Thanks to a new partnership, Mechanix Wear gloves are being recycled into the very fabric of a greener future.
Australian regulations regarding the quality of personal protective equipment (PPE) are known to be some of the strongest in the world. Everyone who has worked in the resources industry is well versed in how seriously these regulations are taken, as well as the implications of non-compliance.
But when it comes to regulating what happens to that PPE after use, the lines on what, where and how it can be disposed of responsibly are not so clear cut.
Millions of tonnes of textiles end up in landfill every year, and PPE from all industries is a big contributor.
If the world is to embrace a net-zero mentality, it’s going to take those committed to developing a circular economy to push things forward. And part of that is ensuring textiles like PPE don’t become the hurdle that staunches progress into the future.
In a circular economy, materials never become waste and are instead continually reused and recycled. It might sound too good to be true, but thanks to a partnership between global work gloves manufacturer Mechanix Wear and Melbourne-based textile recovery and recycling company UPPAREL, Australia’s mines may be one step closer to bringing such a future to fruition.
The partnership has led to the development of the RevUp initiative, which brings together Mechanix Wear’s mission of ‘revolutionising environmental vision’ with the UPPAREL name.
The initiative aims to keep Mechanix Wear gloves, which are used in some the of harshest Australian working conditions, out of landfill.
“RevUp involves Mechanix Wear and its customers sending us their old gloves, which we then turn into functional products,” UPPAREL partnerships manager Riley Aickin said. “We’ve been working on this Mechanix Wear–UPPAREL partnership since early 2024.”
When the gloves arrive at UPPAREL’s facility, they are sorted into two categories.
The first category is gloves that are to be reused, which are circulated through UPPAREL’s 450 charity partners to find their new home.
The second category sees the gloves turned into a host of important products.
While the prevalence of recycled PPE is increasing across Australia, the mining sector’s waste challenges call for a bigger solution than recycled PPE alone. That’s why RevUp looks to turn used Mechanix Wear gloves into products that can be used beyond the mine site.
“The gloves might be shredded to make ‘FluffUP’, which is used to fill things like soft toys, beds or cushions,” Aickin said. “They could also be used to make UPtex, a material from UPPAREL that is made entirely from recycled textiles.
“UPtex can be used to make slippers, desk mats, furniture – the possibilities are endless.”
Mechanix Wear commercial accounts manager Courtney-Jane Wilson said RevUp is a labour of love.
“We wanted to ensure our products are recycled in a 360° manner,” Wilson said.
“That means that not only are they made from recycled materials but they are also able to be recycled at the end of their lives.
“Above all, we wanted a service that had no greenwashing and was genuinely traceable and trackable.”
Wilson said the partnership first began when Mechanix Wear was updating its environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals and felt the changing tide of PPE disposal priorities.
Mechanix Wear saw that its customers wanted to work with companies that had strong ESG goals, especially since it can be hard to find ways to recycle products in Australia.
“We’re an island nation, so our waste problem is heightened,” Wilson said. “If we can’t find a way to recycle, then the problem remains front-of-mind.
“The UPPAREL partnership solves this problem by not only enabling us to have a 360° recyclable product but also through its ease of use.”
On its journey to boost its ESG impact, Mechanix Wear went to great lengths to ensure every part of its gloves are fully recyclable. Operators who to recycle their gloves now just have to box them up and send them to UPPAREL.
Once UPPAREL has the gloves in hand, the recycling process is fully traceable, making it easy for customers to report on their own sustainability goals.
“It’s a positive step forward on all fronts,” Wilson said. “People’s eyes light up when we talk about this because it’s become such a clear need for the industry.”
Mechanix Wear garners no financial gain in the partnership; the win comes from knowing the company is doing its part to make the world a better place.
“This partnership makes it easy for people to change their ways,” Wilson said. “They know they have a sustainable, quality product in Mechanix Wear gloves, and we know our gloves won’t end up in landfill.
“A lot of research went into RevUp, and it’s going to be a game-changer for us and our customers who want to make a difference.”
While recycling PPE is just one rung on the ladder to complete sustainability, it’s a critical step towards a more circular economy. For those looking for a ‘game-changer’, as Wilson puts it, initiatives like RevUp are there to lead the charge into a greener future.
This feature also appears in the November-December issue of Safe to Work.