Latex is the sap of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). It belongs to the spurge family. This tree is not a native plant but a tropical plant. It is grown in the so-called "rubber belt" (approximately 30° north latitude to 30° south latitude).

Latex productionThe main production countries are Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. In Brazil, stocks are currently under serious threat from South American leaf fall disease, a fungal disease that destroys entire plantations. Due to the humid climate at the equator, this fungus can spread unhindered. For this reason, rubber is mainly cultivated in parts of the country whose climate is influenced by the seasons (e.g. by cooler and drier winters).

In the Peruvian language, caoutchouc means "weeping tree". Raw rubber was used very early on by the inhabitants of South and Central America. They used it to make things like shoes, bottles, and balls. In Europe it has only been used since the 17th century. In the years 1839/40, the American C. Goodyear introduced the vulcanization (i.e. "enrichment with sulphur") of rubber. This gives it the typical properties of rubber. There was a big boom in the rubber processing industry (e.g. through car parts and bicycle tires). Only cultivation in plantations could still cover this.

Latex is obtained by hand. The trees (from the age of 5 years) are scored with a special knife. The escaping juice ("latex") is collected in small buckets. When the tree is 25 years old, it stops producing latex. Then the tree is felled and used further: in furniture making, toy making, instrument making...

A big advantage of latex: It is biodegradable. Many microorganisms use it as a source of carbon. It breaks down into water and carbon.

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