Latex is one of the most popular bi-products of rubber. In fact, it is made of about forty percent of water and fifty-five percent of water, so latex is basically rubber. During the harvesting of rubber, the soft white substance underneath the bark of the tree is latex.
The strength of latex has made people doubt that it is a natural material. Latex has a man-made feel when used for various uses like rubber gloves, tires, and tennis shoes. Taking a look at any of these products, you would assume it is produced from synthetic rubber.
Nevertheless, this does not mean there are no synthetic latexes. Most synthetic latexes are produced from petroleum-based chemicals, which are clumped, dried, and transported to a manufacturing plant.
There is a question of the environmental effect of latex. Is latex biodegradable? Does it have any negative effect on the environment? Dive in, and we will answer these questions in this blog post.
Does Latex Biodegrade?
When we say the material is biodegradable, we mean the material is easily decomposed by bacteria and other natural organisms without polluting the environment. Biodegradable materials may partially or fully dissolve when in contact with living organisms in the disposal site.
There are many advantages of biodegradable products to both human health and the safety of the environment, from reducing pollutants in the environment to fertilizing and improving the health of the soil.
So, with this knowledge of how beneficial biodegradable products are, we need to know if latex is a product that biodegrades.
Latex will biodegrade only if it is organic latex. Organic latex biodegrades. But natural, synthetic or blended latex does not biodegrade. You might be wondering why natural latex does not biodegrade and the difference between organic and natural latex.
Natural and organic latex are both obtained from rubber trees; however, it is filtered when natural latex is harvested. Some acids are added to make it clump, making it easier to use a mill to roll it into sheets.
After the latex has been rolled into sheets, it is pre vulcanized through heating and the addition of chemicals; this process makes it easy to use and transport. On the other hand, organic latex is purely harvested latex; there are no chemicals added to it.
Furthermore, organic latex is farmed differently from natural latex. There are strict organic practices regulating the farming of organic latex. The tree plantations from which organic latex is sourced are segregated, and no pesticides or other chemicals are used on the trees.
The chemicals added to natural latex alter its properties, making it non-biodegradable. From the pesticides used to protect the rubber trees to the chemicals used during the processing of the latex. All these have adverse effects, so the latex will not biodegrade.
Synthetic or blended latex is produced purely from petroleum-based chemicals. These are not biodegradable at all. They do not contain any organic material, so natural organisms cannot break them down.
Is Latex Compostable?
One of the best, easiest, and most cost-effective methods of waste disposal is by composting it. It is very much possible for you to have a compost pile in the backyard of your home, or you can make use of the community compost pile to dispose of your wastes.
Composting is a good way to enrich the soil, help it retain moisture, as well as suppress plant pests and diseases. It also encourages the multiplication of beneficial fungi and bacteria in the soil that breaks down organic matter to make it healthy and filled with nutrients.
You should know that composting does more to the environment than making plants grow in nutrient-filled soil. It also allows the retention of a large volume of water, thereby reducing runoff, erosion, and establishing vegetation. It improves the quality of downstream water.
So, the question is, can latex be composted?
Only organic latex is compostable. Natural and synthetic latex cannot be composted. Everything added to the compost pile or bin must be organic. Otherwise, the entire compost pile becomes contaminated and harmful to the soil.
There are microorganisms in compost piles that break down compostable items placed in the pile. When inorganic materials are placed in the compost pile, they pose a threat to the microorganisms. And without these organisms, the pile cannot be composted.
Also, it is not advised to place contaminated latex into the compost pile. You cannot compost any item when there are chemical contaminants in them. If you try to, you will harm the plants, the soil and ruin the entire compost pile.
The environmental condition around the compost pile also affects the composting of latex. In the right condition, latex will compost fast. Latex has been discovered to decompose faster in water than on land. So, you need to make the compost pile wet before adding latex.
Do Latex Gloves Biodegrade?
One of the best and most effective ways to protect oneself from dirt, germs, and spillage is by wearing gloves. The most commonly used gloves are latex gloves, this is because they are very comfortable, silky, and do not absorb liquid.
The only downside to latex gloves is that they are designed for single-use; you can only use them once and then dispose of them. Reusing latex gloves is as good as exposing yourself to dirt, germs, and spillage.
