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The safest play mat you will find.
Here is exactly why.
If you are reading this, you are probably searching for the best and safest play mat for your growing family. You are in the right place — and you are asking exactly the right questions.
Babies spend an enormous amount of time on the floor. Tummy time, crawling, rolling, playing — their face, hands, and mouth are in constant contact with whatever surface is beneath them. The material your play mat is made from matters more than most brands will tell you.
At Rugabub, we believe you deserve the full picture. So here it is.
How Rugabub compares to every other material on the market.
Most play mats sold in Australia are made from EVA foam or PVC — materials that are cheap to manufacture but carry real safety concerns. We chose TPU because it is simply the best material available. No compromises.
| Material | Formamide | Phthalate-free | VOC-free | Biodegradable | Wipe-clean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TPU — Rugabub | None | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EVA Foam | Contains | Varies | Risk | No | Yes |
| PVC | — | Often No | High risk | No | Yes |
| XPE Foam | — | Usually | Low risk | No | Yes |
| Organic Cotton | None | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
TPU foam — the material that does not need carcinogens to be soft.
TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is a medical-grade foam used in everything from surgical equipment to infant products. Unlike EVA foam — which requires formamide, a known reproductive toxin, to achieve its soft texture — TPU is inherently soft, flexible, and safe without any harmful additives.
Formamide is the chemical that France and Belgium banned from EVA foam play mats in 2010. Most countries still permit it. We never used it.
Our TPU foam has been extensively independently tested to comply with and exceed international toy safety standards. It is free from VOCs, phthalates, BPA, PVC, and latex — and it arrives with no chemical smell, because there is nothing to off-gas.
A note on PVC: If you are researching baby products, always ask whether the manufacturer uses PVC. PVC releases up to 160 toxic gases and is one of the most harmful plastics for both human health and the environment. Rugabub play mats contain zero PVC.
To view our full independent test report, click here.
Everything you need. Nothing you do not.
Rugabub play mats are designed to be the last play mat you ever need to buy. Premium enough to last, safe enough to never question, beautiful enough to leave out.
Medical-grade material with zero formamide, zero PVC, zero phthalates. The safest foam available for babies.
Certified to exceed ISO (Australian), EN71 (European), ASTM F963, and CA65 toy safety standards.
One-piece construction with no seams or joints. A damp cloth handles milk, paint, and pasta equally well.
Generous cushioning protects little ones during tummy time, crawling, and early tumbles. Firm enough for standing practice.
Lightweight and designed to move with you. Flip it for a fresh look. Take it from room to room with ease.
Safe for sensitive skin from birth. No latex, no harsh dyes, no hidden irritants.
TPU is naturally non-flammable — no flame retardant chemicals required. Another nasty we have eliminated entirely.
Our customers cannot stop raving about how it feels. Exceptionally soft to bare feet and tiny hands — for the whole family.
TPU breaks down over 3–5 years once composted. No toxic preserving chemicals, no microplastics left behind.
Tested to the highest standards.
Then tested again.
Our TPU foam exceeds every major international toy safety standard. We did not stop at compliance — we pushed further, because your child deserves more than the minimum.
Australian toy safety standard — exceeded
European toy safety standard — passed
US toy safety standard — passed
California Prop 65 — passed
We care about the world we are leaving behind.
At Rugabub, sustainability is not a marketing claim — it is a decision we made before the first mat was produced. We eliminated every harsh and toxic preserving chemical from our manufacturing process, including PVC, which is one of the most environmentally damaging plastics in existence.
This commitment to clean materials does have one honest trade-off worth knowing about: without chemical preservatives, our mats may develop slight natural yellowing over time, most noticeable around the outer edges. This is a sign that no toxic chemicals are present — not a defect.
To keep your mat looking its best for as long as possible, we recommend following our Play Mat Care Guide.
Did you know? Once composted, TPU polyurethane will fully biodegrade within 3–5 years. Compare that to PVC, which never fully breaks down and releases toxic chemicals into the environment throughout its entire lifecycle.
The mat that passes every test.
Including yours.
Read all about the process we went through — from selecting the most premium material to every smaller detail that makes a Rugabub mat what it is.