PPE manufacturers achieved ‘Heroes of Net Zero’ at COP26

Over 160 businesses agreed at the UK Business Climate Hub to reach net zero by 2050, which parallels the UK government’s climate commitment.

The winner of the micro business bracket of the competition was Stanmore based Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) manufacturers. They proved their commitment to net zero by presenting how they have reduced manufacturing waste, created a system that recycles or upcycles old devices, and developed custom packaging that is both biodegradable and sustainable. The prize was valued at over £4500 from BT, SSE, and NatWest.

It was calculated that distribution of PPE in the UK alone was equivalent to over 240 return flights (London to New York) every day for the initial 6 months of covid (according to The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine). The winner, Design Abled, impressed the panel with their dual mission to keep the UK safe during Covid and commit to reducing emissions.

Design Abled is dedicated to making communication easier for individuals who have had a hard time understanding people during the pandemic due to their reliance on either facial expressions or lip reading or facial expressions. This would have obviously been compromised by mandatory mask wearing, so the company designing and produced face masks that were not only transparent, but also reusable and recyclable.

Director of Design Abled, Dean Ezekiel, said “We are very proud of the business decisions we have taken on our way to becoming a Hero of Net Zero. We hope to inspire other businesses to make the same commitment and to make eco-friendly decisions. We believe in our chance to make a positive impact. “Our aim is to solve communication problems of respiratory protection, as a sustainable, net zero business. As a manufacturer, we have a choice to reduce our impact on climate change, while still meeting the needs of customers and growing our business.”

Andrew Griffith, the UK Net Zero business champion, said “I am delighted to be celebrating The Heroes of Net Zero today at our special COP26 event. Representing a diverse range of industries and locations, the finalists spotlight the actions that UK businesses of any size can take to cut their own emissions and help us build back better.”