Polygiene in Gloves – Antibacterial Glove Technology

Manufacturers incorporate antibacterial odor control technology into all kinds of leisure and performance apparel, from winter jumpers to athletic training gear. But we’re also starting to see more and more manufacturers integrate it into gloves and mittens. And that’s for good reason. Antibacterial gloves are less smelly and more comfortable. Plus, there’s sustainability and cost benefits.

What are antibacterial gloves?

Antibacterial gloves inhibit the growth of bacteria and stop them from spreading. As bacteria are responsible for unpleasant odors, this prevents bad smells from forming in the gloves and keeps them fresher for longer. Manufacturers can integrate antibacterial protection into gloves in several ways. However, the most effective and durable protection comes from additive technologies like Polygiene StayFresh™. Antibacterial gloves are used in personal and professional contexts and are produced for various markets, including sports and outdoor users, manufacturing and industrial environments, and fashion and apparel brands.

Key reasons to use antibacterial gloves instead of standard gloves

Antibacterial gloves outperform standard gloves in several ways:

Whereas standard gloves feature no antibacterial protection and bacteria are free to proliferate and cause unpleasant odors, antibacterial work gloves keep the bacteria and bad smells in check. This is particularly important in gloves, as bacteria thrive in warm, damp conditions. Sweaty, gloved hands provide exactly that.

As antibacterial technology prevents bad smells, your gloves stay fresher for longer, and you don’t have to wash them as frequently. This ensures they are hassle-free and easier to maintain.

Reducing your washing is also more environmentally friendly. Less laundry means you consume fewer resources (less electricity, water, and washing powder), resulting in a more sustainable product. While the environmental benefit may seem small for a pair of gloves, it quickly adds up over a lifetime of washes and multiplies dramatically if Polygiene antibacterial protection features in several items in your wardrobe.

Performing fewer washes also extends your gloves’ expected lifespan. Washing machines are actually pretty rough on textiles and responsible for a significant amount of premature wear and tear. By minimizing the number of cycles your gloves go through, you ensure they last a lot longer. And this also contributes to reducing the product’s overall environmental impact.

Finally, fewer washes means reduced costs for users. You don’t spend as much on electricity, water, and detergent, and you don’t need to fork out to replace your gloves as frequently.

Gloves for sweaty hands

Antibacterial additives like Polygiene StayFresh are odor control technologies designed to prevent the proliferation of bacteria and associated bad smells. However, they won’t stop your hands from sweating or get rid of the sweat. This is best achieved through the use of moisture-wicking fabrics. With this in mind, Polygiene StayFresh works effectively in combination with moisture-wicking textiles, as the latter moves moisture away from the skin and enhances comfort, while the former prevents bacterial growth and the formation of bad smells.

Understanding why antibacterial protection in gloves is so crucial

To help demonstrate the necessity for antibacterial protection in gloves, we compiled a few compelling statistics on bacterial growth in hands and gloves.

  • Damp hands spread 1000 times more bacteria than dry hands (RC).
  • The average human hand is home to more than 150 different species of bacteria. In a study of 102 human hands, researchers identified around 4,700 different species in total (UoC).
  • Gloves used to keep wearers warm can contain up to four times the number of microbes as your average toilet seat (Cleaning Matters). 
Polygiene Partners in gloves

Types of antibacterial fabric gloves

Manufacturers incorporate odor-control technology into various types of gloves, including:

  • Sports gloves – Gloves are essential protective apparel in several sports, notably skiing, hockey, and cycling.
  • Work gloves – Fabric gloves are used in various work environments to protect hands and keep them warm. Workers in construction, manufacturing, and logistics are all likely to wear antimicrobial work gloves at some point during their day.
  • Outdoor gloves – Gloves are prevalent in the outdoor sector, where they are used for comfort and warmth when hiking, mountaineering, and camping.
  • Everyday wear gloves – Gloves also play a prominent role in our everyday wardrobes. Whether it’s staying warm during the morning commute or keeping the brisk breeze at bay while walking the dog, we often need to keep our hands dry, comfortable, and toasty.

Science behind antibacterial glove technology – How it works

Polygiene StayFresh employs silver ion technology to prevent bacterial growth. It attacks bacteria in three main ways.

  1. It binds with the bacterial cell wall and prevents growth.
  2. It inhibits enzyme production, affecting the cell’s ability to produce energy.
  3. It disrupts cellular DNA, preventing bacteria from replicating.

Crucially, Polygiene StayFresh has been extensively tested and is entirely skin-safe and approved for use in skin-adjacent textiles. It doesn’t interfere with the skin’s native bacteria and utilizes silver chloride—a salt that occurs naturally in salt and water—as its active ingredient. It is easy to integrate into manufacturing processes and provides 24/7 protection to products for an extended period.

Examples of brands that sell antibacterial gloves

Several innovative brands have incorporated Polygiene’s technology into their gloves. These include:

Swany 

Renowned for their skiing and mountain gloves, Swany is rightly regarded as one of the world’s foremost experts on designing handwear for the snow. The brand’s FX-10RL features Polygiene StayFresh technology for advanced odor control.

Millet

Another iconic name in the outdoor sector, Millet, has been producing cold-weather mountain apparel for the last 100 years. Its Compact Down Mitten features Polygiene StayFresh technology.

CCM

Hockey parents the world over know all about the dreaded “rink stink.” Hockey gloves are one of the worst offenders—sweaty hands quickly result in sweaty gloves. CCM has solved the problem by integrating Polygiene StayFresh into its Tacks Protective Gloves.

RAB

A trusted and highly respected outdoor retailer, RAB incorporates Polygiene StayFresh technology into its Flux Liner Glove. This can be worn as a liner inside a more substantial glove in more extreme conditions or on its own in milder.

To learn more about our antibacterial odor control technology, check out the Polygiene StayFresh solution page. Alternatively, reach out to a Polygiene advisor today to discuss how Polygiene technology can add value to your product offering.