Many industries have gloves as a non-negotiable requisite. For instance, food handling in restaurants & cafes, cleaning & housekeeping in hotels or at home, beauty salons, and testing laboratories are some of the many cases where gloves play an essential role. It not only protects the wearer from any unwanted substances but also maintains the integrity of what’s being handled and avoids contamination, i.e., in the case of food.
While nitrile gloves are a common choice as industrial hand gloves, these gloves can poke a massive dent in the pockets of businesses. This is particularly unattractive for small businesses that may work on a limited budget and instead require a cost-friendly, efficient solution.
Enter PE gloves!
What are Polyethylene Gloves?
As the name suggests, Polyethylene or PE gloves are made of plastic and are used for light-duty tasks that require frequent changing or wear/removal. Polyethylene, the fundamental material with which the gloves are made, has properties such as chemical insulation, strength, flexibility, and waterproofness, among others. This makes these gloves an excellent choice in the food handling & packaging industry, salons, and other light-duty industries.
These industrial hand gloves also provide a firm grip, are easy to wear/remove, and is a highly economical option compared to nitrile gloves. Further, PE gloves are also friendlier to the environment since they are easy to recycle, and disposal is simple by cutting & sealing the film with heat or recycling them.
What are the Types of Polyethylene Gloves?
The different types of PE gloves are:
- LDPE[Low-Density polyethylene gloves]
- HDPE[High-density polyethylene gloves]
- CPE[Cast Polyethylene gloves]
These gloves, made from Low-Density polyethylene, are lightweight, soft, and flexible. LDPE is a first-grade polyethylene notable for not releasing any toxic chemicals when it comes in contact with water, making it one of the safest plastics. However, LDPE has a low tolerance for temperature and corrosion resistance.
HDPE gloves are made of polyethylene thermoplastic from the monomer ethylene. This material has a high strength-to-density ratio, which gives it a higher tensile strength, a more rigid surface, and higher tolerance for temperature. HDPE gloves are longer lasting than LDPE, although they are less flexible.
Cast Polyethylene gloves are thicker and embossed to give good resistance, grip, and rough surface. It is durable and can be used comfortably for long periods.
Who Can Use PE Gloves?
PE gloves are excellent for industries that don’t employ hard chemicals and where frequent wear, removal, or change is required. For instance, in the food handling & packaging industry, restaurants, salons where chemical dyes are used, light cleaning & housekeeping sectors, and small clinics & testing laboratories where disposable gloves are needed.
What Is The Difference Between PE & PVC Gloves?
Here are the critical differences between PE & PVC gloves:
- Materials: PVC gloves are a mixture of polyvinyl chloride paste resin, stabilizer, plasticizer, viscosity reducer, PU, and demineralized water. On the other hand, PE gloves constitute polyethylene thermoplastic from the monomer ethylene.
- Usage: PVC gloves find applications in heavy-duty industries such as electronics, chemicals, etc. On the other hand, PE gloves are mainly found in light-duty industries such as food packaging & handling.
- Nature: PVC gloves are softer and more elastic than PE gloves. This makes PVG gloves valuable in activities that need a lot of heavy lifting & dexterity.
How Can You Clean Polyethylene Gloves?
While a good percentage of PE gloves are disposable, you can also find reusable ones that are safe for multiple uses. You can immerse the glove in a soap solution, with hot or cold water, and leave it for a while. Further, you can also consider machine washing the gloves if you prefer. Once immersed in the water completely, squeeze the excess water gently, and leave it to air dry.
Are Polyethylene Gloves Safe For Food?
Polyethylene gloves have chemical properties that have insulation, hence no leaching of substances as it comes in contact. Ensure you purchase PE gloves from trusted suppliers who provide PE gloves certified safe for food use.
Are Polyethylene Gloves Latex Free?
Latex allergy causes the body to misidentify latex as a poisonous substance and react severely. It causes various skin issues such as rashes, hives, blisters, and even anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition. PE gloves from certified manufacturers are latex-free and silicone-free, making them safe for people with allergies.
What are the Benefits of PE Gloves?
PE gloves are handy in many sectors, such as food handling, beauty & lifestyle, light-cleaning & housekeeping, and more, thanks to the many benefits such as:
- Flexibility and good strength. Not easily breakable and are durable.
- Embossing makes the grip firmer.
- Chemical stability makes it inert while in contact with substances such as food.
- No leaching of constituent chemicals
- Latex-free and silicone-free
- Waterproof & oilproof
- Mainly resistant to alkalis and weak acids
- Comfortable to wear. Easy to remove & put on.
- Environmentally friendlier since PE gloves are recyclable and also easy to dispose
- Affordable and economical to businesses of all sizes
- Reusable gloves are easy to clean and maintain
What are the shortcomings of PE gloves?
- Not ideal for usage in industries with strong chemicals or high temperatures since polyurethane, especially LDPE, is not tolerant to high temperatures.
- Although rigid, their elasticity is poor due to the molecular structure. So not ideal for industries that operate with heavy machinery and require dexterity
- When it comes to sterility, there are better choices than PE gloves. Polyethylene gloves don’t fit highly sterile environments such as hospital surgical theaters.
How to Choose the Best Polyethylene Gloves?
Now that you know when PE gloves are ideal and when not, let’s see what to remember when choosing a Polyethylene Gloves Manufacturer.
- If you require gloves to handle food, ensure the manufacturer provides food-safe assurance.
- It is always best to opt for latex-free PE gloves so anyone can handle them without worrying about allergies.
- Opt for powder-free gloves so that they leave behind no residue nor contaminate any items, especially food.
Are you looking for one such trusted manufacturer? We are here to help!
RedibagUSA: The Best PE Glove Manufacturer
RediBagUSA is a leader in the bag manufacturing & packaging industry with a rich & diverse industry experience of over six decades. The company caters to restaurants, delis, grocery, dry cleaners, industrial markets, and more to meet their storage & packaging needs. It is a division of New York Packaging II LLC and is headquartered in the United States.
RediBagUSA’s manufacturing is ISO 9001 Certified, and all bags are certified safe after meeting the standards set by FDA for food safety and storage. You can purchase products in standard forms or opt for customized packaging as well.
When it comes to PE gloves, RedibagUSA offers different specifications to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes and in various sectors.
The PE gloves from RedibagUSA are lightweight and loose-fitting, ideal for frequent wear & removal. Thanks to a firm grip, the gloves are comfortable on your hands and will not slide off. Further, they are latex-free and come in powderless form to not leave any residue behind. These PE gloves are economical and an excellent bet for your business.
In addition to PE gloves, you can also rely on RedibagUSA for:
- Hybrid Gloves
- Vinyl Gloves
- Nitrile Gloves
Rely on the Experience
With a complete and diversified selection of products, RediBagUSA is the company you were searching for. We handle the production, distribution, and logistics capabilities to serve some of the world’s largest international supermarkets and quick-service restaurants.
Contact us for more information about our offer and how we can satisfy your every packaging need!