I recently was given a tip on a new laptop sleeve out there that has all the look and feel of neopreene without all the toxic problems that come along with it.  As I was looking into it, the kind folks at GreenSmart, the manufacturers of Neogreene offered to send me a sample to try out and put through it’s paces.  So try it out I did. 

My initial impression of the laptop sleeve that they sent me was that it was pretty much exactly like neopreene.  The same look the same feel and the same stretch.  It fits my machine nicely, flexes a bit and looks great.  Turns out it is even washable.  What I really noticed though was that there was no odor coming from the sleeve or the package it came in.  Nothing.  Completely odorless.  The no VOC claim is true!  That is a big plus for me.  So how did they do it?  Well, read on for a message from their website. 

Do you love the feel of neoprene, squishy and smooth with a little bit of stretch? That is what neogreene is, without any of the toxins. Ever smell neoprene? It stinks like chemicals, right? That is the VOCs (like paint) from the solvents used to glue the fabrics to the synthetic rubber. The 1930s technology that created polychloroprene (the generic term) made for a material that was almost impervious to other aggressive chemicals. That makes it wonderful for industrial applications like gaskets (what is a gasket?).But, it meant only the most aggressive of glues could hold a textile to the exterior. These solvent adhesives contain all kinds of potentially harmful chemicals depending on the supplier; from toluene to formaldehyde.

GreenSmart has abandoned the chloroprene chemistry of neoprene entirely and developed a material with all the attributes without the hazards, We call it neogreene. It is water based chemistry that allows for water based adhesives that still provides the squishy and smooth material with a little bit of stretch.

Specific to all neoprene, neogreene uses 25% less electricity and 25% less petroleum to produce? And the stink? With neogreene, that is gone for good

I am not only impressed with the product, but also with the company.  They have made a concerted effort to run their company sustainably and to develop only products that will make a difference.  You can read more about them and their philosophy here.  Believing in transparency they have also provided access to the neogreene lab reports here. 

 Neogreene currently comes as a laptop sleeve or a water bottle insulator and prices vary, depending on size and range from $13-$15 for bottle sleeves and $25-$40 for laptop sleeves.  All are available for purchase on their website.