A Step Towards Greener Protection in Chile
At Hendrix Genetics, sustainability means looking for better solutions, even in areas that seem routine, like personal protective equipment (PPE). That’s why in our fish farm in Catripulli in Chile, we’ve started exploring biodegradable alternatives for gloves, masks, caps, shoe covers, and overalls.
The goal is simple: reduce the carbon footprint not only during production but also at the end of life. Traditional PPE can take more than 150 years to break down in landfills, creating long-term waste and pollution. Biodegradable options, on the other hand, can degrade within months, returning organic compounds to the environment and reducing plastic accumulation.
Our first trials have shown promising results, but also some challenges. The gloves perform as well as their non-biodegradable counterparts, though we’re investigating whether they truly biodegrade or simply break down into microplastics. For gowns, the initial batch was fragile due to the composition of biodegradable materials. We’ve already contacted the supplier, and they’re sending replacements that they claim are more durable while still biodegradable.
To put things into perspective, our Catripulli facility alone uses approximately 120,000 nitrile gloves (or 60,000 pairs) and 12,000 gowns every year, plus thousands of hair nets and shoe covers. If these items end up in landfills, they could persist for more than a century, contributing to plastic pollution and occupying space indefinitely. Switching to biodegradable PPE could significantly reduce this impact, turning what is currently long-term waste into material that reintegrates into nature within months.
This initiative is ongoing, and we’re committed to finding solutions that meet both sustainability and safety standards. Updates will follow as we learn more and refine our approach. Once validated, these findings could serve as a blueprint for broader implementation across Hendrix Genetics facilities where similar PPE is used. By leveraging our network of local sustainability coordinators, we can share best practices and accelerate adoption, ensuring that greener protection becomes a standard across our operations.
Change isn’t always perfect at first, but every challenge brings us close to innovation, and every step forward matters. Together, we’re proving that progress starts with curiosity and commitment. Thank you for supporting this journey towards greener protection.