Gloves Off campaign cuts plastic waste while strengthening patient care

12 June 2026

Over the past year, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has used 4 million fewer disposable plastic gloves, while strengthening infection prevention, thanks to the success of the Gloves Off campaign.

Last May the Health Board launched the campaign to reduce the unnecessary use of disposable gloves while reinforcing good hand hygiene, promoting the value of physical touch in patient care, and reducing plastic waste and expenditure.

A year on, the impact has gone far beyond expectations.

In 2025, the Health Board ordered 4 million fewer gloves than in the previous year, and this number continues to fall. This reduced the amount spent on gloves by £116k in 2025, with this trend set to continue in 2026.

The project began in Adult Critical Care at the University Hospital of Wales. After the COVID-19 pandemic, it was noted that health professionals were using non-sterile gloves in situations where they were not needed. It was leading to cross contamination, poor hand hygiene and significant plastic waste. A pilot study resulted in 326,000 fewer gloves used and 1.1 tonnes of clinical waste avoided.

The campaign was rolled out across the Health Board by the Shaping Change team, the Health Board’s dedicated resource for change, working in close partnership with clinical teams to understand when and why gloves were being used.

Infection Prevention & Control, Procurement, Health & Safety, Public Health, clinical and non-clinical teams worked collaboratively throughout this campaign to shape and deliver the work.

Over 400 staff across the Health Board shared their insights, helping the Shaping Change team to develop clear, evidence-based resources, including a practical Gloves Off Guide and eye-catching posters for both staff and patients. These were first tested in Critical Care and the Emergency Unit before being rolled out more widely.

The results have been impressive. Between May 2025 and February 2026:

• 3.3 million fewer gloves were ordered
• £103,520 expenditure was avoided
• Carbon saved was equivalent to 12 return flights from London to Perth

Colleagues also report greater confidence in knowing when gloves are, and aren’t needed, alongside improved understanding of hand hygiene. One clinician said: “I am much more aware of when and where gloves are needed. I am happy with gloves off with the right patient and situation. I do feel it makes me more aware of hand hygiene”

The success of the Gloves Off campaign has been recognised beyond the Health Board. It won the NHS Wales Sustainability Award for Spread and Scale (2025), shortlisted for the HEIW Improvement Prize (2026) and highlighted by the Royal College of Nursing as a potential exemplar. Resources have been adopted nationally across Wales

Chloe Chettleburgh from the Shaping Change team said: “Gloves Off has shown what’s possible when insight, collaboration and clear communication come together, turning a simple idea into measurable environmental, financial and behavioural change.”