DuPont at A+A 2023: How to Make PPE Fit for a Sustainable Future

Company Will Showcase Innovative Solutions to Enhance Worker Protection and Comfort while Improving PPE Sustainability

DuPont (NYSE: DD) will demonstrate how personal protective equipment (PPE) can be more sustainable without compromising safety and comfort at A+A in Düsseldorf, Oct 24-27. DuPont will feature its latest Tyvek^®, Nomex^®, and Kevlar^® innovations that help to: enhance worker protection and comfort; reduce the environmental footprint of PPE; and support the companies at the forefront of the green transition.

Workers across the growing renewable energy sector rely on PPE for their safety, from gigafactories to recycling carbon fibre used in wind turbine blades. Likewise, reducing waste, emissions, and pollution linked to PPE is essential. During the COVID-19 pandemic alone, PPE led to up to 87,000 tonnes of waste globally, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). DuPont is helping to improve PPE sustainability along the value chain, from product development and manufacturing to packaging, distribution, and recycling.

One of the highlights is the DuPont™ Tyvek^® 400 Dual TG coverall that provides a head-to-toe frontal barrier against elevated particles and water-based liquids while enhancing comfort for workers wearing PPE over long shifts. As an added benefit, Tyvek^® 400 Dual TG helps reduce waste by eliminating individual packaging and reducing the number of user instructions from one per garment to one per box. From the end of 2023, packaging across the DuPont™ Tyvek^® industrial range will be gradually introduced to the market which incorporates up to 50% PCR (Post Consumer Recycle) content and reduces the use of first grade polymers.

Visitors at A+A will also get an exclusive preview of the new DuPont™ Tychem^® 6000 Air-Line (AL) ventilated coverall. This suit combines maximum protection against hazardous liquids and particles with ease of use and comfort. Some key features include a simplified closure for easier donning and improved comfort thanks to constant air exchange and body cooling. Tychem^® 6000 AL will be available in four options - with or without attached dissipative socks and under gloves – to meet the needs of multiple applications across the chemical, pharmaceutical, and oil and gas industries.

In addition to showcasing its new products, DuPont will present its latest initiatives to help minimise the environmental impact of PPE. For example, the company recently launched a new programme that will help users to recycle non-contaminated DuPont™ Tyvek^® protective garments, which can help to reduce the amount of waste currently being landfilled or incinerated.

DuPont™ Nomex^® Comfort with EcoForce™ technology offers flame resistance and chemical protection while taking PPE sustainability to the next level. Its chemical-repellent finish is made from over 50% bio-based materials and is not based on fluorine chemistry. Additionally, Nomex^® Comfort with EcoForce™ technology is highly durable, as its inherent FR protection cannot be washed or worn away, decreasing the need for frequent replacements. Visitors will also have the opportunity to see other Nomex^® innovations including a preview of a Nomex^® recycled content fabric prototype.

DuPont will also feature DuPont™ Nomex^® Nano Flex for firefighter hoods, which help deliver particulate barrier, thermal protection and no fluorinated substances intentionally added. Nomex^® Nano Flex helps firefighters wear hoods that are thin, highly breathable, and exceptionally flexible– all with a 4X improvement in particle barrier performance.

In celebration of our customers who continued to innovative with Nomex^® fabrics and fibres, to help provide enhanced end-user safety and sustainability, DuPont will announce the winner of the eighth Nomex^® Innovation Award.

The innovative portfolio of DuPont™ Kevlar^® engineered yarns, which help deliver multi-hazard protection for gloves and sleeves, will also be highlighted at the DuPont booth. The Kevlar^® engineered yarns helps provide industry-leading protection against cut, heat, flame, and electric arc hazards without compromising comfort and dexterity.

Gloves and sleeves made with Kevlar^® also help reduce waste; they can be laundered more than 10 times and require 25% less material than other competitive products. Furthermore, most Kevlar^® fibres and yarns are certified by OEKO-TEX^® 100 meeting the requirement of a safer textile against harmful substances.

"Keeping workers safe remains our priority. At A+A, we want to demonstrate how effective worker protection can go hand in hand with improved comfort and sustainability,” comments Andrzej Palka, Marketing Manager EMEA at DuPont Personal Protection. “We are taking a number of steps to improve our own footprint and are now utilising 100% renewable electricity in our operations for the manufacturing of Tyvek^®, Nomex^® and Kevlar^®1. From protecting the workers in the renewable energy industry through to reducing PPE waste, we are committed to optimising safety and comfort while supporting our customers on their path to sustainability.”

Come and visit us at Stand 13C69 to learn more.

1. We achieve this through the use of guarantees of origin and renewable energy credits to match the electricity used at our sites.