Neogreene introduction by GreenSmart makes neoprene obsolete for bags.

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov 02, 2009 -
GreenSmart announces the development of a neoprene replacement material it is calling neogreene which will be incorporated into a broad range of bags and cases. In contrast to traditional neoprene, the wetsuit material, neogreene contains all of the positive physical attributes of neoprene necessary for bags - stretch, cushion and feel - while using 25% less petroleum, 25% less energy to manufacture, and most importantly none of the toxins found in typical neoprene.

In collaboration with its suppliers, GreenSmart has created this new material which uses thermo poly elastomer technology (TPE). This technology, long used in the automotive, electrical and toy industries has recently been improved to meet neoprene’s physical properties. Using proprietary formulations, neogreene is made without the chemicals associated with neoprene, importantly, replacing solvent adhesives with water based adhesives for fabric lamination. This results in a fabrication that completely eliminates all the chemicals currently banned by the EU (REACH), U.S. Federal (ASTM-963) and California (Prop. 65) standards.
Few people are aware that neoprene (polychloroprene) is a synthetic rubber, which uses 1930s technology to form a material that is almost impervious to other chemicals. Neoprene requires multiple manufacturing steps, including vulcanization, which makes neoprene wonderful for industrial applications like gaskets where strength and durability are critical. For consumer product application, gluing fabrics to the neoprene requires aggressive solvent adhesives which can form a bond with the neoprene. These adhesives can contain a wide variety of potentially harmful chemicals depending on the supplier; from toluene to formaldehyde, which can be easily noticed by the distinctive “chemical smell” of neoprene, the VOCs.
“It’s important to GreenSmart that we offer products that are safe for our factory workers, our retailers, our customers and the environment”, said Debbie Williams, company Vice-President and co-Founder. “I know many people who have sensitivities to neoprene, including Tom and me. Anything we can do to remove toxins from the environment is a good thing, and to get petroleum and energy savings too, is an added bonus. It practically defines green for our company.”
“We’re making bags and cases from materials with modern technologies” said Tom Larsen, company President and co-Founder. “This advancement in material science, which brings with it eco, social and consumer advantages, is the only way bags made from neoprene should be made. There’s a reason neoprene stinks, and it’s not good. Just because government regulations do not specify “bags” in their language shouldn’t mean that we can ignore the greater good we can achieve by aggressively pursuing new methods of material production.”
The first products to be made from neogreene will be laptop sleeves and bottle totes. The sleeves will come in 7 sizes ranging from the netbook to 17” widescreen and the bottle totes in 3 sizes designed to fit stainless bottles, or common water and soda bottles. These products will be available in July. This fall the Company will introduce lunch bags and wine bottle totes, to be followed in 2010 by additional concepts.
GreenSmart, a Grass Valley company, has been making bags and accessories since 1995 under the Shoreline brand. In 2006, the company which has always been socially responsible began its transformation to include 100% green materials in their product line.