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, it is important to uvex that both the products and the production processes meet stringent demands in terms of a responsible approach to people, society and our natural environment – without compromising on protective performance, of course!
In terms of protective eyewear, which has historically constituted the core competency of uvex, the most important product innovation is not only lightweight, non-slip, scratch-proof and anti-fogging, but also sustainable. Overall, recycled material makes up 12% of the uvex pheos nxt planet, while there is additionally an emphasis on environmentally friendly packaging and logistics solutions. The new uvex silv-Air 2310 planet (FFP3 respirator) comes with headband straps made exclusively (100%) from recycled polypropylene (PP) recovered, for example, from washing machine tubs and other household appliance components.
The uvex phynomic XG planet is a superb 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 recycled polyamide from the fibre manufacturer in its planet version, rather than polyamide fibres (as in the uvex phynomic XG). This reduces the carbon footprint per pair of gloves significantly (by 29%, to 0.22 kilograms), which reflects 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 less raw material is used. The long service life quickly becomes an economic factor that businesses should in no way underestimate.
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.
CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) successfully submitted
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.
