Besides vinyl, latex, and nitrile gloves, two new kinds of gloves have begun to grow in popularity: cast polyethylene (CPE) gloves and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) gloves.

Learn about the differences between each kind of glove, what they have in common, and some of their benefits in today’s post.

CPE Gloves
What CPE Gloves are Made Of
CPE gloves are made of polyethylene, a kind of resin (i.e., organic compound) created during the polymerization process of ethynylene.

Polyethylene is known as a “commodity” resin since it can be produced in high volumes at low costs. It’s also the most commonly used kind of plastic in the world.

Many other products are made of polyethylene including food wrap, detergent bottles, and shopping bags, among others.

CPE Glove Markets & Industries
CPE gloves are designed for the food service and food processing industries.

When to Use CPE Gloves
CPE gloves are a great alternative for vinyl gloves or latex gloves.

(In fact, when Ohio banned the use of latex gloves in food service operations and retail food establishments this past March, they specifically listed polyethylene gloves as a good alternative for latex gloves.)

CPE Glove Characteristics
CPE gloves offer many positive benefits – most notably their durability. They also tend to weigh more in grams than TPE gloves.

TPE Gloves

What TPE Gloves are Made Of
TPE gloves are made of thermoplastic elastomers, polymers that can be molded more than once when heated. Thermoplastic elastomers also have the same elasticity as rubber.

Industrial fabricators classify thermoplastic elastomers as “specialty” plastic resins for two reasons. Firstly, they’re produced at lower volumes than “commodity” resins like polyethylene and at higher costs as well. Secondly, they’re used for more specialized applications than “commodity” resins.

Besides TPE gloves, products including adhesives and footwear are manufactured using thermoplastic elastomers.

TPE Glove Markets & Industries
Like CPE gloves, TPE gloves are designed for the food service and food processing industries.

When to Use TPE Gloves
TPE gloves are another excellent alternative for vinyl gloves since they’re less expensive. They’re also a good alternative for poly gloves.

TPE Glove Characteristics
TPE gloves, like CPE gloves, are known for their durability. They weigh less in grams than CPE gloves and are also flexible and resilient products.

When to Use CPE or TPE Gloves
If you’re a wholesaler or distributor who works with food service and food processing customers, we recommend that you get in touch with your trusted glove partner if you’re evaluating TPE and/or CPE gloves as alternatives to vinyl or latex gloves. They can help you select the best alternative solution(s) for your specific applications.