Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 15th October 2026 Issue no. 1230

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Michigan manufacturer saves more than $700,000 while reducing PPE waste with innovative cleaning & recycling program

At a time when manufacturers are under increasing pressure to reduce operating costs while meeting sustainability goals, Libra Industries is helping companies accomplish both through its PPE Cleaning & Recycling Program.

For manufacturers, managing personal protective equipment (PPE) is a necessary expense, but replacing gloves and other protective gear after every use can quickly drive-up costs and generate significant waste.

Thai Summit America faced that very challenge. With nearly 900 employees working across three shifts, the automotive stamping and assembly manufacturer sought a smarter way to manage PPE without compromising worker safety or environmental performance.

The result: In 2025 alone, the program generated approximately $707,000 in documented cost savings while extending the life of its PPE while reducing waste.

"The biggest benefit has been seeing that safety, cost savings and sustainability don't have to compete with one another," says Jason Street, safety manager at Thai Summit America. "Libra's program has helped us extend the life of our PPE while giving us measurable results that we can track through quarterly reporting."

Rather than disposing of PPE after a single use, items are professionally cleaned, inspected and safely returned for reuse, extending their usable life four to five times before replacement is necessary.

"One of the things I appreciate most about the program is the transparency," reveals Jason. "Every quarter we receive detailed reports showing our cost savings and the impact of the program. It gives us confidence that we're making decisions that benefit both our employees and the company."

Thai Summit's experience reflects what Libra Industries has seen across its customer base. By helping manufacturers extend the life of reusable PPE, the company enables organisations to lower operating costs, reduce landfill waste and gain measurable data to support their sustainability initiatives.

Tim Lightner, president of Libra Industries, explains:

"Our goal isn't simply to clean PPE. We're helping manufacturers rethink how PPE is managed across entire organisations. When companies move away from single-use practices and adopt a standardised reuse program, the financial and environmental benefits can scale across every facility."

Thai Summit is among nearly 200 companies nationwide that partnered with Libra Industries over the past year for PPE cleaning & recycling services, reducing waste while lowering the total cost of PPE ownership.

"As manufacturers continue to face rising material costs and increasing environmental expectations, we're seeing more organisations recognise that sustainability and profitability can work together," adds Tim. "Programs like this allow companies to make measurable progress on both."

To learn more about Libra Industries' nationwide glove and PPE cleaning and recycling services, or to start a risk-free trial, visit:

https://www.librami.com/readyship-glove-and-ppe-recycling

10th September 2026