Aston University has announced a partnership with Midlands-based PFE Medical to develop biodegradable gloves made from food waste for use in the National Health Service (NHS). The collaboration aims to create an alternative to conventional disposable gloves, offering a solution that addresses both environmental and economic concerns associated with clinical waste.
Each year, the NHS uses over 1.4 billion disposable gloves, generating significant amounts of waste. The new project, established under the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme, will focus on creating gloves from polymers derived from food waste such as orange peel. These biodegradable gloves are intended for low-risk medical tasks like ultrasound scans and not for high-risk procedures such as surgeries.
The initiative is designed to reduce not only clinical waste and associated costs but also carbon emissions. This supports the NHS's target of becoming the world's first net-zero health service. Currently, most personal protective equipment (PPE) used in the UK is sourced from manufacturers in China; this project seeks to establish a UK-based supply chain for glove production.
Research efforts at Aston University will be led by Professor Paul Topham, director of Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME), and Dr James Wilson, associate member of AIME. The university has one of the largest groups of polymer chemists in the UK and will use its expertise to ensure that polymers from food waste meet necessary safety and functional requirements. According to the research team, these bio-derived polymers may offer antioxidant and antibacterial properties if appropriately designed.
PFE Medical brings experience in commercializing medical innovations. This is the third KTP between Aston University and PFE Medical; previous collaborations included developing an automated endoscope cleaner now used at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
Rob Hartley, CEO of PFE Medical, said: "Our previous KTP with Aston University was a phenomenal success, thanks to the brilliant team we had on board. I'm just as excited by this project, which is looking to solve an equally long-standing problem. If we can achieve our goal, then the implications are huge, going far beyond the NHS to all the other situations where people are wearing disposable gloves."
KTPs are funded by Innovate UK and involve partnerships among businesses, universities, and research associates across the UK. The program aims to boost business competitiveness through better use of knowledge and technology. Aston University is recognized as a sector-leading provider of KTPs based on project quality and volume.
