Sustainable products from the Business Units
uvex offers personal protective equipment (PPE) from head to toe, or in other words, innovations from safety helmets to safety shoes. Naturally, the issue of sustainability is at the forefront of each new product development. New items are added to our sustainable product system at regular intervals. In this context, uvex places great value on both products and production processes meeting stringent demands in terms of a responsible approach to people, society and our natural environment – without compromising on protective performance, of course!
In the area of protective eyewear, the uvex pheos nxt planet impresses on account of its design, lightweight form and non-slip properties, while the scratch-proof and anti-fogging lens ensure that the product offers a long service life to boot! Overall, recycled materials account for 12% of the composition of the uvex pheos nxt planet, while there is additionally an emphasis on more sustainable packaging alternatives - the polyethylene bag is made from 70 percent recycled plastic waste and the cardboard boxes from 90 percent recycled paper.
What do washing machine cylinders have to do with respiratory masks? Well, funnily enough, they do have at least one thing in common from now on: the headband clasps of the uvex silv-Air 2310 planet are exclusively (i.e. 100%) made from recycled PP sourced, for example, from washing machine cylinders and other components in household appliances.
At the same time, these are not the only components of the new FFP3 mask to contain recycled materials. For example, the valves used in the uvex silv-Air 2310 planet are made from 95 percent recycled ABS, which is recovered from automotive components. Overall, the recycled content of the entire product therefore stands at around 26 percent.
The polybags used to package the masks, which are made from 30 percent recycled material, rounds off the overall sustainable concept and ensures that the product is part of uvex’s protecting planet range.
Individual PPE such as tailor-made hearing protection in the form of otoplastics offer not only optimal protection and a comfortable fit but also stand for responsible production and durability. The nitrogen required for manufacturing is recovered and recycled during the production process. Thanks to efficient digital 3D printing processes, we are able to save time, consume fewer materials and generate less waste. Following successful functional testing, otoplastics can usually be worn for 3-5 years.
The uvex phynomic XG planet is a particularly sustainable example of a product available from our range of safety gloves: it is made from more than 50% sustainable materials, with uvex opting to use waste polyamide (post-industrial polyamide recyclate) from the fibre manufacturer in the planet version, rather than polyamide fibres (as is the case for the predecessor model, the uvex phynomic XG). By making use of this recycled material, our carbon footprint is significantly reduced (by a whopping 23% to 0.28 kilograms per pair of gloves). Savings are also made in terms of the packaging. The gloves are only packaged using a paper banderol made from 80 percent FSC-certified kraft paper. No polyester bags are used.
This all serves to reflect the considerable savings potential of this product, especially when the value is extrapolated for higher unit numbers. The product is also high quality and durable, which reduces waste and ensures that raw materials are used in lower volumes. The long service life quickly becomes an economic factor that businesses should in no way underestimate.
Safey shoes made by uvex feature sustainable innovations to combine environmental friendliness, functionality, comfort and quality for all application areas. The uvex 3 MACSOLE® safety shoes are a real highlight product. The outsoles are made using sustainable rubber technology, making the safety shoes the perfect companions for demanding work. The composition features up to 30 percent recycled rubber. The use of recycled materials for the MACSOLE® rubber sole has been officially confirmed by the GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification, while the #weave technology, a special geometric sole structure between the profile blocks, saves on the use of raw materials and reduces the weight of the shoes by an additional 10 percent.
The uvex i-PUREnrj midsole, which is particularly cushioning and features 10% recycled PU granulate, not only contributes to minimising wearer fatigue, but also adds another sustainable component to uvex safety shoes. For around 50 of our models in total, we use the innovative i-PUREnrj planet material, which comprises up to 20 percent recycled surplus polyurethane from our internal production processes. We have put in place a special recycling process to prepare the surplus, conserve valuable resources and cut waste. The end result is that our safety shoes combine recycled materials and proven performance to offer the highest level of protection.
Cooperations in the area of sustainability
Project seminar
For the third year in a row, the successful project seminar was held in the winter semester of the 2023/24 academic year as a cooperation between uvex safety and Prof. Dr. Markus Beckmann (Chair of Corporate Sustainability, FAU). In total, 22 students in five groups worked on a variety of thematic issues linked to sustainability at uvex safety. In particular, the focus here was on aspects such as the circular economy as well as sustainability KPIs in process optimisation and CSRD requirements. The successful combination of scientific expertise, fresh ideas, practical experience and a clear focus on sustainability ensured that valuable insights were generated with results that could be successfully implemented.
B2B communications
Together with students from the Media Psychology & Digital Business course at the Technical University Ingolstadt of Applied Sciences, we have committed to optimising communications around the issue of sustainability. Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Christine Hennighausen, we sought to address the question as to how the positioning of the topic of sustainability can be improved in future in the context of B2B communications along various touchpoints. Some fascinating presentations ultimately saw uvex safety benefit from hugely insightful results.
As the topic of sustainability continues to evolve in future, so too will we continue to place a real emphasis on close collaborations with scientific institutions, as these always have their finger on the pulse of current developments. Moreover, these partnerships allow uvex to pursue innovative approaches and gain new perspectives in relation to our sustainability activities.
Memberships & projects
Membership of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Membership of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a key milestone for the uvex safety group’s journey towards a sustainable and forward-looking circular economy. One of the many advantages that this membership brings is that the uvex safety group is now part of an international network of organisations that are actively engaged in promoting the circular economy. For example, we have access to valuable expertise, best practices and innovative solution approaches to support the further development and enhancement of our circular strategies. The combination of our membership of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, additional internal development projects and build-up of expertise has allowed the uvex safety group to refine its vision for a sustainable circular economy and determine concrete fields of action.
Successful participation in the CDP
By participating in the CDP, the uvex safety group intends to set an unambiguous standard for the PPE (personal protective equipment) industry. After all, sustainability can only be properly achieved and lived across all levels of the business when data is clearly presented and improvements are consistently implemented. After receiving our evaluation from the CDP, the report will be made fully available to the public.
