How DuPont Personal Protection products support sustainability
Innovative products that help protect people and the planet
Although the hazards they face on the job may be very different, workers around the world in a wide range of industries—from general manufacturing, oil & gas, mining and utilities to pharmaceuticals, electronics and automotive—as well as healthcare workers, firefighters and emergency response personnel all depend on DuPont Personal Protection to help keep them safe.
Relying on the proven protection of some of the most trusted and innovative brands in personal protective equipment (PPE) and solutions —Tyvek®, Nomex® and Kevlar®—helps safeguard people against workplace hazards so they can go home safely at the end of their shift. In addition, these science-based PPE solutions are also helping to advance sustainability throughout the value chain.
Tyvek® for PPE delivers comfortable and durable protective garments that helps protect against a wide range of chemical threats and hazards. From the cleanroom to a hazardous cleanup, Tyvek® provides the right PPE for the job. Tyvek® also offers distinct advantages when it comes to sustainability, including:
Recyclable
Made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), Tyvek® garments are 100% recyclable through the Tyvek® protective apparel recycling program, which diverts garments away from landfills and gives them a second life.
Lightweight
The superior strength-to-weight ratio of Tyvek® helps enable lightweight garments that offer the potential for decreased energy use in transportation compared to heavier competitive products.
Less waste
Low material weights and superior tear and puncture resistance can result in less energy and resource consumption, as well as less material waste at the end of product life.
Low additives
Tyvek® is made without plasticizers or restricted chemicals listed in European Directives, such as RoHS (Directive 2015/863/EU) or REACH Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC).
DuPont™ Nomex® helps provide the ultimate in heat and flame-resistant (FR) protection against a range of thermal hazards. From heat and flame to arc flash protection, Nomex® delivers uncompromising FR protection. Nomex® also helps meet sustainability goals because it offers advantages such as:
Recyclable
Garments made with Nomex® are recyclable and recycled fibers from Nomex® garments have been demonstrated to be used for construction materials and additional products requiring flame-resistant properties.
Lightweight
Garments made with Nomex® are lighter weight than competitive solutions based on FR cotton or blends of engineered fibers, offering the potential for decreased energy use in transportation.
Less waste
Nomex® fabrics offer extreme durability and protection and can be washed up to 125 times without sacrificing performance. With an average wear life of 5 years, they significantly reduce waste generated by each wearer.
Resource efficient
We’ve partnered with Gonvarri Steel Services to create a beneficial use for the byproduct generated during the manufacture of Nomex® in Spain, helping to reduce annual water use, electricity consumption and ground transportation.
OEKO-TEX® certified
Most Nomex® fabrics are certified according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, which designates that they fulfill requirements of Annex XVII of REACH, are environmentally friendly and are manufactured in a socially responsible manner.
Nomex® Comfort with EcoForce™ Technology
DuPont™ Nomex® Comfort with EcoForce™ Technology is designed specifically for workers in the oil & gas and chemical manufacturing industries—providing FR and chemical protection in accordance with EN 13034.
Industrial workers rely on gloves and sleeves made with Kevlar® fiber for superior mechanical and thermal protection that meets or exceeds industry safety standards, while being lightweight and comfortable. Kevlar® also offers important sustainability benefits, including:
Low additives
Kevlar® is made without plasticizers or restricted chemicals listed in European Directives, such as RoHS (Directive 2015/863/EU) or REACH Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC).
Less waste
Gloves made with Kevlar® can be laundered more than 10 times to extend the usable product life. Because gloves made with Kevlar® don’t need to be replaced as often as other protective gloves, the amount of waste generated by each worker is reduced significantly.
Lightweight
Given this incredible strength, Kevlar® provides lightweight equivalent cut performance that requires 25% less material than other competitive products such as high-performance polyethylene (HPPE).
OEKO-TEX® certified
Most Kevlar® fibers and yarns are certified according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, which designates that they fulfill requirements of Annex XVII of REACH, are environmentally friendly and are manufactured in a socially responsible manner.
ISO 14001 certification
Tyvek® fabric, Nomex® fibers and Kevlar® fibers are manufactured under verified environmental management policy according to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001. ISO 14001:2015 specifies the requirements for an environmental management system that an organization can use to enhance its environmental performance. It is intended for use by an organization seeking to manage its environmental responsibilities in a systematic manner that contributes to the environmental pillar of sustainability.
