Interested in learning about biodegradable gloves? You’ve come to the right place. The number of disposable gloves used and discarded every year in the UK is substantial. Furthermore, the impact on the environment is becoming an increasing issue. For example, gloves are one of the most common single use items utilised in healthcare, with 1.4 billion gloves used by the NHS each year. While Glove Awareness Week is aiming to reduce the overuse of gloves in the healthcare industry, by cutting down on using gloves unnecessarily, another way to tackle this is the use of biodegradable gloves.
While latex gloves are made from a natural rubber and are therefore generally naturally biodegradable, unfortunately the same can’t be said for regular nitrile gloves. Historically, nitrile gloves have not been biodegradable as they’re made from synthetic materials that take many years to decompose. But recent advances in technology have produced a new biodegradable nitrile glove that offers all the benefits, with none of the drawbacks. Read on to find out more.
You are viewing: How Long Do Doctors Gloves Take To Decompose
What are biodegradable gloves?
Biodegradable gloves are just like regular disposable nitrile gloves, except they offer an end-of-life solution. These gloves break down in landfill which means that your everyday need for protective gloves doesn’t cost our planet. Of course, we know that disposable gloves are essential in many situations for:
- Preventing the spread of germs and bacteria
- Protecting from oils, acids and chemicals
- Maintaining food safety and hygiene
But, by choosing a glove which degrades after it has been used, you’re also taking a step to tackling the issue of plastic waste and landfill concerns. With eco-friendly gloves, you’ll get the same high-quality gloves you’ve come to expect. Plus, the added benefit of doing your bit to help the environment.
The Advantages of Biodegradable Gloves
Read more : How Much Do Glovo Riders Make
Biodegradable disposable gloves offer all the functionality of regular gloves with the key advantage that they break down quickly once they’re disposed of. Unlike traditional nitrile gloves, biodegradable nitrile gloves break down in landfill environments This means that they don’t end up adding to the large amounts of rubber and plastic waste.
The key benefits of these gloves include:
- FDA approved, high quality product
- Reduces your environmental impact
- Supports your company’s sustainability values
- Same long shelf life as regular nitrile gloves
What can I use these gloves for?
Biodegradable gloves are single-use which prevent contamination and protect wearers in a wide range of situations. Just like your regular nitrile gloves, they are strong, dependable, versatile. Furthermore, they’re flexible and ambidextrous for comfort, with additional textured surface for grip even in wet conditions. These features make them highly versatile, meaning these gloves are ideal for use in various industries including:
- Medical: Biodegradable PPE for practitioners that is rated AQL 1.5 medical grade.
- Cleaning: Chemical-resistant making them ideal for janitorial cleaning.
- Industrial: Resistant to oil making them perfect for use in garages and workshops.
- Food Preparation: They’re food safe and come in the industry standard blue for use in catering environments.
Finally, it’s worth noting that they are also latex free, making them ideal if you suffer from hypersensitivity or have sensitive skin.
How long do Biodegradable Gloves take to break down?
Read more : How To Condittion A Batting Glove
Once the gloves reach landfill, you can rest assured that they will decompose in a little over one year. Our biodegradable gloves use BDG technology utilising a polymerized ‘food source’ formulated to attract microbes found in landfill sites. This means that when bacteria consume the material, they release an enzyme that allows the microbes to naturally break down the polymer. During testing, these gloves showed 90% biodegradation in 490 days, whereas regular nitrile gloves can take as much as 100 years – sometimes more!
With that said, you don’t need to worry about them having a short shelf life. The unique thing about these gloves is that the material used to create them ensures the biodegradation process only begins only when they come into contact with the microbes present in a landfill environment. So, biodegradation will not occur on the shelf. In fact, they maintain the same shelf life as regular nitrile gloves, again proven by test results. These biodegradable gloves are just as strong and durable as regular disposable gloves. So, you don’t have to worry about things like:
- Tears
- Splits
- Punctures
Where can I buy them?
By choosing eco-friendly gloves, you and your business show a commitment to sustainability by doing your bit to reduce your environmental impact. So, next time when you are purchasing nitrile gloves, consider biodegradable nitrile gloves as an alternative. They are a more sustainable option while providing all of the benefits and protection you require, no matter what industry you work in.
The type of biodegradable PPE gloves we stock at Easy Gloves are simply the best option if you require gloves without the use of latex. In short, they are the perfect single use glove if you are concerned about the environment. For more information on other types of nitrile gloves, read our buying guide. Or, if you’re ready to give these a try, buy biodegradable nitrile gloves below.
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: HOW
