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safety standards required in the protective apparel, the most likely natural fifiber you’ll fifind in the industry is cotton, which is typically blended with a synthetic fifiber to improve shrinkage and abrasion properties. Regenerated fifibers are slightly difffferent than natural fifibers in that they’re derived from natural materials but must undergo a manufacturing process to be transformed into usable fiber. One common type of regenerated fiber found in the protective apparel space is lyocell, a regenerated cellulosic fiber that is made from wood pulp using a closed-loop system. They are recognized for their comfort, aiding the process of blending them into a range of textile fibers when applied to technical fabrics. While bio-based fibers are a great step to making the protec- tive apparel industry more sustainable, it’s critical to remember that FR/AR garments are highly technical apparel that require the highest consideration for safety. If your motivation to incorporate fabrics that use bio-based fibers into your program is to have a more sustainable program in place, it’s important to consider the full life cycle of the fabric. Working with suppliers who have net- zero targets in place is one way to ensure the products they’re providing are part of a broader sustainability program. Transpar- ency and ethical reporting of sustainability metrics at a product and enterprise level are important in evaluating the supply chain. Filling a Growing Need Protection, comfort, and value remain the priorities for determining what protective garments are used in the industry. Sustainability (bio-based, recycled content, etc.) is quickly becoming a component of the overall product value equation without sacrifificing protection and comfort. Manufacturers are stepping up to fill the gap and are developing more sustainable options to meet market expectations in the future. While the protective apparel industry may not be demanding sustainable garments now, keeping an eye on the future is critical to any successful FR/AR apparel program. Adding sustainability as an additional consideration alongside protection, comfort and value won’t just positively impact the industry in the future but ultimately protect workers in new ways they might not (yet) con- sider. As Director of Product Development at Milliken & Company, Todd Moore is responsible for innovation and growth within the company’s protective apparel fabric portfolio, including Westex brand FR fabrics. He has been with the organization for more than 25 years and is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. REFERENCE 1. earth.org/statistics-about-fast-fashion-waste/ The Rite Light. The intrinsically safe Dualie 3AA Color-Rite features two lighting options. The bright, white light is ideal for everyday use. For tasks that require a softer, warmer beam, Streamlight’s Color-Rite Technology® provides high CRI lighting to distinguish between similar colors so you can see how they would appear in natural light. Dual options, one light. 320 LUMENS | COLOR-RITE TECHNOLOGY® | CLASS I DIV 1 SAFETY-RATED STREAMLIGHT.COM/DUALIE3AACR © 2023 STREAMLIGHT, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. SEE US AT NSC, IN BOOTH #1019 www.ohsonline.com OCTOBER 2023 | Occupational Health & Safety 15 9/19/23 11:36 AM Untitled-2 1