There’s been a growing trend among manufacturers to create new products using “safer” materials and methods–eliminating toxins, using less energy, and incorporating recycling into the product life.

 “When the people lead, the leaders will follow.” – Mahatma Gandhi

One reason for this trend is that consumers are looking to buy truly green products. They want to know that what they’re purchasing is not going to have a negative impact on their own health or the health of the environment. Greenpeace has been focusing this consumer influence to get fashion brands to go non-toxic in their materials as part of their Detox Campaign.

And they’re being specific. Greenpeace is pushing companies to set dates on when they’ll eliminate certain toxins from their products. Read about how this campaign worked on the manufacturer of Uniqlo, Benetton and Victoria’s Secret.

But the grassroots movement is just half the story.

 ”If I’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, ‘A faster horse!’” – Henry Ford

The other reason the green trend is growing is that manufacturers are taking the lead. Consumers often don’t know what’s possible with the latest technology or what’s feasible in the manufacturing process. Will the eco-friendly shoe fall apart after a few 5K runs? So it’s up to innovators to create the solution that’s even better than what the customer could have imagined.

At Ariaprene we’ve invested years of research into making the alternative synthetic rubber that uses a water based lamination process (reducing harmful solvents), has scraps that can be easily recycled, and still gives customers superior performance.

We applaud consumer organizations like Greenpeace and industry pioneers like Nike whose new Fly Knit process is not only simpler, but eliminates cutting waste. Together we’re all making a difference.

You probably know that Camelbak makes the world’s leading, high performance personal hydration systems. They’re the preferred way for explorers, elite athletes, and even military to make sure they’re getting enough water in extreme conditions. But do you know how Camelbak was invented?

In the late 1980s paramedic and bike enthusiast Michael Eidson was competing in a 100 mile road race in the middle of summer in Texas. It was aptly named the “Hotter’N Hell 100.” And for this race, getting enough water between the few hydration stations wasn’t just a good idea, it was a matter of survival.

To solve this, Eidson filled an IV bag with water and slipped it into a white tube sock. Using a clothespin, he clamped the thin IV hose to front of his jersey, then stuffed the rest of the contraption down the back of his shirt. The ingenious, hands-free Camelbak hydration system was born.

Fast forward twenty years and Camelbak, now used by athletes all over the world, is looking for a material to replace the synthetic rubber in both their hydration pack and water bottle carrying systems. It must be durable, light weight, a good insulator, and non-toxic.

Ariaprene was a perfect match. Our material is not only strong enough and light enough for the extreme conditions a Camelbak system must endure, but it actually provides 30% better insulation than traditional synthetic rubber. Not to mention our toxin-free and recyclable properties.

We’re proud to say we’ve now replaced the tube sock in Eidson’s invention. Ariaprene now helps Camelbak users ride farther, hike longer, and run harder all while keeping their water cool and pure.