GLYDE Ethical & Vegan Condoms: Celebrating 20 Years of Safer Sex

Feb. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- Los Angeles, CA -- In 2011, green, sustainable, natural products are gaining more ground than ever, and manufacturers of personal care and sexual health products are scrambling to change their formulas and grab a share of that market. Way ahead of this curve are ethically produced GLYDE® vegan condoms, Australia’s number-one choice for 20 years and now available in North America.

GLYDE premium condoms are a natural, plant-based product, never tested on animals. Their unique latex formula uses thistle extract instead of the conventional animal casein, which is derived from milk. This makes GLYDE perfect for vegans, people with dairy allergies, and even some with latex allergies, which is often actually a reaction to the casein in conventional latex condoms.

The only condom ever to be certified by The Vegan Society, PeTA, Caring Consumer program, and Ethiquette, GLYDE is also Fair Trade: its natural rubber latex is sourced from owner-operated plantations, and its Malaysian manufacturing facility pays their workers a fair living wage.

GLYDE is manufactured using an exclusive patented process that makes the condoms extra sheer and extra strong. As GLYDE founder and CEO Clive Woodworth explains,

When we set out to create GLYDE, public health leaders and HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs were desperate for innovative products that would support their efforts. Our greatest challenge was to create a high-performance condom that would encourage user compliance, which meant it had to feel and perform better than what people are accustomed to, and it had to be produced in an ethical way. This required refinement of every aspect of the manufacturing process. We developed our “double-dipping” process to make the sheath thinner and stronger, similar to the way plywood is stronger yet lighter than a traditional piece of milled timber. I am especially proud that GLYDE is the only condom never to have had a recall by any authority, anywhere.

Woodworth is quick to point out another important GLYDE innovation: “One other manufacturing improvement we developed is our double-washing process. Usually, condoms are washed only once, so the latex odor and taste lingers even when flavors are added. Our second wash eliminates that problem, ensuring that GLYDE condoms don’t have that awful latex smell and taste so common with standard brands.”

GLYDE’s social responsibility doesn’t end with ethical manufacturing: GLYDE Health has a long history of social activism, philanthropy and fundraising. GLYDE is the principal condom and sheer dam supplier for the Australian Ministry of Health’s public clinics, hospitals, and AIDS councils, along with numerous NGOs globally. Through GLYDE’s Red Ribbon program, they  sponsor and participate in many safe sex education programs, conferences and events operated by schools, universities, health workers, NSPs, AIDS Councils, outreach programs and Australian indigenous organizations. GLYDE has also supported gay and lesbian advocacy and festival activities, including the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the Grim Reaper 20th Anniversary, the Adelaide Fringe Festival, and in the USA, the Los Angeles AIDS Walk and the 2010 Palm Springs Gay Pride Festival.

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GLYDE® premium ethical and vegan condoms are distributed in the US by Sooka, Inc. For more information, visit http://GlydeAmerica.com. Contact Toll Free: 1.866.590.9626 / Fax: 001.310.733.5636 / sales@glydeamerica.com.