There are two very important points in history when it comes to the rubber tree plant. The first is who made use of natural latex first, and the second is who began cultivating the rubber tree plant. Let us have a look at both of them separately. Let’s go!
Here we need to go as far back as the indigenous cultures of Mesoamerica. In fact, this story goes as far back as to the Mayans. Although it is unclear when the Mayans first used natural latex, we know that the first civilizations of the Mayans date back to 2600 B.C.! There are also some which say that the Olmec culture was the first to use natural latex. Either way, this would “only” make a difference of 1000 years.
The first use of the natural latex from the Hevea tree was to form rubber balls. At the time, the ball game was a sport in connection with rituals. There were many different versions of the game. It was called Ulama. In fact, some of the indigenous population still play it today! Think of it as a very old form of Racquetball!
Later in time, the Mayans and Aztecs came up with a further use for the white gold. They used it to make textiles waterproof. In addition, they were also able to form containers with natural latex. Although unproven, some have also said that they would place a layer of natural latex on their feet. This could be one of the earliest versions of a shoe if that were true!
The cultures mentioned above made use of natural latex, but didn’t cultivate the rubber tree plant. That is a completely different part of history!
The historical figure which we can accredit the cultivation of the rubber tree plant across the globe is Christopher Columbus! When he returned to the new world after his first visit, he noticed the indigenous people of Haiti playing with a rubber ball. He told that the ball was made of the gum of the so-called “CAW-UCHU” tree.
He then transported the seedlings back to England from the Amazon. Over the years the seedlings went on to travel across the globe. Even to Ceylon and Singapore! Those were also the two locations where the first rubber tree plant farms began!
Today, the main regions where you can find rubber tree plants are in South East Asia, Africa, and South America. Per year, we produce 16 million tons of rubber worldwide. However, only 10% of it is natural latex. We will tell you more about the differences between the two later on in the article!
A single hectare of rubber tree plants can yield around 1.4 tons of rubber. This depends on the country, region, and many other factors. For example, the weather also plays a very important role. Rainfall and sun are extremely important for the rubber tree plant to flourish.
What is very interesting is also the fact that all Hevea Brasiliensis trees are genetically the exact same as those from Christopher Columbus. All the plants across the globe have been cloned. This process is also called grafting.
The rubber tree plantations also contribute to socio-economic problems of the countries. Let us illustrate two examples. The first is the fact that natural latex spoils very quickly, which is why a well set up infrastructure is important. In turn, roads were built in rural areas, from which the natives are able to benefit. A second example is the school attendance rate of children living in such areas. Since roads were built in the area and the parents have a fair paying job, the school attendance rate in such areas in Thailand has even increased by 90.5%!
Natural latex is the white liquid which is taken from the rubber tree plant. It is a water-based polymer.
Natural rubber, on the other hand, is produced by separating the liquid from the rubber particles within. These small particles are then collected and look like big chunks of gum. Another way process them is to produce them into milled or dry sheets instead of chunks. This depends on the client’s wants and needs! Just have a look at the image below!
Everything starts with the rubber tree plant seed. If you have never seen one before: it reminds one of a chestnut! The rubber tree plant needs about 7 years to grow into a full-fledged tree. Only then can we begin harvesting the white gold known as natural latex.
The first two years after the planting of the seed are known as the nursery stage. This is the only stage where the rubber tree plant needs a bit more care. Other than that rubber tree care is fairly easy. This is because it needs to be watered regularly during the nursery stage only. After the nursery stage, it does not need as much water anymore.
Only an extremely small amount of fertilizer is required for the rubber tree plant to grow. Pesticides are also not used. If there are affected parts of the rubber tree in later stages, those are simply cut off. These methods are old but work very well. That is almost all there is to know about rubber tree care!
You are able to slowly farm the natural latex from the rubber tree plant by a process called tapping. During this process, a highly trained farmer carves the tree in a special way. This allows the natural latex to slowly drip down. A small cup is placed right under the carving in order to collect every single drop of natural latex. On very good days, a cup can catch up to 150 ml of the white gold.
