As sustainability efforts continue to gain momentum among businesses around the world, small yet scalable swaps are an important step. The global COVID-19 pandemic put medical PPE in the spotlight – along with its impact on the environment. Medical plastic waste was estimated to grow at an annual rate of 20% between 2020 and 2025, producing approximately 20.9 million tonnes of plastic medical waste in 2025.

According to a Nanjing University study published in 2021, 25,900 tonnes of plastic waste from single-use PPE used during the pandemic was leaked into the ocean, highlighting a real challenge with the disposal of critical PPE. Even before the pandemic, an estimated 12 billion tonnes of plastic was set to accumulate in landfill and the wider environment by the year 2050.

This underscores a serious need for more sustainable solutions. In this article, we’ll explore that demand, the options currently available and their emissions in the product lifecycle. But first, let’s meet the experts.

Meet our experts

Can PPE protect both workers and the environment?

When we think about sustainability initiatives, we often think of large-scale cleanup activities or technology swaps such as the use of electric vehicles. But small, scalable changes that prevent further waste production or limit CO2 emissions are a huge part of the global effort. Consider, for example, the switch to paper, biodegradable and reusable bags in supermarkets – a small switch for the consumer with a big impact on each store with a momentous ripple effect for businesses and the environment.

With the dual role of preserving worker health and safety, while protecting our environment from unnecessary harm, sustainable PPE can play a similar role for industries that rely on it.

Where worker safety is the top priority, is it possible to reduce the environmental impact of PPE? And what do the emissions look like across the product lifecycle?

How does PPE contribute to carbon emissions?

While reducing your own business emissions should be a top priority, sustainable supply chain management is also an essential part of limiting environmental impact.

Take the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) for example – its supply chain accounts for 66% of overall carbon emissions. This includes medicines, non-medical equipment and medical equipment like PPE. It promotes a ‘Reduce, Reuse, Reprocess, Renewable, Recycle’ process to alter the way their teams procure, use and dispose of equipment and resources.

Industries that rely upon PPE frequently ask the question: what is the most sustainable PPE available? But it’s important to look at the impact of PPE products holistically.

Different products will impact the environment in different ways, with some producing more emissions during manufacturing, and others having a higher impact in terms of raw materials. Lifecycle assessments (LCAs) help us measure and compare these.

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So we know the breakdown of emissions varies from product to product, making procurement an essential step. But is there enough demand for sustainable PPE to justify product innovation?

Rising demand for sustainable PPE – a shift in business priorities

Calls for sustainable PPE are loud and clear. PwC’s Global CEO Survey found that embedding sustainability and climate innovation is a top priority among the 4,700+ leaders surveyed. The business case, combined with the urgency presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, has created an undeniable demand for sustainable solutions, delivered fast.

Nalise Hahn 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.

“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.”

Maria discusses the current landscape in terms of designing more sustainable solutions:

“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.”

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 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.

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 minimizing its environmental footprint.”

How do packaging and transport affect PPE emissions?

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 we’ve 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 emissions and suggests switching away from fossil fuels where possible:

“Transportation methods such as biofuels or electric vehicles can help reduce the carbon footprint associated with product distribution.”

A warning to procurement managers – not all sustainable PPE is created equal

Sustainable PPE production is a fine balance, and while some products may sound better than others, it’s important to weigh up their impact on the environment as a whole.

For example, biodegradable gloves may sound more appealing than PPE made from recycled materials, but they may demand more intensive manufacturing processes or have a greater impact on communities where raw materials are farmed. This holistic view should be communicated transparently and weighed up on a case-by-case level.

Maria advises looking at a company’s broader sustainability initiatives, such as certifications and commitments like zero waste to landfill and renewable energy investments; transparency, communication and substantiation of their efforts; and sustainable operations including, solar panel investments, waste reduction programs, water purification processes (reverse osmosis), and ethical sourcing practices.

Switch to more sustainable PPE solutions today

Both Maria and Nalise explain that balancing worker safety with environmental responsibility is crucial. And with solutions readily available – from recycled gloves to reusable protective gear – businesses have an opportunity to make meaningful changes today. By prioritising sustainability in procurement, usage and disposal, protecting both people and the planet is entirely possible.