How uvex is Setting New Benchmarks in Sustainablity 

From its “protecting planet” range to detailed carbon calculations, uvex is setting new standards in sustainable PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) 

Since 1926, uvex has been dedicated to protecting people. The company creates personal protective equipment from head to toe that precisely delivers the protection workers need. 

With CO2 emissions rocketing and global warming soaring, the climate crisis is escalating rapidly. It is only possible to protect people, by working to preserve and protect the environment too. 

uvex is committed to operating in an environmentally responsible manner and recognises the urgent need to address the challenges posed by climate change. To align with the goals set out by the European Green Deal, uvex has set itself the ambitious goal of climate neutrality by 2045 – 5 years ahead of the European schedule and therefore, it is important for uvex to measure and understand its current carbon emissions.

In little more than a decade, uvex has implemented a considerable number of measures to improve its green credentials and reduced its CO2 footprint by 70 percent (in scope 1 and 2). High quality standards for products are combined with the development of recycling concepts and the use of bio-based materials. The durability and long service life of uvex products help to reduce waste and conserve resources. 

Calculating carbon savings  

uvex has launched a comprehensive range of PPE products featuring a “protecting planet” label, which offers maximum transparency and information about the company’s sustainability activities. The range demonstrates uvex’s commitment to reducing CO2 emissions, waste, materials, water consumption and energy, without compromising quality or wearability. 

The lessons learned from launching this range, are now being integrated into its wider product portfolio with an ever increasing number of products now displaying the CO2 emission calculation which is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide, or CO₂) associated with the:

• materials used to create the product
• manufacturing processes and energy consumption
• packaging, and
• transportation

of the product allowing customers to make comparisons and therefore, informed buying decisions in accordance with their own sustainability goals.

uvex safety has been using green electricity since 2014 with over 90% of the energy consumed coming from green energy sources – generating annual CO2 savings. It utilises solar panels at its factories, which are all based in Europe, and measures and monitors its consumption of water at production facilities to identify opportunities to reduce usage.  Other initiatives include insulating its buildings with recycled materials, solvent free manufacturing at its glove’s facility meaning there is no impact on human health or the environment. uvex has also installed motion detector lighting systems, refrigeration and air conditioning concepts to minimise CO2. Significant investment has also gone into developing machines that support sustainable production while ensuring there is no compromise on product performance and quality. 

Product innovation

Since 2021 at its production site in Ceva, Italy, uvex has successfully integrated granulate made of polyurethane surplus from its own production processes into the direct injected midsole of its safety footwear with no impact on the footwear’s performance. Thanks to this innovation, 85% of all uvex safety footwear have at least one recycled component and it can now reuse and recycle some of its PU surplus, which has already been reduced in quantity.

As well as footwear, uvex also manufactures a range of helmets, gloves, earplugs and protective eyewear using at least one sustainable, recycled and/or bio-based material component and packaged in recycled materials.

For its safety eyewear produced in Furth, Germany, in addition to a number of other measures, the waste from the polycarbonate produced in its eyewear production facility is now sold to third party suppliers to be recycled into coat hangers and furniture feet. The material gets a second life in other industries – an important element in terms of sustainability. 

Its earplug manufacturing facility in Sweden uses nearly 100 percent of the power used to manufacture the uvex earplugs comes from renewable energy sources and it may seem obvious but the packaging has also been redesigned to fit shipping containers, to eliminate unnecessary air and extra ‘cushioning’ packaging. This minimises waste, maximises space resulting in fewer shipment, helping to lower costs and CO2 emissions from transportation. 

uvex gloves are produced in Luneburg not far from Hamburg, in a state of the art, CO2-neutral production facility that is free from solvents. Efficiency improvements in production and process management has reduced waste by 30 tonnes over a year and refined processes have optimised the dip tanks geometry used for its coatings to save coating waste. The energy used in this plant uses green electricity (since 2014) and green gas (since 2017). The electricity purchased consists of 100% renewable energy and also promotes new renewable energy plants.

Looking ahead

uvex has been blazing a trail for sustainability within the industry for some time. Ultimately, the company wants to help transform our linear economy into a circular one.

Circularity means keeping the product or the materials of the product in the loop as long as we can and is a bold vision but, for uvex, it’s just one more step along a road the company has been walking down for decades.