Disposable VS Reusable Protective Clothing

Let's discuss the advantages and disadvantages of single-use versus reusable protective clothing.

PROTECTION: Level & Type

An important consideration is the degree of protection offered by the two types of clothing. Single-use is generally made from high tensile strength virgin plastic and reusable from cotton or polyester fabric.

DISPOSABLE

Pro:

Light & flexible
Excellent protection against fluids when frequent clothing changes are required

Con:

Less durable

REUSABLE

Pro:

Can be worn multiple times if material not compromised
Durable & suitable for physical work

Con:

Requires frequent washing at high temperatures with potentially toxic chemicals to meet FDA & other regulations
Can be heavy with reduced flexibility & mobility

Did You Know?

Due to foreign matter found in washed clothing, single-use, made from high tensile strength virgin plastic (polyethylene, LDPE) was developed for New Zealand’s food processing industries in order to meet the demanding customer food safety and hygiene requirements.

COST

A detailed price analysis of clothing's actual lifetime cost must include:

DISPOSABLE

Pro:

Cost efficiencies per piece
Quality & thickness of the material will determine strength, durability & cost

Con:

Waste disposal costs, if not recycled

REUSABLE

Con:

Added costs of laundering & decontamination, inspection & repairs
Number of times a garment can be reused before repair or disposal (up to 75 washings before deterioration)
Outsourced rental costs, inc. laundering, repairs & replacement
Expensive per piece

Poultry Meat Processing - Disposable Clothing Cropped

Studies have shown the average cost of a disposable apron was equivalent to $0.18. Compare this to a reusable apron at $0.58, due mainly to the high cost of preparation and washing.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Consider which type has a greater environmental impact:

DISPOSABLE

Pro:

Eagle’s range of PE clothing is able to be recycled via a closed loop process, allowing customers to buy back the recycled material in the form of trash bin liners*

Con:

Increases waste, unless recycled*

REUSABLE

Con:

Must be laundered at high temperatures
- High energy & water consumption
- Deteriorates fabric
Chemical pollution from laundering

The assumption that disposable clothing has a greater environmental impact than reusable is debatable.

Food Safety: Cross-Contamination Implications

The primary sources of L. monocytogenes contamination within food-processing plants are employees, through their clothing or skin coming into direct contact with products.

DISPOSABLE

Pro:

More likely to be changed, ensuring against clothing related cross-contamination

REUSABLE

Con:

Can spread contamination due to poor food safety practices
May not be changed as often as necessary to avoid cross-contamination, especially when handling ready-to-eat (RTE) product
Can increase the chance of soilage with food or dirt particles since worn for longer periods of time
Can be worn in restrooms, during breaks or outside the food contact area

Enforced food safety practices prevent clothing from spreading contamination, assisted by the ease of single-use clothing changes.

Eagle Protect Disposable Clothing

Eagle Protect offers a full line of high-quality low-density polyethylene (LDPE) protective clothing. From disposable aprons and smocks to long sleeve thumbloop gowns, Eagle's clothing is custom designed for a range of coverage requirements.

For an environmentally friendly bonus, Eagle's PE items are recyclable through a closed loop process in which customers can buy back the recycled product in garbage bags.

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Disposable vs Reusable Clothing Handout PDF Pic

Training Materials

Type

Solutions

Gloving 101: An Important Aspect of Hand Hygiene That's Often Overlooked

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