With the current state of the world, the pandemic and all, there has been a great increase in the usage of latex gloves. Since they are for single use only, there is a problem with the proper disposal in an eco-friendly manner.
With all the latex gloves being disposed of, the question; do latex gloves biodegrade? Become essential, and we need to answer it.
Yes, latex gloves are biodegradable, although they cannot be recycled. Latex gloves are manufactured from organic latex; although they may not be a hundred percent organic rubber materials, they biodegrade. Nevertheless, it takes quite a long time for latex gloves to be completely biodegraded.
Is Latex Flammable?
One thing everyone is concerned with is health and safety. This is the reason why a lot of products we used previously are not used anymore. As we discover better materials, we stop using others that are harmful to us and the environment.
A major concern is how flammable a product is. Knowing the flammability property of a product defines and specifies what you can use the product for and where you can use the product. With that being said, is latex flammable?
Since latex is produced from rubber, it is correct to say it will have the properties of rubber, and by looking at the properties of rubber, we can deduce the properties of latex. Rubber (organic and synthetic latex) is not highly flammable; it has a high ignition temperature of 260 to 313 degrees Celsius (500 to 500 Fahrenheit).
However, if rubber (latex) should start burning, extinguishing it can be difficult. It releases very toxic smoke, filled with dangerous chemicals harmful to man, organisms, and the environment.
Are Latex Balloons Biodegradable?
Will it still be a party without balloons? That would be weird, attending a party without seeing any balloons. Balloons are mostly used for decorative or entertainment purposes. Children love balloons, and even adults will not resist having fun playing with balloons.
However, it is essential to know if this fun product loved by children and adults alike, also used for various purposes, is biodegradable. Or if it is harmful to the environment when disposed of.
Latex balloons are biodegradable, although they do so slowly. It takes six months to four years for a latex balloon to biodegrade. However, before the balloons completely biodegrade, they can cause some damage to the environment.
There is a mistake many people have made, and this has resulted in great adverse effects; releasing latex balloons into the air because they are biodegradable.
Many animals have been found dead as a result of eating these deflated latex balloons. The fact that they are marketed as biodegradable does not mean they are totally good for the environment,
Recent research has shown that many of the latex balloons produced today and are said to be biodegradable are not. To make a profit from the sale of balloons, balloon enthusiasts have disregarded a lot of health and safety standards. This is the major reason there have been restrictions on the mass use of balloons.
Is Latex Bad For the Environment?
One of the good things about latex is that it is biodegradable and does not require the destruction of any plant or animal to be produced. The trees are not cut down during the harvesting of latex, so it has a sustainable production and is also carbon-negative.
Many people have wondered if latex has adverse effects on the environment or not. We will dive right into that now.
Latex is a completely organic and natural substance composed of a mix of water and different natural proteins. The tree uses the sap to protect from health dangers, including mold, insects, fungus, as well as bacterial diseases. When harvested, it does not expose the tree to dangers because the tree replenishes itself.
Latex is completely safe for the environment. First, the process of harvesting is completely sustainable and eco-friendly. A small amount of bark must be removed to harvest latex, causing the sap to flow out. And only a substantial amount is harvested, so the tree still has enough left.
Natural and organic latex does not pose any threat to the environment. However, synthetic latex does. The amount of chemicals used to manufacture synthetic latex produces enough toxins to make an environment inhabitable. None of the chemicals are sustainable, so they are harmful to the environment.
How Long Does Latex Take To Biodegrade?
The amount of time it will take for latex to biodegrade varies. Organic, natural, and synthetic latexes all biodegrade at different rates. However, organic latex will take the least years (between 1 to 4 years) to completely biodegrade.
It will take natural latex; for example, a condom made of natural latex will take fifty to one hundred years to biodegrade completely. And it will take a synthetic latex condom of the same mass five hundred years to biodegrade completely.
However, it will take longer for any of the three latex to biodegrade if it has come in contact with contaminants and toxins. So, if organic latex has been mixed with chemicals, it will take more than four years to biodegrade.
Conclusion
Latex and rubber have been used interchangeably for a long time, although there appear to be some differences. While latex is the liquid form gotten from rubber trees, rubber is the end-product.
With this blog post, you should have seen how to use latex properly and how to dispose of them without causing any harm to the environment.
