The Rubber in a Pencil Eraser Probably Comes From Malaya, Where It Does Not Grow Naturally
The rubber tree was brought there from South America.
Free To Choose Network · Milton Friedman - I, PencilThe rubber in the small eraser on the top of a pencil probably comes from Malaya, now Malaysia, economist Milton Friedman noted when he held up an ordinary pencil to make his point. He said he had no idea where the small brass band that holds the eraser, the yellow paint, the paint for its markings, or the glue came from.
The rubber tree does not grow naturally in Malaya. It was brought there from South America by traders with support from the British government.
Questions people ask
Why did rubber end up growing in Malaya?
Southeast Asia proved ideal for plantation rubber, with steady heat, rain, and cheap land for large estates. After British collectors brought seeds from Brazil in the 1870s, planters in Malaya and Ceylon built vast plantations that soon outproduced wild South American rubber.
Are pencil erasers still made from natural rubber?
Often not. Many modern erasers are made from synthetic rubber or soft plastics such as vinyl, which can be cheaper and more consistent. Natural rubber from Southeast Asia is still used for tires, gloves, and many other goods.