Taking Circularity into Our Own Hands
Every day, thousands of disposable gloves are used across universities for cleaning, laboratory work, and catering. At Maastricht University (UM), those gloves now leave a much smaller footprint. Thanks to a collaboration with Asito, the cleaning company responsible for UM’s facilities, the university has switched to recyclable circular gloves developed by Gloovy.
By adopting circular gloves, UM takes another concrete step in its Sustainable UM 2030 roadmap, reducing emissions and embedding circularity into daily operations.
Traditional nitrile gloves are designed for single use and disposal, generating significant waste. Circular gloves change that story. After being used, they are collected separately on campus, returned to Asito’s recycling partner, and processed into granules. These granules then serve as raw material for new gloves, closing the loop and saving resources.
According to Asito, producing circular gloves generates 50% fewer emissions compared to traditional nitrile gloves. Across its operations in the Netherlands, switching to circular gloves can save around 83 tons of CO₂ each year. With full collection and recycling, the environmental benefit could rise to a 75% reduction in CO₂ emissions related to glove use.
The gloves were developed in collaboration with several major cleaning companies, including CSU and GOM. Asito emphasizes that true change happens when the entire sector moves forward together. At UM, the transition was supported by facility managers, staff, and students in laboratories and medical faculties, ensuring smooth collection and proper recycling of the gloves.
“Meaningful change often starts with small steps that grow into significant impact,” says Bianca Mulkens, Project Leader for Asito at UM.
The gloves were developed in collaboration with several major cleaning companies, including CSU and GOM. Asito emphasizes that true change happens when the entire sector moves forward together. At UM, the transition was supported by facility managers, staff, and students in laboratories and medical faculties, ensuring smooth collection and proper recycling of the gloves.
“Meaningful change often starts with small steps that grow into significant impact,” says Bianca Mulkens, Project Leader for Asito at UM.
Also read
-
Carroll Webers receives royal honour and MUMC+ honorary medal at farewell
During his farewell lecture, Professor of ophthalmology Carroll Webers received a royal honour and the MUMC+ honorary medal.
-
40 years of ROA: an institute that grows with its people
Ter gelegenheid van het 40‑jarig jubileum van ROA spraken we met collega’s uit het hele instituut. In deze interviews blikken zij terug op de ontwikkeling, impact en toekomst van ROA. Ze delen hun ervaringen, inzichten en herinneringen aan vier decennia onderzoek naar onderwijs en arbeidsmarkt.
-
Why More Isn't Always Better: What Business Networks Really Mean for Innovation
When it comes to business partnerships and new products, the connections you can't see may matter more than the ones you can. In innovation policy and strategy alike, the message has been consistent: connect more, partner more, collaborate more. But what if that instinct is only half right?
