Sustainability and PPE
emphasises that the solutions are out there, and the landscape is changing. From gloves made using recycled materials to organic cotton face masks and reusable PPE like returnable boots, there are plenty of ways businesses can start reducing their impact.
Nalise comments,“Sustainable PPE solutions
are increasingly becoming available at a corporate level, but they’re even available for quite small businesses. More and more industries now are focused on reducing their environmental impact.” Discussing the current landscape in terms
of designing more sustainable solutions, Maria Campos, Head of Sustainable Product and Innovation at Ansell, says: “When we think about protective equipment, we can also design sustainable solutions. Take raw materials, for instance – using recycled content, reducing material usage or developing lightweight products, while ensuring the same level of functionality. These are all viable options.”
The opportunity – designing the sustainable PPE of tomorrow Designing sustainable PPE is an ongoing challenge. This is, in part, because PPE manufacturing processes vary greatly, depending on the materials used and the products produced. As Nalise states, it’s important to assess where in the process there are opportunities to save energy and resources or otherwise reduce CO2
emissions: “When we’re thinking about the whole product
lifecycle, this production process, whether it’s boots or helmet or gloves, can be really resource intensive, because it often uses a lot of water, a lot of energy and a lot of chemicals. So, it’s important to think about each of those stages – from the point of actually extracting the raw material to manufacturing, transporting it to where it needs to go, and then disposal. So, there are a lot of different steps, each carrying its own set of impacts that we need to think about.”
Environmental impact of PPE products across the lifecycle
Using recycled and recyclable materials
If we consider the impact of the PPE used during the global pandemic, one of the easiest solutions would have been using recyclable materials and ensuring responsible disposal was a possibility.
But, when it comes to choosing sustainable
PPE, Nalise suggests prioritising options that are made using recycled materials, as these make good use of materials that would otherwise go to waste: “You can ask some really easy questions to the supplier, or you can do the research yourself. First, look at the materials and see whether they are recycled. That’s the easiest one. If they’re not recycled, then see whether they are biodegradable. And if they’re not biodegradable or recycled, you can still see whether they’ve been responsibly sourced.”
Responsibly sourced materials According to Maria, material selection is one of the most crucial elements of sustainable PPE production, and responsible sourcing plays a
Extending product lifecycle Another key consideration when assessing the sustainability of PPE products is the duration of use. For example, hard hats – although not recyclable or biodegradable PPE alternatives – have a very long useful life and many suppliers have takeback schemes. This makes them a great solution and means their impact on the environment is potentially less than recyclable single-use plastic items. Maria also makes a case for education
– ensuring employees know which products are reusable and how to do so safely, as well as how to effectively dispose of waste products: “During the usage phase, education is key. Training users on how to handle PPE efficiently can extend product lifespan and reduce waste. Designing for reusability and durability ensures that PPE maintains high performance over a longer period, ultimately minimising its environmental footprint.”
Sustainable packaging and transportation Reducing the impact of packaging and transportation is essential when limiting the waste and emissions involved in PPE use. Ansell is working towards zero waste to landfill, and has pledged to ensure that 100% of packaging material is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2026.
Maria adds that partnering with local suppliers can help reduce transportation
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key role: “For materials like natural rubber latex, we now have certification systems in place to ensure sustainable sourcing and prevent deforestation.”
Nalise suggests looking out for certifications
such as ISO14001 to ensure suppliers are committed to environmental best practice.
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