Ebonite was invented by Charles Goodyear in 1839. He discovered that by mixing sulfur and latex and heating them, he obtained a rigid, black material instead of an elastic one. The resulting color and consistency were very close to those of ebony (heartwood), hence its name, ebonite. His brother, Nelson Goodyear, began marketing this material in 1851. Ebonite became the very first material used in the manufacture of fountain pens. Many brands, such as Waterman and Parker, then adopted it for their production.
In 1990, RECIFE, for whom sustainable development was already a priority, became the first manufacturer in the world, with its RECIFE Manaus collection, to design ebonite pens again.
Ebonite was developed in the mid-19th century, a time when materials were still considered "natural." Ebonite is made from latex—the sap of the rubber tree—a sustainable and renewable resource found in tropical rainforests. The latex is harvested in a way that protects the rubber tree and avoids deforestation, thus preserving the essential role of forests in absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. Ebonite is fully recyclable.
Harvesting latex from the rubber tree is an age-old tradition. It allows for the sustainable use of natural resources and the maintenance of local jobs. It also encourages people to remain in their traditional settlement areas.
Ebonite is often used to make musical instruments such as clarinet mouthpieces, saxophone mouthpieces, and also for bowling balls.
