NATURAL RUBBER
At The Naturally Cool Company, we’ve partnered with Yulex®, a pioneer in sustainable natural rubber, to offer a renewable alternative to neoprene.
Yulex is made from latex tapped from responsibly managed Hevea trees, without deforestation or damage to ecosystems. It looks and feels just like neoprene, perfect for koozies, but is sourced from nature rather than petrochemicals.
Neoprene, by contrast, is a synthetic rubber made from oil. While it can be recycled through innovative processes like those offered by Circular Flow, most neoprene still ends up being incinerated or sent to landfill. This makes Yulex a lower-impact choice from the very beginning: its production generates around 80% fewer carbon emissions, and it comes from a renewable agricultural source that can be harvested year after year.
By choosing Yulex, we reduce reliance on petrochemicals, support sustainable farming, and give our customers a material that’s kinder to the planet without sacrificing look or feel.
We’re on a mission to help people become neo-wise, to understand the true cost of neoprene and why Yulex is naturally better than neoprene.
WHY NATURAL?
Keeping your drink cold shouldn't come at the expense of the planet. We set out to create a product that is useful AND sustainable. The problem?
Neoprene.
From its extraction to production, and eventually landfill, it impacts people, animals and the planet.
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WHAT IS NEOPRENE?
A synthetic rubber made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource that is non-biodegradable. It's most commonly used in wetsuits with its environmental costs surfing further than the waves.
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LIMESTONE-BASED NEOPRENE?
Advertised as a 'greener' option, limestone-based neoprene is far from sustainable. Although extracted differently, it is still a non-renewable resource and persists in landfill for hundreds of years.
Its production relies on energy-intensive processes, often powered by fossil fuels.
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ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF NEOPRENE
The damage doesn't stop there..
Both petroleum and limestone contribute to
• Habitat destruction
• Pollution
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Resource depletion
With over 8,380 tonnes of neoprene discarded annually, most of it ends up in landfills, where it's estimated to take hundreds of years to break down. This causes long-term waste pollution.
HUMAN EFFECTS OF NEOPRENE
Chloroprene, the main ingredient to make neoprene, doesn't just harm the planet - but people too. Classified as a likely carcinogen, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it poses health risks to workers and communities near manufacturing sites.
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BECOMING NEOWISE
You made it to the bottom. Congratulations, you are officially Neowise! Yep, it's a thing. We want to educate and teach the true implications neoprene has on people and the planet.
Here is how to level up your Neowise status:
Stay in the loop and join our emails for updates
Buy a cooler and receive an actual badge (yes, a real one)
Spread the word because knowledge is better when it's shared.