January 13, 2023 – Ansell is removing all plastic packaging from selected styles of industrial gloves as part of their pledge to minimize the environmental impact of their packaging and to reduce packaging’s use of plastic and paper in their industrial product range by 2026.
Previously packaged using a plastic-coated U-shaped paper insert and polybag, 12-pair bundles of gloves will now be wrapped in a strong, lightweight and recyclable paper band instead. This packaging change removes on average 429g of plastic and paper from standard shipper cases of 144 pairs of gloves, reducing the products’ impact on the environment and saving 1.25 kg in equivalent carbon emissions per shipper case.
The gloves with the new plastic-free packaging still deliver the same quality, standards, and innovation expected from Ansell’s products. Over the past year, Ansell’s R&D, Quality and Product management teams have performed more than 80 tests in line with PPE standards on representative product types and material combinations to check the effect of removing the plastic packaging on the gloves’ performance and shelf life. As a result of these tests, only products and material combinations where research confirms no negative impact are being changed to the new plastic-free packaging.
Rikard Froberg, President for Ansell’s Industrial Global Business Unit, said: “We’re really excited about this new environmentally friendly packaging that delivers on our commitment to more sustainable products. We’ve been carefully testing this configuration and are working to adapt our packing lines accordingly. We’re responding to customer demand for more environmentally responsible products and are looking forward to developing more solutions that help keep our planet safe.”