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SHOWA takes next step in its sustainability commitment and expands its biodegradable product range. Launched across the globe, SHOWA’s Eco Best Technology® gloves offer the same protection, performance and grip as their regular nitrile glove counterparts, but are better for the planet as these gloves decompose 20 times faster.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO THE ENVIRONMENT
As a response to the overwhelming amount of plastic waste and the growing climate crisis, SHOWA is investing heavily into Research & Development (R&D) for products with a reduced impact on the environment. An estimated 100 billion pairs of gloves are thrown away each year. Laid out end-to-end, that’s enough to stretch to the moon and back 30 times. Considering that these gloves take more than 100 years to biodegrade in a landfill, the amount of glove waste in landfills is expected to increase vastly with our growing population. In 2012, SHOWA launched its revolutionary Eco Best Technology® (EBT) and introduced the first biodegradable disposable nitrile glove in the market. Now, SHOWA expanded the amount of EBT gloves, offering the biggest biodegradable glove range in the market.
INNOVATION, PROTECTION & PRESERVATION IN ONE EBT
offers the solution that makes a difference to the environment, without any compromise on protection and performance for the user. Thanks to its special composition, EBT gloves decompose within 1 to 5 years in active landfills, as proven by ASTM D5511 & D5526 tests, while non-EBT products take more than 100 years to do so. That means the EBT gloves decompose at least 20 times faster than regular nitrile gloves.
“Initially, we launched the first biodegradable single use glove as a way to reduce the impact that these gloves have on the environment. We foresaw the need then, and encouraged our business partners to make more environmentally conscious decisions when purchasing hand protection,” explains Product Manager EMEA and single use gloves specialist, Gabriel Szelenyi.
Since then, the world has seen a massive increase in demand for products that are more sustainable or have a reduced impact on the environment, and not only for consumer products. Frost & Sullivan’s latest report on the European industrial hand protection market forecasts a “rising demand for Eco-friendly Gloves”.
R&D Manager and discoverer of EBT, Brian Mosely, further explains: “The Frost and Sullivan report highlights our EBT biodegradable nitrile gloves, but our commitment to sustainability remains a key component of our research and development strategy. We will expand the EBT technology across all suitable polymers within our expansive product portfolio. This way we can meet the demands of today, without compromising for tomorrow.”
“SHOWA is investing heavily into Research & Development (R&D) for products with a reduced impact on the environment”
SHOWA’S ECO BEST TECHNOLOGY: SAME GLOVE, BETTER FOR THE PLANET
Founded in 1954, SHOWA takes pride in developing high quality medical, cut resistant, general purpose, chemical resistant and specialty hand protection. Every SHOWA EBT glove is made with the same rigid quality controls and standards as its entire portfolio. That means the overall performance of the glove – its durability, comfort, grip and protection – stays exactly the same.
SHOWA offers the most extensive selection of biodegradable hand protection on the market, with the following seven EBT nitrile gloves, covering a wide range of applications, including food contact, and providing a more sustainable alternative for users:
SHOWA 731: Created with premium-grade plasticizers and nitrile reinforcement, SHOWA 731 brings you the pinnacle of tactile precision and high-capacity protection against solvents and acids. This glove is Ideal for working in wet, greasy and oily environments.
SHOWA 707HVO: This glove blends the best of disposable and chemical resistant technology to deliver optimum fit, feel and comfort while protecting against liquids, chemicals, oils, hydrocarbons, grease, and abrasions.
SHOWA NSK24: Providing excellent protection from a wide array of solvents, oils and acids, the SHOWA NSK24 is a super flexible, watertight, knit-lined nitrile glove. Previously made from regular nitrile, but now with EBT, it offers high chemical and abrasion resistance with rough grip.
SHOWA 6110PF: This green biodegradable 0,10mm single use nitrile glove delivers unmatched comfort, dexterity and performance across a range of applications. The SHOWA 6110PF protects against abrasive solvents while avoiding latex allergies.
SHOWA 6112PF: This black biodegradable 0,10mm single use nitrile glove fits like a second skin, for lasting comfort and dexterity while performing delicate tasks. The SHOWA 6112PF is proven to protect against narcotics laced with Fentanyl and abrasive liquids.
SHOWA 7500PF: The competitively priced SHOWA 7500PF was designed for TSA, immigration, and all applications that require hourly changes in hand protection, thus creating the most waste. Offered in food-safe blue, it also leaves no silicone contamination or finger prints behind.
SHOWA 7502PF: With its accelerator-free formulation, this 0,06mm single use glove protects even the very sensitive skin. It is extremely lightweight, yet effectively protects against accelerators, chemicals and dermatitis.
FEEL THE DIFFERENCE WITH SHOWA
In a recent campaign, SHOWA invites its customer, end users and distribution partners to find the EBT alternative of their favourite nitrile glove, and to “feel the difference” between the two, knowing that there is no difference to be “felt”. The only difference between the gloves will be the impact it has on the environment. You can join SHOWA in this endeavour at the A+A show in Dusseldorf, Germany – Hall 4, Stand C29. Alternatively, by requesting a free sample trial on SHOWA’s website at www.SHOWAgroup.com
