Instead of relying on mined or fossil-derived resources, natural rubber is tapped directly from Hevea brasiliensis trees. It’s a renewable, plant-based material that delivers exceptional stretch, insulation, and comfort—without the environmental footprint of traditional neoprene.

By using natural rubber throughout the ReCore range, we’re moving toward cleaner, more responsible materials while maintaining the performance surfers, sailors, and cold‑water riders expect from GUL.

How Natural Rubber Is Made

Natural rubber starts its life in a surprising place: inside certain plants and trees. About 10% of them produce a milky fluid called latex, which they release as a natural defence if their bark is damaged. It’s not the same as sap—latex is thicker, creamier, and naturally turns solid when it hits the air. That’s what becomes natural latex, and after a bit more processing, natural rubber.

Meet the Hevea Tree

Most of the world’s natural rubber comes from Hevea brasiliensis, also known as the rubber tree. Originally from the Amazon rainforest, these trees now grow mainly in South and Southeast Asia, as well as parts of West Africa and other warm, tropical regions where they thrive.

How Latex Is Harvested

Rubber trees need to be about five years old before they can be tapped. Tapping is a simple, careful process: a worker removes a thin strip of bark and makes a small cut along the natural spiral of latex vessels in the trunk. A cup is placed underneath, and the latex gently drips out—without hurting the tree.

Rubber trees can live for up to 100 years, but their latex output naturally slows over time. Most plantation trees are replaced after 25–30 years, and the old wood gets a second life in furniture, toys, or other sustainable uses.

From Tree to Rubber

Fresh latex is mostly water, so it’s first concentrated to make transport and processing easier. After that, heat is used to turn the concentrated latex into solid natural rubber.

And Into Wetsuit Foam

To become wetsuit material, natural rubber is transformed into a soft, flexible, closed‑cell foam—similar to neoprene, but plant‑based and renewable. Our production partner specialises in turning natural rubber into this high‑performance foam, giving you the stretch, warmth, and durability you expect, with a cleaner footprint.

• Tapping: Skilled workers carefully cut the bark to collect latex sap without damaging the tree
• Collection: Fresh latex is gathered daily and transported for processing
• Processing: The latex is cleaned, filtered, and transformed into usable rubber material
• Manufacturing: Processed rubber is crafted into high-performance wetsuit neoprene

Benefits of Natural Rubber

Natural Rubber in Wetsuit Technology

Leading watersports brands are shifting to natural rubber for its superior flex, warmth, and lower environmental impact — and at GUL, we’ve taken a dual‑technology approach to deliver the best performance at every level.

We use Yulex® for our premium Flexor wetsuit Series, offering riders the highest‑grade natural‑rubber foam available. Yulex® delivers exceptional stretch, faster recovery, and long‑lasting durability — all certified and sourced through one of the most rigorous sustainability frameworks in the industry.

For the rest of the GUL wetsuit ReCore range, we use our trusted NatuR® natural rubber, an FSC®‑certified alternative that combines strong performance, everyday durability, and a significantly cleaner environmental footprint compared to traditional neoprene.

Both foams are natural rubber, both reduce reliance on petrochemicals, and both support GUL’s mission to build high‑performance wetsuits that don’t cost the Earth — they simply allow us to tailor the materials to the performance needs and price point of each suit.

Premium powered by Yulex®. Progression powered by NatuR®.

All natural rubber.

• Enhanced stretch: Natural rubber offers up to 600% elongation for unrestricted movement
• Temperature regulation: Maintains warmth the same as high-grade CR foams
• Chemical-free production: Minimises harmful substances in manufacturing

Certifications and Standards

Responsible natural rubber production is verified through rigorous certification programmes that ensure environmental and social standards are met.

• FSC® Certification: Ensures rubber is sourced from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits
• Fair Trade Standards: Guarantees fair wages and safe working conditions for rubber tappers
• Organic Certification: Confirms production without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers

Natural Rubber vs Petrochemical/Limestone Neoprene

Frequently Asked Questions