DuPont at A+A 2023: How to Make PPE Fit for a Sustainable Future
At A+A 2023, DuPont (NYSE: DD) demonstrate how personal protective equipment (PPE) can be more sustainable without compromising safety and comfort. DuPont’s latest Tyvek®, Nomex®, and Kevlar® solutions and initiatives enhance worker protection and comfort, help reduce the environmental footprint of PPE, and support the companies at the forefront of the green transition.
Workers across the growing renewable energy sector rely on PPE for their safety, from gigafactories to recycling carbon fibre used in wind turbine blades. On the other hand, reducing waste, emissions, and pollution linked to PPE is essential. During the COVID-19 pandemic alone, PPE led to up to 87,000 tonnes of waste globally, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). DuPont is improving PPE sustainability along the value chain, from product development and manufacturing to packaging, distribution, and recycling.
One of the highlights is the DuPont™ Tyvek® 400 Dual TG coverall that provides a head-to-toe frontal barrier against hazardous chemicals in electric vehicle (EV) battery production while enhancing comfort for workers wearing PPE over long shifts. Additionally, Tyvek® 400 Dual TG helps reduce waste by eliminating individual packaging and reducing the number of user instructions from one per garment to one per box. From the end of 2023, packaging across the DuPont™ Tyvek® industrial range will be gradually introduced to the market, incorporating up to 50% PCR (Post Consumer Recycle) content, reducing the use of first grade polymers.
Visitors at A+A will also get an exclusive preview of the new DuPont™ Tychem® 6000 Air-Line (AL) ventilated coverall. The suit combines maximum protection against hazardous liquids and particles with ease of use and comfort. Some key features include a simplified closure for easier donning and improved comfort thanks to constant air exchange and body cooling. Tychem® 6000 AL will be available in four options – with or without attached dissipative socks and under gloves – to meet the needs of multiple applications across the chemical, pharmaceutical, and oil and gas industries.
Besides showcasing its new products, DuPont will present its latest initiatives to help minimise the environmental impact of PPE. For example, the company recently launched a new programme that will help users to recycle non-contaminated DuPont™ Tyvek® protective garments, which can help to reduce the amount of waste currently being landfilled or incinerated.
Visitors can also learn about the latest Nomex PPE® solutions. The newly launched DuPont™ Nomex® Comfort with EcoForce™ technology offers best-in-class flame resistance and chemical protection while taking the sustainability of PPE to the next level. The fabric’s chemical-repellent finish is made from over 50% bio-based materials and is not based on fluorine chemistry. Additionally, Nomex® Comfort with EcoForce™ technology is highly durable, as its inherent FR protection cannot be washed or worn away, decreasing the need for frequent replacements.
And, in order to incentivise our strategic customers to continue developing groundbreaking protective solutions through the use of Nomex® fabrics and fibres, DuPont will carry out the ceremony of the eighth Nomex® Innovation Award, whose objective is to recognise our European customers that develop solutions made with Nomex® in applications that help provide enhanced end-user safety and sustainability.
industries like oil and gas and chemical manufacturing.
The innovative portfolio of DuPont™ Kevlar® engineered yarns, developed to help deliver comfortable multi-hazard protection for gloves and sleeves, will also be highlighted at the DuPont booth.
The Kevlar® engineered yarns portfolio can provide industry-leading protection against cut, heat, flame, and electric arc hazards without compromising comfort and dexterity.
Gloves and sleeves made with Kevlar® also help reduce waste as they can be laundered more than 10 times extending their life span and require 25% less material than other competitive products. Furthermore, most Kevlar® fibres and yarns are certified by OEKO-TEX® 100 meeting the requirement of a safer textile against harmful substances.
“Keeping workers safe remains our priority. At A+A, we want to demonstrate how effective worker protection can go hand in hand with improved comfort and sustainability,” comments Andrzej Palka, Marketing Manager EMEA at DuPont Personal Protection. “From protecting the workers behind the green transition through utilising 100% renewable energy for the manufacturing of Tyvek®, Nomex® and Kevlar®, to reducing PPE waste, we are committed to optimising safety and comfort while supporting companies on their path to sustainability.”
Come and visit us at Stand 13C69 to learn more.
