Disposable Glove
Single-use gloves are protective gloves intended for one use only. After use they must be discarded; reprocessing is neither intended nor permitted.
- The 'not reusable' symbol (two interlocking circles with a bar) per EN ISO 15223-1 must appear on packaging
- For PPE, the addition NR (Not Reusable) on EN 149 masks is a parallel marking
Typical single-use gloves:
- Medical examination gloves (EN 455, Class I): nitrile, latex, vinyl, TPE
- Sterile surgical gloves (EN 455, Class Is)
- Single-use chemical protective gloves (EN ISO 374)
- Food handling gloves (no specific standard mandatory, but food-grade per Reg. 1935/2004)
Waste disposal:
- Medical single-use gloves from clinical areas are classified as special waste (infectious material)
- Household and food handling gloves fall under normal waste
- Chemically contaminated gloves are subject to specific hazardous waste disposal regulations
Sustainability note: the high consumption of single-use gloves (globally several hundred billion per year) is driving growing efforts to develop bio-based or recyclable materials.
Frequently asked questions
May a single-use glove be reused after cleaning?
No. Single-use gloves are explicitly designed for one use only. Cleaning cannot reliably restore barrier properties and biological safety. Reuse is not permitted under regulations and invalidates product conformity.
What is the difference between a single-use glove and a reusable glove?
Single-use gloves are for one use and then discarded (marking: not reusable symbol). Reusable gloves can be used again after validated cleaning and inspection - they must be declared as such by the manufacturer and reprocessed in compliance with standards.