Cocoa Mats – Environmentally Green Matting

Cocoa Mats – Environmentally Green Matting

Cocoa Mats (also called coco mats) are one of the most effective and most environmentally sound entrance mats available today. Their ability to remove dirt and debris along with its durability, even if the most heavily-trafficked locations, has made it popular not only for eco-conscious commercial purchasers, but for residential consumers as well. Cocoa matting can be implemented in a variety of settings and is available with several different features, which will be explored in further detail.

Coco Matting: Where does it come from?

Whereas traditional floor mats are made from a nylon carpeted surface, cocoa mats come from coconut husk fibers. The outer shell of the coconut is stripped down into thin, coarse strands. Once these strands are cured, they are then bundled and twisted to give them strength and increased crush-resistance.

Cocoa Matting: How are they constructed?

Coco mats can either be set in a backing material or intertwined for greater moisture pass-through. For commercial and heavy-duty applications, the twisted cocoa strands are embedded in a vinyl backing. This backing holds the cocoa fibers firmly in place and, given this construction, allows for the greatest scraping and brushing action. For light-duty and more aesthetic applications, the cocoa fibers are sewn together to produce a knitted appearance. Although this style has greater drainage, the preferred method of construction for high-traffic areas is still the vinyl back style.

Cocoa Mat Thickness Options:

Cocoa matting is available in 1/2", 5/8”, 3/4", 1” and 1 ¼” thicknesses in its natural cocoa husk color. The 3/4" thick version is also available in charcoal (black), grey and brown. The appropriate thickness must be selected for recessed applications where the coco mat is inlaid into the floor (to be flush with the surrounding finished floor). For example, a recess which is 1” deep would require a corresponding 1” thick recessed cocoa mat. For surface-mounted applications where the mat is simply laid on top of the floor, thicknesses from 1/2" to 3/4" are appropriate.

Cleaning Your Coco Mat:

These durable floor mats are easy to clean and maintain. Regular vacuuming will remove most of the day-to-day dirt and debris that these mats remove from people’s shoes. Additionally, Waterhog mats can be hosed off and hung to dry. Hot water extraction cleaning will remove the dirt more deeply embedded in the fibers and backing of the mat. Please realize that shedding will naturally occur given the material and construction of this entrance mat.

LEED Credits:

Cocoa Mats are made from coconut fiber husks, a naturally renewable resource. The deep pile construction traps and holds dirt particles below the surface, even in high-traffic areas. Thus, this product may help qualify for LEED MR Credit 6 as well as LEED Indoor Environmental Quality LEED MR Credit 5.

Custom Shapes and Sizes:

Vinyl backed cocoa matting is made in rolls with widths of 6’ 7” and up to 40’ long. Given this manufacturing method, these mats can be cut into custom shapes and sizes. Rounded sides, notch-outs for revolving doors are just a few examples. Custom sizes can often be achieved to within a fraction of an inch.

Cocoa Logo Mats:

Cocoa Logo Mats are also a popular type of entrance mat. The logo can either be flocked (or felted) onto the surface of the mat or dyed to produce the desired colors and image/text. Flocked Logo Cocoa Mats are used most often for short-term, promotional events, such as a retail store running a new promotion or a home builder placing one at the front door of each new house. The latter process is a sturdier, durable method used for commercial applications.

Cocoa matting is a versatile, effective door mat that is available in a number of formats. Its variety of styles, thicknesses and uses have made it a popular choice for entrance of hotels, office/apartment buildings, banks, retail shops and residential homes just to name a few locations. With the added bonus that these mats are made from a renewable resource and qualify as environmentally friendly, cocoa mats are indeed one of the best matting choices overall.

Rubber Mats versus Vinyl Mats

Rubber Mats versus Vinyl Mats

Are Rubber Backed Mats better than Vinyl Backed Mats?

Floor mats are available with two distinct types of backing: rubber-backed mats (or simply rubber mats) and vinyl-backed mats (a.k.a. vinyl mats). Rubber-backed door mats are superior to their vinyl-backed entrance mat counterparts for a variety of reasons explained below.

Rubber Mats

Rubber is the preferred backing for all floor matting products. Rubber backed mats are made for high-use / heavy-traffic areas; we sell them to office buildings, schools, hospitals, etc. all the time. The Nitrile (premium, commercial-grade) rubber will not dog-ear / curl up and is beveled so as not to be a trip hazard and to be ADA compliant.

This rubber can be produced smooth or with cleats (grippers) that help hold the mat in place on carpeted surfaces. In addition to being able to withstand extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) and its ability to always lay flat, rubber is fade, stain and mildew resistant.

This backing helps produce mats that are quite durable and yet low maintenance. Vacuuming should take care of virtually all the cleaning for these door mats, but they can also be hosed off, shampoo- or steam-extracted and even laundered in a washer and dryer.

These are the types of mats that we use for our own mat rental/laundering program (where we own the mats and provide them as part of an exchange cleaning service) because of their durability and longevity.

Rubber backed include all the Waterhog Mats, Deluxe Carpet Entrance Mats, Scraper Entrance Mats, Jet Print and Premium Carpet Logo Mats and Super Berber Mats just to name a few.

Vinyl Mats

Vinyl is a composite material and, although slightly less expensive than rubber, it does not have many of the key features associated with rubber mats. Vinyl mats are often placed in light to medium-use locations such as smaller retail stores, back doors and lower traffic entrances.

Vinyl mats are more chemical resistant, more resistant to moisture absorption and can be produced in a wider variety of colors than rubber floor mats can. The vinyl material, however, does not have the same resistance to extreme temperatures or the durability of rubber, especially when being unrolled and rolled frequently. Eventually, the vinyl may curl, warp or even crack.

Whereas rubber can be produced with the gripper backing, vinyl mats are only available with a smooth backing and thus should only be used on hard surfaces such as wood, tile and marble.

Vinyl door mats should be vacuumed or hosed off only, they cannot withstand the more aggressive cleaning methods of rubber and can definitely not be laundered.

Some of our vinyl backed mats include Carpet Entrance Mats, Ribbed Entrance Mats, Berber Entrance Mats, Chevron Entrance Mats and Flocked Carpet Logo Mats.

Summary

Although vinyl backed mats are slightly less expensive and although the offer greater chemical resistance, rubber backed mats are, in the long run, more durable, safer and less likely to be problematic. Thus, provided the aforementioned reasons, we would always recommend rubber-backed mats over vinyl-backed mats.