Unlike the commonly used natural rubber gloves—used in the food, healthcare, and dental industries, as well as for cleaning purposes—the new range of compostable nitrile gloves are not only good for the environment, but they may also contribute to stopping de-forestation and displacement of indigenous people from their forest homes.
Research shows that Pacific Hygiene's new range of HYTEC compostable nitrile gloves are a sustainable option compared to natural rubber gloves in both the manufacturing process, reliance on raw materials and disposability because they are formulated to biodegrade in biologically active landfills--offering a better end-of-life solution to minimise environmental impact by reducing waste accumulation.
This is not the only benefit they offer. Malaysia produces 70% of the world’s natural rubber gloves—240 billion pieces of rubber gloves. Profits from natural rubber gloves doubled to US8.4 billion worth of rubber glove exports in 2020 and the market is expected to grow at a compounded annual rate of 10.6%–11.2% until 2027 at least.
When such profits are being realised, it is not surprising to learn of the displacement of people like the Many Orang Asli, the indigenous peoples of Malaysia who make their homes within the natural rainforests of Asia. Pushed from ancestral forests, they are forced to resettle in unfamiliar areas alien to their way of life, from their wooden homes to concrete structures, further isolating them from their land.
The benefits to indigenous people and the environment of biodegradable nitrile gloves are obvious, but none of that matters if the gloves can't do the job. Fortunately, they can and then some.
Biodegradable nitrile gloves match the performance of traditional nitrile gloves in key areas such as puncture resistance, chemical resistance, and dexterity. Designed to provide a comparable level of protection against pathogens and chemicals, the gloves are suitable for use in medical, laboratory, and industrial settings (the degradation process itself starts once the gloves are disposed of in landfill conditions, without affecting their integrity during use).
Key features and specifications include:
- Biodegradability tested according to ASTM D5511 under defined conditions.
- Free from latex protein, minimising Type I Immediate Hypersensitivity reactions.
- Made of synthetic nitrile latex, powder-free, non-sterile, with a green colour.
- Finger textured, ambidextrous design with a beaded cuff and online single chlorinated.
- Conforms to ASTM D6319 and EN455 standards, manufactured under ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 Quality Management System.
- Physical dimensions and properties include a minimum length of 240mm, palm width variations for sizes S through XL, and thickness over 2.0 mils for both finger and palm.
- Tensile strength and elongation at break metrics are specified both before and after aging, meeting the required standards.
Biodegradable nitrile gloves offer a forward-thinking solution for reducing the environmental footprint of production and use.Biodegradable nitrile gloves offer a forward-thinking solution for reducing the environmental footprint of production and use.