Cutter Mat A2 159B / OLFA

• Model: 159B
• Dimensions: 450 x 620 x 2mm (A2)
• Structure: Soft/hard/soft three-layer PVC sandwich
• Front surface: Soft gray
• Back surface: Brown
• Grid: 1cm on both sides, with postcard, B5, A4, B4, and A3 reference marks
• Material: PVC (outer layers: 80% recycled; core: 75% recycled)
• Packaging: Sheath with paper header
• Eco certification: Green Purchasing Law compliant, GPN Eco Products Network listed

The 159B sits in OLFA's Eco Series, a line built around recycled PVC. The outer layers use 80% recycled material and the rigid core 75%, meeting Japan's Green Purchasing Law requirements without trading away performance.

The key engineering decision here is the three-layer structure: two soft PVC skins around a hard core. The soft outer layers absorb the blade edge on contact, which reduces the force needed per cut and keeps the blade sharp longer. A purely hard mat would deflect the blade cleanly but blunt it faster; a purely soft mat would grip the blade but flex and wander. The sandwich splits the difference.

Choosing two distinct surface colors, gray on one side and brown on the other, also serves a practical purpose: it signals wear patterns and makes it easy to track which side has seen more use, so you can rotate before cutting quality degrades.