Yulex® Natural Rubber

Yulex® is a hardy plant-based material made from natural rubber*. It was designed to replace the toxic production process of neoprene, which has been used to create the majority of the planet's wetsuits for decades.

To make Yulex®, natural rubber* emulsion is sourced from sustainably managed plantations of Hevea trees.

This latex emulsion is refined, purified and concentrated using Yulex’s specialised technique. A dry solid rubber is then produced by coagulating the Yulex® Pure emulsion in a process that causes a change to the electrical charge in the rubber particles, forcing them to form soft clumps. The material is then rinsed, milled down and dried, to be processed into bales of Yulex® Pure dry solid. This solid rubber is then used in the manufacturing of wetsuits, supplemented by 15% synthetic rubber to to increase the product life span and protect from UV and ozone degradation.

Traditional neoprene is made using one of the most toxic manufacturing processes out there; formed through the polymerisation of chloroprene in a process that is incredibly damaging to the health of both wildlife and people. Neoprene uses non-renewable petroleum, which has to be drilled up from the ground. And that's not even mentioning the harmful carcinogen gases emitted by the chemical processes plants where neoprene is formed!

As passionate sea-goers, requiring swimwear made from destructive fabrics to explore our wonderful oceans was an irony that we always struggled with. We knew there must be a better way…

Natural, renewable and non-toxic, Yulex® Pure has been developed to provide all the technical and performance benefits of traditional neoprene while eliminating the need for a petrochemical source. Switching the source of the material to a renewable plant based one, rather than a finite fossil fuel resource, drastically reduces the environmental impact of producing the material.

And, we’re incredibly proud to say that from 2021 our entire wetsuit and new swimwear range has been made using Yulex® Pure natural rubber*.

Because Yulex® comes from trees, the plantations are already sequestering huge amounts of carbon, with around 1,400kgs of C02 sequestered per hectare of forest.

Yulex® production also uses around ten times less water than traditional neoprene. The closed loop system means any water used either remains in the finished materials or is a waste product stream, which ends up in a conversion pound where it is digested, cleaned and used to irrigate local crops or recharged to the aquifer.

Renewable energy is used wherever possible and the materials are harvested and processed in Sri Lanka, reducing the transportation-related carbon footprint of the rubber.

No petroleum solvents are used in the process, and any chemicals that are used are certified safe (GRAS) by the FDA, and contain zero volatile organic compounds (VCOs).

Yulex® offers as high a performance as you would expect from a neoprene wetsuit... better, even. Highly flexible and suitable in a range of sea temperatures – even for cold water swimming – the fabric is also extremely durable, meaning your Yulex® wetsuit will last you year after year.

– Rinse your Yulex® wetsuit with fresh water after every use
– Drip dry inside-out, out of direct sunlight
– Hand wash with a mild detergent
– Do not machine wash, tumble dry or use bleach

As we enter the UN Decade for the Ocean, it’s more important than ever that we stand up for the health of our seas. With our new range of Yulex® wetsuits and swimwear we’ve drastically reduced our reliance on petroleum, cut our carbon footprint and created the lowest impact suit we’ve ever built, without compromising on performance.

We believe that the more people we can help connect with our ocean, the more they will fall in love with it. And people protect what they love.