These thorn-proof gardening gloves have a soft cotton lining and an elasticated wrist, making them super comfy even when you're tackling the most difficult of jobs.
Many so called rubber gloves are actually made from PVC, making them a much less sustainable product than real rubber from rubber trees.
The rubber trees are still tapped by hand and the run off latex is collected in buckets. It's labour intensive work and the workers are often badly paid. They have to use hazardous chemicals to make rubber out of the pure latex, often with little equipment. They usually have to live on the plantation and their housing can be pretty poor.
The Fair Rubber Association was set up to make things better. They care for the health, well being and living conditions of the rubber workers, making sure they're protected from chemicals and aren't working the long hours which are standard in the industry. In India and Sri Lanka fair trade has meant that workers now have access to clean water for drinking and bathing, electricity, medical insurance and support for further education.
