By Philip Fasano, Director of Strategic Sourcing & Category Strategy Leader

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create a surge in demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), including disposable gloves. The demand for gloves is unprecedented and is currently far outpacing supply.  As of October 2020, overall manufacturing costs ranged up to 7x greater than pre-COVID-19 levels as cost components are exponentially higher throughout the industry. Government mandated movement control orders, factory shutdowns, distancing requirements and labor shortages are reducing speed of output with increased cost of production to safeguard plants from outbreaks. Philip Fasano, Director of Strategic Sourcing and Category Strategy Leader, provides insight on what the glove market looks like for the rest of 2021 and what customers should know about gloves to meet their operation's needs and save money.  

Vaccine rollout and pandemic-driven demand for nitrile gloves, the most popular type of disposable glove, continues to cause intermittent supply shortages to non-healthcare businesses and increasing price adjustments. Avendra recommends properties transition to vinyl and/or vinyl/nitrile blend gloves for the remainder of 2021 as they are more stable options. Vinyl gloves are a cost-effective alternative that are available now through Avendra's contracted suppliers. Vinyl/nitrile blend gloves will be available from Avendra contracted suppliers starting in April.

There are two categories of gloves: exam grade and general purpose. Exam grade gloves are designed with a higher gauge thickness and protect the best against bio-hazardous materials. Exam grade gloves are produced for the healthcare segment and run at a higher price than general purpose gloves. General-purpose gloves are designed with a lesser gauge thickness than exam grade gloves  for non-healthcare segments. These gloves provide protection against everyday chemicals that are commonly found in hotels. Avendra recommends general-purpose gloves.

Costs could be reduced by understanding the types of gloves available and selecting the lowest cost option for the intended use. Below are details on poly, vinyl, latex, vinyl/nitrile blend and nitrile gloves, sorted from the lowest to highest cost. 

Poly gloves (commonly referred to as the "Subway glove"), made of polyethylene film, have the lowest cost of all disposable gloves and have a loose, boxy fit. These gloves provide a limited range of motion and smooth grip. Poly gloves are clear in color, powder and latex free.

Vinyl gloves cost more than poly gloves but are still budget friendly and popular for the food service industry. They are made of PVC resin and fully form to the wearer's hands. These gloves provide a full range of motion and smooth grip. Vinyl gloves are opaque in color, powder and latex free.

Latex gloves are a price tier higher than vinyl but more durable, flexible and comfortable to wear. They are made of natural rubber latex and fully form to the wearer's hands. These gloves provide a full range of motion and have either a smooth or fully textured grip. Latex gloves are widely used despite known challenges with latex allergies. Be aware of local restrictions as some states and municipalities have banned latex gloves. Latex gloves are cream colored and powder free.

Vinyl/nitrile blend gloves are coming into the market as an alternative to nitrile gloves and are made from a synthetic blend of vinyl and nitrile raw materials. As a result, vinyl/nitrile blend gloves are priced in between vinyl and nitrile gloves. These gloves offer more softness and stretch than conventional synthetic style and medical-grade barrier gloves and have tactile sensitivity. Vinyl/nitrile gloves are blue, have a smooth finish and are powder and latex free.

Nitrile gloves have the highest cost because they are the most waterproof, oil proof, chemical resistant and puncture resistant. Nitrile gloves offer the best overall form and fit compared to other glove types and are therefore used in the healthcare industry over other glove types. Nitrile gloves are made of a synthetic blend of nitrile and butadiene raw materials. Nitrile gloves come in blue and black and are powder free.

The gloves are ranked on a "fair, good, better, best" scale for each application.

Poly gloves are fair for general use, cooking and janitorial work and good for food prep. These gloves are not recommended for housekeeping or dishwashing because of the loose fit.

Vinyl gloves are the most popular choice among the food service industry as they provide flexibility and ease of use. They are good for general use, food prep, cooking, housekeeping, dishwashing and janitorial work.

Latex gloves are durable, flexible and comfortable to wear, making them a preferred choice for sensitive applications. They are ranked better for general use, food prep, cooking, housekeeping, dishwashing and janitorial work.

Vinyl/nitrile blend gloves are the better choice for general purpose, food prep, cooking, housekeeping, dishwashing and janitorial work and are priced in between vinyl and nitrile gloves.

Nitrile gloves are the best choice for general use, food prep, cooking, housekeeping, dishwashing, and janitorial work but come at the highest cost.

 Based on the glove's application and your management company's recommendations, make note of how many gloves should be used in a specified timeframe so you can control inventory and address discrepancies.

 Avendra helps its customers secure and assure its supply chain for disposable gloves. From raw materials, processing, and logistics through delivery and final production, we keep a careful watch over supplier quality and performance. Our Quality Assurance (QA) team enforces strict standards of safety and quality.

Disposable gloves are available from Tronex through your master food distributor (MFD). Vinyl/nitrile blend gloves will be available via your MFD starting in April, and all other glove types are available now. Nitrile, vinyl and latex gloves are also available from Strong through the following program distributors (non-MFD):

Contact your distributor to begin service.