Oct 7 2010
With approximately 40,000 products on the market containing natural rubber latex (NRL), the chances of coming into contact with a latex item, such as latex gloves, are very high.
NRL contains over 200 proteins, 13 of which are suspected allergens, and these antigenic proteins can cause allergic reactions in latex-sensitive people.
Now one company has produced an alternative. Based near Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Vystar® Corporation (OTCBB: VYST) is the exclusive creator of Vytex® Natural Rubber Latex (NRL), a multi-patented, all-natural raw material that significantly reduces antigenic proteins found in natural rubber latex believed to cause latex allergies. Vystar is working with manufacturers across a broad range of consumer and medical products to bring Vytex NRL to market in adhesives, balloons, threads, surgical and exam gloves, other medical devices and natural latex foam mattresses, pillows and sponges.
William Doyle, Vystar’s President and CEO, says, “As our contracts mature and more products made with Vytex NRL enter the market, I strongly believe that we will be well positioned to tap into the significant worldwide market opportunity available for Vytex, since approximately $3.1 billion of liquid latex is sold annually around the globe.”
Beside the obvious advantage to manufacturers and consumers of a latex with significantly fewer antigenic proteins, Vytex NRL presents several additional benefits. First, Vytex NRL is environmentally friendly —unlike synthetic alternatives, it is fully biodegradable with minimal impact on the environment and manufacturers using Vytex NRL may require significantly less water and energy compared to using traditional latex —potentially leading to substantial cost savings for manufacturers.
Laboratory tests show that balloons made with Vytex NRL exhibit brighter, more vibrant colors with less pigment usage in the dyeing process and have been shown to retain air and helium longer than traditional latex balloons. Vytex NRL foams and mattresses have been found to offer a cleaner appearance and virtually no odor due to the ultra-low levels of protein and non-rubbers compared to traditional latex. And adhesive products made Vytex NRL have been shown to exhibit enhanced stability before and after spraying. In summary, Vystar’s product is an attractive alternative to traditional latex—and as word spreads, its market potential should rise accordingly.