Natural rubber hoses in Europe

Does anyone know of any natural rubber hoses that are sold in Europe? It seems incredibly difficult to find. We're in Sweden.

Can you get things shipped from Amazon.de? I found a few things on there that claim to be natural rubber. On the other hand, I don't know what kind of hose or what size you are looking for.

https://www.amazon.de/s?k=natural+rubber+hose&crid=NA1BHPKSBQWD&sprefix=natural+rubber+hose%2Caps%2C139&ref=nb_sb_noss

Can I ask why?

I recently bought a garden hose that was no-kink.  Sounds handy enough.

What didn't show on the packaging until I got it home, cut it off, and read the inside, was you have to Wash Your Hands every time you use it!  Seriously?  Why didn't that show on the outside before I bought the thing?  Why would they make a garden hose that could easily be used for vegetables out of something that is too dangerous to handle???

I did find a rubber hose, the only one that didn't have a Danger warning on it.  It does kink, but being careful and unwinding it slowly lessens that.

I don't think using natural rubber will give you the best results as it will break down under UV light and then you just have a broken hose.

Look for food save epdm (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber hoses used in food manufacturing. They should last a decent amount outside (ideally, don't leave it in the sun).

I used epdm rubber on a green roof many years ago, and it did very well, causing my to suggest trying to find a hose made from it. However I could not find anything.

Looking in german for "Trinkwasserschlauch" gives some decent results.

https://www.quarzflex.de/Quarzflex-Trinkwasserschlaeuche (4€/m)
https://www.sani-flex.de/profiline-aqua-plus-meterware-1-2-zoll/a-3035/10m (6€/m)
https://gastro-brennecke.de/Trinkwasserschlauch-1-2-Zoll-Rehau-KTW-DVGW-20-Meter (5€/m)

According to this quick research, rubber is okay if exposed to sunlight.  Although I don't store anything garden equipment or tools outside in the sun.  I'm really tired of buying them over and over again!

I did not know about silicone rubber, though.  Interesting.

(I have no connection to either of these websites, it's just info.)

https://www.timcorubber.com › blog › archive › what-is-the-best-rubber-for-uv-resistance
What is the Best Rubber for UV Resistance? - Timco Rubber
Apr 3, 2024This versatile, cost-effective rubber material is known for its durability, which includes excellent weathering resistance, including an ability to withstand regular exposure to sunlight. Silicone Silicone rubber is one of the most popular materials for high temperature environments, and it can help you beat more than just heat.

siliconemakers.com

https://siliconemakers.com › uv-resistant-silicone-rubber-products-long-lasting-performance-under-the-sun
UV Resistant Silicone Rubber Products: Long-Lasting Performance Under ...
The UV-resistant silicone Rubber is a great invention, making life easier by utilizing its ultraviolet-resistance elements

Matt McSpadden wrote:Can you get things shipped from Amazon.de? I found a few things on there that claim to be natural rubber. On the other hand, I don't know what kind of hose or what size you are looking for.

https://www.amazon.de/s?k=natural+rubber+hose&crid=NA1BHPKSBQWD&sprefix=natural+rubber+hose%2Caps%2C139&ref=nb_sb_noss

Thank you, looks  like there might be some decent options. It's meant as a garden hose.

John C Daley wrote:Can I ask why?

Trying to find the least offensive option in terms of health, environment. Especially with microplastics rampant. But I understand there might be caveats with other materials.

Cristo Balete wrote:I recently bought a garden hose that was no-kink.  Sounds handy enough.

What didn't show on the packaging until I got it home, cut it off, and read the inside, was you have to Wash Your Hands every time you use it!  Seriously?  Why didn't that show on the outside before I bought the thing?  Why would they make a garden hose that could easily be used for vegetables out of something that is too dangerous to handle???

I did find a rubber hose, the only one that didn't have a Danger warning on it.  It does kink, but being careful and unwinding it slowly lessens that.

When I did some research I thought the US had better options for rubber hoses than Europe. As for your other experience, I do not get it either - clearly that stuff shouldn't go anywhere near plants people could eat! And if it's that dangerous, they should make the message clearer on the packaging.

If you plan to stay at that place for long, consider burying PE pipe in the ground. It is less expensive than garden hose and used for drinking water. That way you will only need a short amount of hose in the end, which can be of higher quality.

Sebastian Köln wrote:I don't think using natural rubber will give you the best results as it will break down under UV light and then you just have a broken hose.

Look for food save epdm (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber hoses used in food manufacturing. They should last a decent amount outside (ideally, don't leave it in the sun).

I used epdm rubber on a green roof many years ago, and it did very well, causing my to suggest trying to find a hose made from it. However I could not find anything.

Looking in german for "Trinkwasserschlauch" gives some decent results.

https://www.quarzflex.de/Quarzflex-Trinkwasserschlaeuche (4€/m)
https://www.sani-flex.de/profiline-aqua-plus-meterware-1-2-zoll/a-3035/10m (6€/m)
https://gastro-brennecke.de/Trinkwasserschlauch-1-2-Zoll-Rehau-KTW-DVGW-20-Meter (5€/m)

Thank you, I appreciate the research. This is a decent alternative. Seems that it largely depends on how the hose is stored, how much degradation will happen with UV (rubber, I mean).

I would lodge a complaint with
- business
- manufacturer
- health authourites
- newspapers
- Facebook