You can find rubber just about everywhere you look in modern society: tyres and protective clothing, household utensils and medical instruments, even humble office stationery, and that’s before we even start on its industrial applications. This growth was not without a price, however, and the rubber industry is surrounded by environmental issues, notably the impact of hazardous waste created in the production process, and deforestation in countries such as Brazil, which supply raw rubber. The search for alternatives has gathered pace in recent years, including such areas as the manufacturing of wetsuits used by surfers and divers. One such company is Patagonia, who began making wetsuits in 2005. In 2008, they joined forces with Yulex to create a renewable, plant-based alternative to neoprene – which is the nasty stuff used in producing rubber – and began using natural rubber from hevea trees found in Guatemala.