The PPE sector is moving towards the circular economy
Companies in the PPE sector are operating in a highly competitive environment, where there is an increasing demand for sustainable equipment, according to Javier Díaz Alonso, technical manager of Asepal, the Association of Personal Protective Equipment Companies. This expert also points out that the legislative framework will be increasingly demanding when it comes to establishing requirements related to the circular economy and sustainability.
The occupational risk prevention sector has decided to accelerate its path towards the circular economy. During the recent pandemic, we saw a large amount of personal protective equipment - such as facemasks, disposable gloves and other types of PPE - producing huge amounts of waste that, in most cases, cannot be recovered. "This scenario has made us aware of the importance of sustainability and the circular economy in this sector, where we are already making great strides towards more sustainable PPE," says Javier Díaz Alonso, technical manager of Asepal, the Association of Personal Protective Equipment Companies.
Díaz explains that companies in the sector are making major efforts in areas such as "reducing their carbon footprints, achieving PPE with a higher percentage of recycled raw materials, more durable equipment, minimising the use of plastics in packaging and so on, which will mean that in the near future, the protection of people against the hazards they face in the workplace will not jeopardise the environment.