Eco-Friendly Personal Protective Equipment
The world is moving towards greener and more eco-friendly practices, and the PPE industry is no exception.
The COP27 conference resulted in outcomes that emphasised the importance of environmentally sustainable management strategies. This included personal protective equipment. Industries across the world are working to solve the waste problem caused by single-use protective gear.
In this blog, we take a look at the following:
- What efforts are being made in the industry to become more environmentally sustainable
- How Delta Health and Safety supports sustainable PPE
- How PPE users can make better choices
What is Eco-Friendly Personal Protective Equipment?
Eco-friendly PPE refers to personal protective equipment designed to have a minimal negative environmental impact. This could be achieved by manufacturing the PPE from sustainable, biodegradable, or recycled materials.
Examples include masks made from natural fibres, biodegradable gloves, and reusable face shields.
Balancing Safety and Sustainability
Creating eco-friendly products and implementing greener strategies in the PPE industry has been a challenging topic of conversation.
PPE manufacturers are making efforts to incorporate more sustainable materials and practices into their production processes but face many limitations. Currently, many environmentally friendly materials do not offer the same level of protection and durability as traditional materials. Therefore, it is vital to assess your environment and decide on what is the most practical solution to your risk levels. Of course, our industry has to put protection as number one on the priority list, but we should always do our best to support greener options.
Despite the limitations, several environmentally sustainable options for PPE are available or being developed in the market:
- Recyclable materials: Some PPE manufacturers are using recyclable materials such as recycled plastics, paper, and textiles to produce protective equipment.
- Biodegradable materials: Biodegradable materials, such as biodegradable plastics, are being developed and used as alternative materials in PPE production.
- Natural fibres: Natural fibres such as cotton, hemp, and bamboo are used as sustainable alternatives in PPE manufacturing.
- Reusable PPE: Reusable PPE, such as reusable masks and gloves, is becoming more common to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
- Renewable energy: Some PPE manufacturers are investing in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to reduce their carbon footprint and promote sustainability.
We at Delta Health and Safety are working to make our business as eco-friendly as possible. We are addressing our internal processes and are striving to source whenever possible from suppliers who share the vision for environmental sustainability. We look at their products, their efforts towards sustainability and how they manage their waste streams.
Delta Health and Safety Supports Sustainable Choices
Two of the amazing brands that we supply that have shown great initiatives towards sustainability are SHOWA and uvex.
SHOWA Eco Best Technology (EBT)
The key features of SHOWA ECO BEST Technology include biodegradable and compostable materials, reduced use of hazardous chemicals, and improved production processes that minimise waste and conserve energy. The goal of SHOWA ECO BEST Technology is to create gloves that are not only effective at protecting workers but also more environmentally friendly.
SHOWA’s nitrile gloves with Eco Best Technology (EBT) are engineered for accelerated biodegradation in biologically active landfills.
Independent certified laboratories performing long-term landfill biodegradation testing, according to ASTM D5526 12, reported that SHOWA’s nitrile gloves with EBT achieved 82.0% biodegradation in only 386 days. While nitrile gloves without EBT achieved only 1.9% biodegradation over the same period.
SHOWA is the only PPE brand that has been certified by Green Circle. The Green Circle program assesses the sustainability impact of a company’s entire operations, including its products, processes, and waste management practices. A comprehensive sustainability assessment process evaluates criteria such as life cycle analysis, carbon footprint calculation, and waste diversion. Achieving certification through this organization is a highly esteemed accomplishment.
How Does Eco Best Biodegradable Technology Work
- EBT is an organic material that is added to the nitrile during production
- Gloves are disposed
- Gloves are transferred and discarded into biologically active landfills
- Microorganisms eat, consume, metabolise and break down the EBT materials
- Organic soil and biogas are left in its place
Delta Health and Safety’s SHOWA Eco Best Technology Range
SHOWA 383
- General purpose glove
- Strong grip with microporous coating with embossed S-shaped palm finish
- Natural rubber latex free for safer skin
SHOWA 731
- Tactile precision
- High capacity precision against solvents and acids
- Ideal for wet, greasy and oily environments
SHOWA NSK 24
- High chemical and abrasion resistance with rough grip
- Watertight and flexible
- Knit lined
SHOWA 7500PF
- Food-safe blue colour
- It does not leave silicone residue or fingerprints
- Textured finish
uvex’s efforts in protecting the planet
uvex has been a leader in developing eco-friendly personal protective equipment. The below initiatives demonstrate uvex’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact and promoting sustainability in the PPE industry.
- Use of sustainable materials: Materials such as recycled polycarbonate are used in PPE products, reducing the impact on the environment.
- Energy-efficient production processes: uvex has invested in energy-efficient production processes and technologies to reduce its carbon footprint.
- Sustainable packaging: The company does its best to use environmentally friendly packaging materials and designs where possible, reducing waste and increasing sustainability.
What You Can Do Towards Environmentally Sustainable Management of Personal Protective Equipment
There are several steps you can take to help improve efforts in eco-friendly practices.
- Avoid the use of single-use PPE where possible. Instead, opt for reusable products with minimal impact on resources or the environment.
- Purchase eco-friendly PPE. Try to opt for products that are manufactured responsibly or biodegradable products.
- Make efforts to go green in all areas of your business. However, we understand that it’s not always possible to make green choices with PPE, as safety and protection are your top priorities. Therefore, implement sustainable practices in other areas of your business. I.e., Recycling.
- Get your company ISO 14001 accredited. Here’s how. https://www.iso.org/iso-14001-environmental-management.html
The Future of Environmentally Sustainable Management of PPE
The PPE industry has a long way to go towards creating more sustainable choices for the future. However, we have come a long way, and many people and companies work daily to make change happen.
Delta Health and Safety understands that every little effort counts, and we support all effort to make continuous improvements in going green.
