Effetto Mariposa offers their all-new Vegetalex sealant as a more environmentally friendly way to keep your tubeless tires running smoothly & flat-free. Using a mix of natural plant-based fibers & particles in a natural biodegradable carrier, Vegetalex promises better flat protection than many sealants on the market without any micro plastics, polymers, or aggressive chemicals that could harm you, your bike, or the environment.
Effetto Mariposa Vegetalex plant-based tubeless tire sealant
Effetto Mariposa is based in the Italian-speaking city of Lugano, Switzerland less than 3km from the border with Italy, and what could be more Italian than tubeless tire sealant made from olives? They have already had pretty solid tubeless sealing success with their foaming Caffelatex sealant, Tappabuco tire plug tools & Tyreinvader anti-pinch foam tire inserts. But Mariposa wanted to find a more eco-friendly tubeless solution since sealant already needs to be replaced/replenished regularly, and gets dumped out into the environment whenever you get a flat while riding…
So, they went all-natural… with Végétalex.
Two years in development, Vegetalex sealant eliminates the slow to breakdown & synthetic ingredients of most sealants, replacing them with only plant-based components – finely ground olive stones and cellulose fibers to clog punctures and simple sugar-based xanthan gum to carry it around and around in your tire.
The resulting mix plugs holes & cuts up to 5mm in diameter without relying on chemical hardening. That is said to mean both more permanently plugged punctures and longer lifespan in the tire (min. 3 months in hot, dry conditions with porous tires, or more than 6 months in most normal applications). It can even work inside inner tubes as well, apparently. Mariposa does recommend using about 20% more Vegetalex than conventional tubeless sealants, though.
Vegetalex natural tubeless tire sealant – Pricing & availability
Biodegradable, ammonia-free & totally plastic-free, Vegetalex comes in 1000ml bottles for $30 / 25€ and is not damaged by the use of CO2 inflation. Mariposa suggests running 84ml in a 29 x 2.1″ mountain bike tire for reference, and even adding an extra 30ml if you are riding in especially rocky or thorny terrain. The made-in-Italy Vegetalex sealant is available now direct from Effetto Mariposa or through their regular retailer network. It claims to be low maintenance, easy to clean up if spilled, and safe for people with natural rubber allergies, however it may contain traces of nuts.
