high quality, reliable production, and efficient turnaround times. We work closely with trusted factories that meet our strict standards for craftsmanship and ethical labour practices.

Advanced technology

By partnering with experienced manufacturers, we access cutting-edge textile technology without unnecessary costs—so we can focus on supporting our artists, team, and community initiatives.

Ethical and affordable

While overseas manufacturing is more cost-effective, we never compromise on ethics. We only work with certified factories that ensure safe conditions and child-free labour, and we pay above-average rates for quality production.

Supporting communities

The savings we achieve help us fairly pay Indigenous artists and give back through donations to support services across Australia. It also keeps our mats affordable for schools, childcare centres, and businesses.

Ethical, sustainable, and accessible

Our mission is simple: create high-quality recycled mats that are ethical, culturally meaningful, and accessible to all.

Say Goodbye to High-Maintenance Rugs

Traditional carpets can be hard work - stains linger, fibres can trigger allergies, and cleaning often feels like a never-ending chore. Add kids into the mix, and it’s even tougher to keep them looking their best.

Meet the easier alternative

Our recycled plastic floor mats are designed for real life. They’re child-friendly, stain-resistant, and incredibly easy to clean, just sweep or wash with soapy water, hang to dry, and they’re good as new.

Beautiful designs with meaning

Choose from contemporary styles or culturally inspired designs, including Aboriginal, Māori and Tiwi Island artwork. Each mat is created by our in-house team or in collaboration with talented Indigenous artists, bringing stories and creativity into your space.

Practical, versatile, and built to last

Lightweight, durable, and fully reversible, our mats are perfect for homes, schools, childcare centres, camping trips, markets, and outdoor events. Simply flip them to suit your space or mood.

Style without the stress

Let the kids play, spill, and explore without worrying about the mess. Discover a smarter, more sustainable way to style your space with our recycled mats.