Yulex
Yulex innovates and makes natural rubber products from the Hevea rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis).
 | |
| Type | Privately held |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rubber Polymers Fashion Apparel Sporting Goods Textiles |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Jeffery A. Martin |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Jeffrey A. Martin (Founder, CEO) Liz Bui Jim Mitchell (Director of Sales) |
| Products | Biorubber latex, Biorubber Solids, Foams, Fibers, Textiles, Sheets |
| Owner | Jeffrey A. Martin (Founder, CEO) Liz Bui (Chief Business Officer) |
| Website | www.yulex.com |
About YULEX
In late 2016, Yulex Corporation separated its intellectual property assets, keeping Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) with American Biorubber, with the exception of those rights which were granted to ENI Versalis; and rights to Hevea brasiliensis (the "rubber tree") technology to Jeff Martin, then CEO of Yulex Corporation. Jeff Martin went on to form a separate company of the same name, Yulex LLC ("YULEX").
Yulex is focused on the development of certified natural rubber supply chains for commercial production of its closed cell foam made from Hevea ("Yulex closed cell foam" or "Yulex foam") as well as production of its specialty grade natural rubber and latex, Yulex Prime, Yulex Pure, Gum base natural rubber, master batches for use in various industries and applications. Yulex works directly with all our partner brands and makes/sells 4 Yulex foam products with different stretch and physical properties (Y85-200, -250, -350 and -550).
Yulex continues to innovate by developing natural rubber products to replace their synthetic, petroleum-based equivalents, including YULASTIC natural rubber fibers to replace spandex / elastane.
YULEX Foam, The First Plant-based Neoprene Replacement
A brief history of how YULEX foam and Yulex' partnership with Patagonia, whom since 2016 has replaced all their neoprene wetsuits and accessories with YULEX foam.
2009 | Yulex "pitches" Patagonia a plant-based am to replace neoprene.
2010 | Yulex & enter into a Development Agreement.
2013 | Patagonia launches the first wetsuit made from natural rubber from Guayule, a latex producing desert shrub that was being domesticated by Yulex Corporation in Arizona at the time. Yulex Nexkin wetsuit wins the Environmental Product of the Year and Wetsuit of the Year at the 2014 Surf Industry Manufacturers Awards (SIMA).
2016-2017 | Patagonia launches the first plant-based wetsuit made from Yulex certified-natural rubber from Hevea. Patagonia wins the Innovation Award & Environmental Product of the Year at the Australian Surf Industry Awards, and an ISPO Product Award at ISPO.
2023 | Adoption of Yulex natural rubber foams by ~20 wetsuit, swimwear and triathlon brands including Finisterre, Billabong, Pride (Nymph), Srface, Project Blank, SloActive, Senosen, Wallien, Scubapro, Aqualung, The Seea, MDNS, DeBonne, BOGs, WAW Handplanes, Revolwe, Need Essentials, Sea Lionboards, H&M, Hunter, Stella McCartney, The Gap / Athleta, Ansea, Rosentaub Official, Susan BIJL, Decathlon and more.
Deforestation-free Certified Supply Chains
Yulex has worked with certified natural rubber supply chains since 2012/2013, to ensure our natural rubber products are not produced from once deforested areas. Yulex partnered with FSC and large, estate plantations in Guatemala and Sri Lanka. In Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam and Thailand, Yulex partners with PEFC to work with thousands of smallholder and smallholder cooperatives. Our partners in Vietnam are dual certified: PEFC & FSC. Yulex' Equitable Ag program will share over 50% of profits from sales of natural rubber (raw material) to smallholders. Yulex PEFC and FSC supply chains will be compliant with EU Deforestation Regulation that passed late June 2023, and with Yulex digital traceability by mid-2024.
External links
Media related to Parthenium argentatum at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Yulex at Wikispecies