Biodegradable nitrile gloves

At the time of writing, Greta Thunberg has just arrived in New York on completion of her carbon neutral transatlantic crossing, and has succeeded in highlighting again the drastic action needed to address the impact we have on our environment as a whole, but in particular, the oceans. Our marine environments resemble an industrial waste ground for single use plastics with an estimated 100,000 marine animals killed each year by plastic bags alone. 

Action is being taken, such as the plastic bag levy’s or outright bans and governments around Europe are looking to stop using disposable plastics in government offices and public bodies by 2021. Undoubtedly these are all welcome and necessary changes, but more is needed.

Consumers are now demanding that corporations make a concerted effort to eliminate the use of, or at least reduce the impact single use plastics have on the environment. From paper straws at the fast food restaurant to compostable coffee cups at multinational chains, consumers are driving major change, albeit one small step or sip at a time. 

PPE, while an essential tool in the workplace and home, is also a culprit, but that too is changing. Every year, close to 7 billion disposable gloves are used across the UK & Ireland by companies and households and some of these will form part of the 49% of the marine waste that single use plastics accounts for. A normal nitrile glove will take in excess of 100 year before it breaks down, so unless it is disposed of by incineration, another potential source of pollution, the glove you use to protect your hands at work, wash the car or power hose the patio will not only outlive you, but also your children and potentially your children’s children. 

Thanks to innovative new technology, ethical manufacturers are starting to produce single use gloves that have accelerated rates of biodegradation, meaning that gloves disposed of in landfill will biodegrade at a rate that can be measured in months & years rather than centuries. 

But not all gloves claiming to be biodegradable are equal. Firstly, any claims of 100% biodegradability are false. Regardless of the rate of degradation or how long it lies in landfill, there will always be some traces of the glove remaining. 

Secondly, it’s important to check for the standard the gloves meet. ASTM D5526-12 & ASTM D5511-11 are two commonly used standards for measuring aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation. Put simply, D5526-12 measures biodegradation of materials in real world conditions, while D5511-11 measures only in a “best case” laboratory environment. Both measure degradation over a specific time and neither test can be used to predict future levels of biodegradation.

SW Safety Solutions® gloves with EcoTek™ biodegradable technology are certified to ASTM D5526-12 international standards to break down, not just in laboratory conditions, but in real world environments by a minimum of 92.6% in as little as 2½ years, without any reduction in quality, protection or performance levels. 

Allied to their unique performance, comfort and hand health technologies, it makes single use gloves from SW Safety Solutions® an essential option for any EHQS officer responsible for selecting gloves in an industrial workplace.

So next time you want to wash your car, try using less water, fewer chemicals and protect your hands with gloves that wont still be sitting in a landfill when your eldest grandchild goes to buy their first car. Even the smallest changes can make a huge difference.

For more information on gloves containing these innovative environmentally friendly technologies such as Megaman®, PowerForm S6 and Stellar S6 with EcoTek™ from SW Safety Solutions®, please contact your local Keypoint representative. 

Keypoint are one of the UK’s leading specialists in the area of premium hand and foot protection. If you are looking for any information on our range or wish to become a distributor, please visit www.keypoint-uk.co.uk