PPE & WORKWEAR GOODHANDS
There has been and continues to be a notable and growing shift in the manufacturing industry towards adopting more environmentally friendly practices.
Organisations are increasingly wanting to work with partners across their supply chains that are putting sustainability into their own Corporate and Social Responsibility – not only from a product design perspective but also from a manufacturing, operational and business ethos perspective.
We believe the future will see sustainability literally sewn into the heart of the safety glove market in line with growing materials development and sustainable manufacturing advancements.
But these developments will have to strike a balance – the need to protect the environment whilst at the same time protecting workers against the multiple workplace hazards they face – ensuring that all safety gloves that come to market are certified against the key EN standards including EN 388 (Mechanical Risks), EN 374 (Chemical Risks), EN 407 (Thermal Risks) EN 511(Cold Protection), and EN 60903 (Electrical Risks).
So how as an in industry are we looking at developing solutions to meet these goals in line with growing market demand?
USING SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS Historically, traditional glove manufacturing processes
have involved the use of synthetic materials derived from non-renewable resources. However, with a greater emphasis on sustainability, manufacturers are now exploring alternative materials, such as natural latex and recycled fibres, including:
Biodegradable Performance: Thanks to the addition of a biodegradable additive which attracts microbes found in landfills, gloves ideally suited to a wide range of industrial applications can achieve 90% biodegradation in landfill after just 490 days compared to traditional nitrile gloves which can take over 100 years. The biodegradation method is strictly enzymatic, dissolving and de-polymerising the polymer chain naturally, verified by an independent lab, using ASTM D5526 and ASTM D5511 methods. Recycled Plastics: Recycled plastics are going to feature increasingly within the hand protection sector – providing measurable and demonstrable environmental benefits, helping support a more circular economy. As an example, Unigloves’ Nitrex RPET range is manufactured using recycled waste plastic bottles and food containers (RPET); reducing reliance on virgin oil-based polyesters. Natural Rubber Latex: The milky latex extracted from the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, is used as the primary source of natural rubber that is used in glove manufacturing and is naturally biodegradable.
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ADDITIONAL ACCREDITATIONS As well as physically protecting the glove wearer, it is
also important to safeguard their general wellbeing when wearing protective gloves. Look out for features such as OEKO-TEX 100 STANDARD, which certifies that products have been tested for harmful substances and that every component of the product, from the fabric to the thread and accessories, has been rigorously tested against a list of up to 350 toxic chemicals.
It will be increasingly important for organisations wanting to source sustainable and environmentally responsible gloves to look for certifications that will help aid their selection process. As an example, the Recycled Claim Standard certifies that products contain recycled materials.
BUSINESS ETHOS How businesses operate at their core, the values they
hold and how these are built into their way of being is another area of the hand protection market we believe will become influential as businesses look to partner with reputable suppliers.
As the industry moves towards a more sustainable footing, there is of course always the risk of some manufacturers ‘green washing’. It has been seen in other sectors and there is the potential risk for this to happen within the hand protection space.
So, it will be important for those businesses that are looking for a true environmentally minded hand protection partner to look at the ethos of the companies they are sourcing products from. Examples of this could include participation in initiatives such as the Ethical Trading Initiative, Ecologi and Plastic Bank.
The growth of environmental practices in safety glove manufacturing signifies a positive trend toward sustainable and responsible manufacturing. By adopting sustainable materials, reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, implementing waste management and recycling initiatives, and considering product lifecycle impacts, safety glove manufacturers are taking significant steps to reduce their environmental footprint.
https://uk.unigloves.com
www.tomorrowshs.com
Chris Wahlers, UK MD of Unigloves, explores the growing significance of sustainable and environmental practices in safety glove manufacturing.
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