On average, a tree needs about 2-3 days of rest after every round of carving. It is possible for the rubber tree plant to be carved every day. However, it is not done so because over time it will decrease the amount they produce. In addition, the rubber tree plant will also die faster due to daily carving.
And imagine this: a normal day of a rubber tree plant farmer begins shortly before sunrise. Depending on the country, this means that they start their day at around 4 am. They do so because the rubber tree plant gives more latex in the early morning hours. This is because it is slightly cooler during the morning hours. In order to get the best results, it should also not be raining.
After the carving, the farmers return back to the base for breakfast. This gives the rubber tree plants time to drop the natural latex into the cub. After breakfast, they then return to collect the cups one by one. This has to happen quickly since natural latex spoils very quickly. It is in many ways comparable to milk!
For more information about the collecting and processing of natural latex, please have a look at this other article of ours!
Now that we know how to grow a rubber tree plant and how to farm the latex, let us look at the next question. What exactly is the difference between natural latex and synthetic latex? Are there any differences in terms of quality as well? Let’s find out!
As you could have already guessed, the main difference between natural latex and synthetic latex is the blend. Natural latex consists of pure, natural materials. Synthetic latex, on the other hand, can be one of two types. It can be a fully synthetic material made of petrochemicals to mimic the properties of natural latex. The other type is a mix of natural latex with chemical compounds to mimic the properties of natural latex as well. This is usually done as natural latex is very expensive in comparison to the chemicals used to produce synthetic latex. However, the latter is usually known as blended latex. The amounts of natural latex vary in the blended options but are usually at around 70%.
Although the look and feel may be extremely similar between natural and synthetic latex, the main difference lies in connection to health. As mentioned above, petrochemicals are used to produce synthetic latex. These chemicals are everything else but good for your health. Put it this way: would you prefer to sleep on petrol oils or on fresh milk?
We also have a great article which talks about the health aspects of natural latex for humans!
Now, let us look at a great example for the use of natural latex. Now, we would like to talk about the history of natural latex mattresses.
It is important to understand that latex foam was not produced until the late 1920s. A British scientist working for the Dunlop company is credited with creating the first latex foam. It took him many years of trial and error to get the formula just right. This is what is known today as the Dunlop process.
As first movers and innovations go, there was another businessman and scientist who was also experimenting with latex. He added a key step in the process, which is the vulcanization process. As the years went by the fine-tuned the recipe more and more until it reached perfection. That man was Joseph Talalay. The inventor of the Talalay process. Very soon, many realized how the Talalay material was superior in many ways to the Dunlop process.
This is where Vita Talalay latex comes into play. The company is based in the Netherlands and is the only producer of 100% natural Talalay latex mattresses in the world. It is a company which focused on your health, and that of the environment.
If you would like to know more about the differences between the Dunlop and Talalay process, simply click here!
Here we also have a fantastic article talking about the great benefits of latex bedding!
What is Vita Talalay latex?
Vita Talalay latex is the high-end product made of pure, natural latex. You can find Vita Talalay latex in all high-end natural latex mattresses, natural latex toppers and natural latex pillows around the world. It is superior to conventional Dunlop latex in many ways. We will not get into the details of the differences here. However, we do recommend giving this article a read which highlights the key differences between the two.
What makes Vita Talalay latex unique is the round, open cellular structure. It is what gives the natural comfort material its many benefits. It is highly breathable, hypoallergenic, ergonomic, soft and supportive, and the list goes on.
In addition, Vita Talalay latex has also been certified by numerous worldwide institutions. This proves that the natural comfort material is as healthy for both humans and the environment as they claim. Here you can also find the whole list of certifications, as well as their respective explanations.
If you would like to know more about all of the benefits of Vita Talalay latex, simply click here. There are numerous articles explaining every single benefit in detail.
