Do you know why some gloves are cheaper than others?
In this article we highlight why cheap disposable gloves do not save you money.
(WARNING – the following contains information that may shock you!)
1. Raw materials
Gloves manufactured from cheap, low-quality raw materials can commonly cause skin allergies. Studies have shown that the chemical accelerators and other additives commonly used in the production of nitrile, latex and non-latex gloves can cause Type IV allergy, presenting as chronic dermatitis of the hands and wrists.
Weakness in gloves is as much a factor of glove quality and raw material choice as it is thickness. So if you are experiencing ripping or breakage problems - moving to a thicker glove is not necessarily the best option (Plus, it will increase cost and waste!).
Nitrile gloves made with poor quality raw materials may have increased levels of cyanide within the glove - there is currently no testing for this and no requirement for testing to take place.
“...increased levels of cyanide within the glove…”
To reduce costs, many vinyl gloves contain inexpensive phthalate plasticizers. These have been found to adversely impact human health and have been added to the list of chemicals known to cause cancer.
2. Manufacturing, QC and labor standards
Do you, or your glove supplier, know where your disposable gloves are manufactured?
Recent factory audits and investigations have revealed endemic and serious labor rights abuse of workers in glove factories in Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. A comprehensive investigative report by the BMA states that “the manufacture of disposable gloves is at a high risk of labor rights abuse.”
“The manufacture of disposable gloves is at a high risk of labor rights abuse.”
3. Hοw many gloves per box?
Most disposable glove boxes contain 100 gloves. However, a well known method by manufacturers of reducing costs is to include up to 5-10 less gloves per box, and/or include a number of defective gloves – instantly reducing the cost of goods!
“...up to 5-10 less gloves per box.”
What is more important in the search for disposable gloves is not the cost but the specifications under which they are being manufactured and those that can actually
“offer the best value for money.”
