DuPont to Drive PPE Innovation and Sustainability

December 13, 2023

DuPont will strengthen collaborations with existing and new customers to propel innovation and sustainability in personal protective equipment (PPE). The new Tyvek Forward Together™ vision promises to continue improving the flagship Tyvek non-woven material to enhance worker safety and well-being while reducing the environmental impact of PPE.

Introduced in 1967, Tyvek nonwoven fabric is used in protective garments worn by workers to keep them safe in some of the most hazardous environments across chemical manufacturing, environmental services, oil and gas industries, and pharmaceuticals. DuPont™ Tyvek garments have protected frontline workers during emergencies, including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster, the Ebola crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. DuPont^™ Tyvek coveralls are also widely used in cleanroom environments due to their low-linting properties that minimise the risk of contamination.

What sets Tyvek apart from other fabrics is that it is manufactured using a single material – high-density polyethylene (HDPE) – through a patented flash-spinning technology. This characteristic makes it easier to recycle garments made with Tyvek than those made with multi-material fabrics, reducing waste from disposable PPE.

Some of the latest Tyvek products and services demonstrate the success of the collaborative approach that Tyvek Forward Together™ aims to reinvigorate. DuPont™ Tyvek 400 Dual TG was developed alongside customers in electric vehicle (EV) battery production. This application-specific garment has attached glove liners made of Tyvek^® in a coverall design that maximises worker safety and comfort during long shifts.

Another example of successful collaboration is the recycling programme that enables customers in North America and Europe to recycle used Tyvek garments from non-hazardous job sites. A leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in Germany was among the early adopters of this initiative and has achieved an impressive 97 percent recycling rate for its DuPont™ Tyvek disposable garments.

“Tyvek Forward Together™ embodies our ongoing commitment to being at the forefront of sustainability in PPE,” comments Dave Kee, Global Business Leader, DuPont Personal Protection. “Our collaborative mindset enables us to develop PPE technology that is invulnerable to impostors not because of how it’s made, but because it’s made with our customers in mind. We promise to continue innovating alongside them.”

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