US-based Yulex has launched a high-performance natural rubber material that has been updated with an increased degree of stretch.

Yulex2.0 is the result of "years" of R&D, said the company. As well as targeting the footwear market, applications include wetsuits, sportswear, sports equipment and accessories.

Yulex founder Jeff Martin said: “We saw a huge opportunity to increase the performance properties of our Yulex natural rubber, and Yulex2.0 delivers with increased elasticity and stretch. Our new supply chains provide full access to our new Yulex2.0 foams.”

Project Blank, a surf company from Australia, was an early adopter of Yulex2.0. Its founder, Mitch Avakian, said: “Working in partnership with Yulex, we committed to switching our wetsuit production away from limestone neoprene to a renewable alternative. In our opinion the current Yulex construction is comparable in performance and warmer than traditional neoprene wetsuits."

In addition, the company is in the final stage of bringing to market Yulastic, a new material that aims to replace spandex in stretch denim, elastics and socks. Yulex CEO Liz Bui said: “Replacing neoprene with Yulex natural rubber has been the company’s focus for the past eight years, and then we saw a need for a spandex replacement, so now we are excited to launch our Yulastic filaments later this year.”

Yulex was first adopted by Patagonia seeking an alternative to neoprene for its wetsuits in 2013, and its products are used by more than 50 brands.