Janitorial and personal protection equipment supplier Needlers has developed an alternative to vinyl gloves, which it said could save businesses 15-20% of their glove spend.

According to the firm, vinyl gloves are used extensively across all sectors of the food manufacturing industry. However, Needlers says that with the rise in oil prices, businesses are now seeing the cost of these gloves rising by around 18%.

The new gloves are made from a plastic-based soft polymer, and are available in blue, in four different sizes. They offer the same dexterity as their vinyl counterparts, said the firm.