Why Food Processing Teams Are Switching to Biodegradable Nitrile Gloves with COATS®

In food and meat processing, choosing the right glove isn’t just about ticking a PPE box — it affects worker comfort, product safety, waste output, and the operational performance of every shift.

Traditional food processing nitrile gloves have served the industry well, but they come with challenges:

• High landfill persistence
• Dry, irritated hands from long use
• Shorter cuffs that leave wrists exposed
• Smooth surfaces may lose grip and flexibility in wet or chilled environments

That’s why more facilities across Australia are transitioning to biodegradable, long-cuff nitrile gloves featuring COATS® oatmeal skin-care technology. These gloves combine environmental responsibility with practical, worker-first engineering.

Here’s why this upgrade is becoming the new standard.

1. Reduce Landfill Waste Without Sacrificing Safety

Food processors go through thousands of gloves per shift, and most of them end up in landfill where conventional nitrile can persist for decades.

The MEFE Biodegradable Nitrile Gloves are made using a proven accelerated biodegradation additive designed to:

• Break down significantly faster than standard nitrile in landfill conditions
• Perform identically during use — no softening or premature breakdown
• Reduce the long-term landfill impact of high-volume PPE use

No compromise to puncture resistance. No compromise to barrier protection. Just less waste.

This matters not only for sustainability reporting, but also for brands actively trying to reduce their environmental footprint in the supply chain.

2. COATS® Technology: Better Skin, Fewer Complaints

Dermatitis is one of the most common PPE-related complaints in food and meat processing. Long shifts, cold rooms, constant handwashing and glove changes all compound the issue.

COATS® (Colloidal Oatmeal System) is an FDA-approved glove lining designed to soothe, protect and help restore the skin barrier.

Key COATS® benefits:

• Naturally moisturises hands inside the glove
• Reduces redness, irritation and dryness
• Supports skin barrier recovery during use
• Ideal for cold storage, wet processing or long-shift environments

Workers feel the difference — and operations managers see it in fewer complaints and increased compliance.

3. Long-Cuff Protection That Meat and Food Teams Actually Need

Standard nitrile gloves often leave a gap between glove and sleeve, especially during heavy movement.

These biodegradable gloves feature a true long cuff, providing:

• Better wrist and lower forearm coverage
• Improved splash protection
• Less risk of contamination during high-movement tasks
• Better warmth retention in chilled environments

For meat processing, this is a direct upgrade in hygiene and safety.

4. Stronger Performance and Better Grip in Real Working Conditions

These gloves are not just “eco-friendly” — they’re built to work hard.

They offer:

• High tensile strength for demanding tasks
• Excellent wet and dry grip with textured fingertips
• HACCP certification for food safety
• Stable performance in both warm and cold conditions

Unlike many biodegradable glove options on the market, these are engineered for industry, not light use.

5. Lower Glove Failure Rates = Lower Cost Per Shift

A glove that costs a few cents less but tears twice as often is not a cheaper glove.

The MEFE biodegradable nitrile gloves deliver:

• Fewer mid-shift glove changes
• Less wasted stock
• Better worker satisfaction
• Lower risk of food contamination from sudden glove failures

When you’re using tens of thousands of gloves per week, durability is a real cost-saving factor.

6. Better for Operators, Better for Compliance, Better for the Planet

This glove upgrade checks every box that matters to modern food processors:

• Improved worker comfort (COATS® oatmeal technology)
• Less environmental impact (accelerated biodegradation)
• Enhanced hygiene protection (long cuff, HACCP certified)
• Stronger performance in demanding work environments
• Reduced glove failure rates
• Better alignment with sustainability goals

For many plants, it’s an easy switch to make: a next-generation glove without any compromise on safety or performance.

Ready to Upgrade Your Facility’s Gloves?

You can order these gloves today in box or carton quantities:

• Shop Biodegradable COATS® Nitrile Gloves – Box Quantity
• Shop Biodegradable COATS® Nitrile Gloves – Carton Quantity
• Download the Biodegradable Glove Technical Sheet (PDF)
• Download the COATS® Skin Protection Info Sheet (PDF)

Your team will feel the difference — and so will your sustainability reporting.