What are the Best Compostable Gloves?
What happens to your gloves after you throw them away? For gloves to be deemed compostable, we must comprehend the impact of non-compostable materials as well as the best gloves qualities. We all used various types of gloves for some reason. And each type of glove has its unique properties for its tasks. From single thin use to thick multi reusable. And it is essential to know their variations before starting the job at hand.
The best compostable gloves are produced from plant-based materials such as bamboo, cotton, or corn starch, a fast-growing, sustainable, and renewable vegetable starch. Corn resin is a raw, non-toxic material produced from corn starch. Indeed, gloves made from corn resin are both compostable and biodegradable products. In fact, you can dispose of them by using the suggested compost at commercial, municipal, and household composting facilities.
When compared to disposable plastic gloves, they are better for the environment because they reduce carbon footprint, single-use plastic, rubbish in landfills, and hazardous residue in the environment. Consequently, it’s a chance to protect the environment and make everyone’s lives better. Let’s look at all the disposable glove options that are offered on the market.
The Classification Of Gloves Sold in the Market
1. The Non-Compostable/Non-Biodegradable Gloves
a.) Polyethylene Gloves
PE gloves are most often for light-duty tasks that need persistent glove changes. Indeed this glove is especially useful in food service, which has a loose-fit design for easy on and off applications. It gives more flexibility in fit and should not be for jobs that require a lot of agility. Also, it is great for restaurant employees since they are easy to dispose of and change between functions.
b.) Vinyl Disposable Gloves
This type of glove is a fantastic latex-free option helping prevent allergies or any sensitivity to glove usage. It also features a more durable design than poly gloves. Thus it is basically for quick tasks that allow easy removal and replacement. And it’s also cost-effective and 100% synthetic material commonly used in busy medical, food services, or even industrial establishments.
c.) Neoprene Gloves
Neoprene is a synthetic rubber compound. Chemical-resistant neoprene gloves protect against an extensive range of oils, acids, caustics, and solvents. Thus neoprene offers less resistance to snags, punctures, abrasions, and cuts than nitrile or natural rubber. While these offer more protection for more demanding jobs, they are not biodegradable and are cruel to our environment.
d.) Silicone Gloves
Silicone gloves are a great invention. They are basically used to protect your hands when grilling, cooking, or doing anything near extreme heat. It includes handling hot food, touching hot surfaces, working near a fire, or working near steam. Silicon gloves work well when dealing with boiled foods as well.
When you try to use regular pot holders, invariably, some of the boiling hot water spills out, and the potholders get quickly soaked with this hot water. It, of course, instantly burns the skin. You can wash silicone gloves off in hot water and soap or throw them in the dishwater. All and all, these are suitable gloves to have around the house.
2. The Compostable/Biodegradable Gloves
a.) Plant-Based Gloves
These gloves are derived from renewable and sustainable plant-based materials such as bamboo and corn resin. It is both biodegradable and compostable. They are primarily plastic-free, non-toxic, unbleached, and BPA-free. Consequently, they are not environmentally damaging.
b.) Natural Rubber Gloves
Rubber gloves are one of the most commonly used today. They are from everything from food prep to medical exams. These disposable gloves fit like a second skin. That is why they are so popular in many industries.
Gloves made of synthetic rubber cannot be biodegraded and composted, however, gloves made of natural rubber (latex) can. Rubber gloves may be biodegradable, but that doesn’t mean you should just throw them away once you’re done using them.
Depending on where you throw them, they may not decompose quickly. And if you want to compost them, it is recommended in a hot bin composting. Additionally, rubber gloves should only be composted if you don’t mind waiting a while for them to decompose completely.
c.) Nitrile Gloves
No doubt that the strength of these gloves is higher than latex, giving them better resistance to chemicals. Once disposed to a landfill, it will biodegrade. It is accelerated approximately 90+% faster than conventional nitrile gloves, producing organic matter (a natural fertilizer) and no microplastics.
Make a Difference in the Environment By Using the Best Compostable Gloves
All of us are dreaming of a safer and cleaner environment. Hopefully, there will be more environmentally friendly disposable gloves available in the markets for people to use. If you’re an environmentalist and are interested in transforming from plastic to more environmentally-friendly materials, act now! Reduce glove treatment costs and promote sustainability.
Composting is a significant environmental awakening to help reduce your contribution to landfills. You can do it at home or for products that require special treatment taken to commercial composting facilities. Biodegradable products and food scraps like compostable gloves have the benefit of enriching soil.
And since consumer demands for more eco-friendly products are increasing, companies can quickly reduce their environmental impact by considering their glove type and weight. Moreover, it is vital to look for quality, instantly reducing their overall ecological contribution.
Always remember to choose compostable gloves that calculate a company’s sustainability and environmental impact savings by using thinner yet more robust, better quality, and cost-effective glove choices. Our dream is to reduce our environmental impact as much as possible without sacrificing the food safety of protecting people with the best products.
“Be safe and comfortable with your composting through our compostable gloves.“
Conclusion
The benefit of compostable gloves is that they are not just plastic-free but also biodegradable and compostable. This suggests that fewer individuals must deal with large bags of plastic waste. Stay comfy all day with the best compostable gloves. And say goodbye to lint-filled gloves!
What was your worst encounter using various types of gloves? Post your comments and ideas below.