Next time your office chair plastic floor mat needs replacing, consider using a more earth friendly solution that costs less and lasts longer. I bought a 4’ x 8’ sheet of 1/2” MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard (<$20)), had the retailer cut it in half – one for my wife and one for me. I rounded the corners, beveled the edges, and sealed it so it won’t stain or absorb moisture so readily. I then give it two coats of paint in a color that works for the location of the chair mat.  Voila! Depending on what you use for a sealant and paint, you may wish to let it air out for a bit before installing it. The paint will probably deteriorate over time and use, and when it does, you can turn it over and you’ve a whole new side. So far, I’ve gone far longer than a year on the first side and VERY little wear has occurred. In the past, my plastic chair mats seldom lasted so long without cracks appearing, or worse.

I would not recommend burning this mat when the day finally comes – we have enough carbon hitting the atmosphere as it is (and I have no idea yet how long this mat can last because I anticipate being able to re-sand it, paint it again, and have yet another service cycle to enjoy). The half-life of this mat, when it comes time for disposal, whether whole or sawed into pieces, is certain to be WAY shorter than the plastics used in most office chair mats. You’ve just earned mega Eco-angel brownie point credits and saved some money at the same time. 

If you don’t have the tools or the convenience of a place to fabricate the mat and happen to live on the North Coast of the Olympic Peninsula in WA, I may be able to make one for you. I qualify the location as they’re heavy (a 4×4 MDF chair mat weighs around 32 lbs.), even as plastic chair mats are heavy, and I’m still looking for ways to ship economically. For locals, I simply deliver in my truck. See ecochairmat.com for more information.😉