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Image of nitrile gloves by Ansell that represent the topic of debunking nitrile gloves biodegradability

What Our Tests Reveal About Biodegradable Nitrile Gloves

Table image what other companies say about nitrile gloves biodegradability


You may have heard claims about 'biodegradable nitrile gloves'. But nitrile is synthetic and made from fossil fuels - so can it really biodegrade?

We’ve done the test.

Many manufacturers are making claims that their nitrile gloves are biodegradable. We may think that these gloves are the better choice to reduce impact on the planet, but is this true?

Image of ASTM D5511 test result that represents the scientific data of nitrile gloves' biodegradability

Curious about these claims, Ansell engaged a third-party accredited lab to run tests using ASTM D5511, a lab test that mimics the warm, active conditions inside certain landfills to see how fast materials can break down.

Let's look at the lab results.

  • The lab used cellulose, which is biodegradable, as the control substance and it began biodegrading from Day 1
  • However, the gloves we tested showed no significant signs of biodegradation throughout the entire 240-day test period

These results are in stark contrast to certain manufacturers' claims.

Misleading claims

Image of bidodegradable gloves on soil that represents biodegradability
Image of biodegradable gloves on hands

  • "Additives can make nitrile gloves biodegradable."
  • "The ASTM D5526-12 test certification demonstrated that gloves achieved 82% biodegradation in only 386 days."
  • "Designed to biodegrade over time to help you reduce the carbon footprint."
  • "Biodegradable nitrile gloves are a way to reduce the impact that gloves have on the environment."

No additive can change the molecular structure of nitrile, which is synthetic and made from fossil fuels. Additives only speed up degradation, which results in more microplastics.

The ASTM D5526 has been officially withdrawn by ASTM International because it does not reflect actual landfill conditions and offers no meaningful correlation to real-world biodegradation.

Nitrile doesn't biodegrade but, even if it could, biodegradability has little direct impact on carbon footprints.

Nitrile doesn't biodegrade but, even if it could, the biodegradation of landfill waste generates methane, a greenhouse gas over 80 times more potent than CO2.

HOW TO CHOOSE MORE SUSTAINABLE GLOVES

Given that nitrile gloves aren't biodegradable, what’s the best way to choose more sustainable gloves? Look out for:

Image of the LCA diagram stating out the complete process of LCA for an Ansell glove

Gloves that have undergone a life cycle assessment (LCA)

Image of a checklist during LCA that reveals the hotspots of a product life cycle

An LCA that evaluates the glove’s environmental impact from raw materials to disposal and identifies key areas (“hotspots”) for improvement

Image that represents a manufacturer's responsibility to actively enhance and improve its product LCA

Then, check if the manufacturer is actively improving those areas, such as reducing packaging or using more sustainable materials.

1

LCA provides carbon footprint info across the product’s lifecycle...

2

...which identifies the most energy intensive stages of the product life cycle.

3

The most energy intensive stages are known as product “hotspots”.

4

Look for products where sustainability efforts have focused on the hotspots in a product’s life cycle, as this is the best way of reducing a product’s environmental impact – fast!

So before accepting ‘biodegradable’ claims, check that the science is independently verified or certified — because when it comes to sustainability, proof matters.


Biodegradable nitrile gloves video thumbnail

Watch the video to reveal what science uncovered about nitrile’s biodegradability and why facts matter more than ever in sustainability.