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Cost is always a factor in any purchasing decision. With products such as disposable gloves and PPE, there has previously been little reason to think beyond the price. Do you know why some gloves are cheaper than others?
(WARNING – the following contains information that may shock you!)
1. Raw Materials
Gloves manufactured from cheap, low-quality raw materials can commonly cause skin allergies. Studies have shown that the chemical accelerators and other additives commonly used in the production of nitrile, latex and non-latex gloves can cause Type IV allergy, presenting as chronic dermatitis of the hands and wrists.
Weakness in gloves is as much a factor of glove quality and raw material choice as it is thickness. So if you are experiencing ripping or breakage problems - moving to a thicker glove is not necessarily the best option. Plus, it will increase cost and waste!
Nitrile gloves made with poor quality raw materials may have increased levels of cyanide within the glove - there is currently no testing for this and no requirement for testing to take place.
“...increased levels of cyanide within the glove…”
To reduce costs, many vinyl gloves contain inexpensive phthalate plasticizers. These have been found to adversely impact human health and have been added to the Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer.
Read how vinyl gloves can cause adverse health affects.
2. Manufacturing, QUALITY & labor standards
Do you, or your glove supplier, know where your disposable gloves are manufactured?
Recent factory audits and investigations have revealed endemic and serious labor rights abuse of workers in glove factories in Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. A comprehensive investigative report by the BMA states that “the manufacture of disposable gloves is at a high risk of labor rights abuse.”
“The manufacture of disposable gloves is at a high risk of labor rights abuse.”
The Eagle team visit and audit our factories regularly and, via our Supplier Code of Conduct, verify product quality, staff conditions and the factory’s environmental footprint.
Eagle is also on the journey to become Child Labor Free* for a core range of products. Child Labor Free* conduct independent unannounced spot audits on all aspects of labor conditions, especially child labor.
3. How Many Gloves Per Box?
Most disposable glove boxes contain 100 gloves. However, a well known method by manufacturers of reducing costs is to include up to 5-10 less gloves per box, and/or include a number of defective gloves – instantly reducing the cost of goods!
“...up to 5-10 less gloves per box.”
4. Cost vs. Value
Eagle Protect guarantees the best value of disposable gloves and clothing you can buy – quality, competitively priced products that are responsibly sourced. We may not be the cheapest supplier, but we do offer the best value for your money.
Now that you know the many reasons why gloves are cheap – you many not want to risk your reputation and customer and staff health by purchasing from unknown sources.
Eagle Protect offers the best value for money.
More about Eagle Protect PBC
Eagle is the only B Corp™ certified disposable glove and clothing specialist in the world! Our supplier audits and recent journey towards Child Labor Free* certification ensures our products are responsibly sourced with a fully transparent supply chain.
Eagle Protect PBC is a Public Benefit Corporation. This means we are legally committed to our stated environmental and social factors, over and above the traditional corporate goal of maximizing profit for shareholders.
We are endeavoring to partner with businesses that care enough about their products, their reputation, their staff and their customers, by sourcing their disposable gloves and clothing responsibly.
See how Eagle Protect positively influenced a global red meat manufacturer or search through our range of disposable food service gloves.
*The organization behind Child Labor Free has ceased offering accreditation renewal, effective December 2020.
