Our Story

Lava Rubber was born in the below-sea-level town of Highlands, New Jersey. At the time, I was working at a rubber plant doing everything from sweeping floors to laminating sheets, running continuous neoprene rolls, managing email marketing, and eventually stepping into sales.

One day, while staring at a pile of old hand-me-down wetsuits in our surf shed (*under the bungalow), I had an idea: what if I shredded them and pressed the material into something new? After several experiments, the formula came together—and Lava Rubber was created.

It started with a simple concept: a protective mat to go between stacked surfboards on a roof rack. That quickly evolved into a changing mat to protect wetsuits from pavement damage, and then into a yoga mat allowing people to practice with purpose on a surface made from upcycled neoprene.

What began as a passion project turned into a full line of eco-conscious products: coasters, spoon rests, pet food mats, and my dream project . . . a pair of slippers. That dream became reality in 2018 at Surf Expo, where I connected with Island Slipper Co., the last U.S. slipper manufacturer still operating in Pearl City, Hawaii. We're now proud to be in the second phase of our Island Slipper collaboration.

Lava Rubber has grown through partnerships with forward-thinking brands like Vissla, Matuse, Outerknown, and Kane Footwear, all helping us keep valuable neoprene & other useable scrap out of landfills and give it new life.

A special thank you goes to Diveheart, our first and longest-standing supporter. They’ve donated thousands of pounds of material and have been with us since day one helping us turn waste into something that serves our planet and our community.