Moving beyond compliance: The positive changes coming up next for the PPE and Workwear industry

Walk onto almost any site today and things look familiar. High-vis, safety boots, protective eyewear. The fundamentals are still there. But look closer, and the rules behind what people wear, and why, are changing fast.

PPE and workwear are moving away from standardisation and towards something more complex, more responsive, and far more focused on the individual. What was once a category defined by consistency is now being reshaped by expectation, pressure, and opportunity.

In the following Insight article, Julie Kaler, Head of PPE, Workwear and Facilities at Commercial, delves into how industry trends and regulations are changing the world of PPE and workwear for the better.

-Time to read: 5-6 minutes-

The introduction of BS 30417, the standard for inclusive PPE, which focuses on improving fit, accessibility, and usability across diverse workforces, signals where the industry is heading.

A market finding its new balance

To understand where things are heading, it helps to look at what has happened.

During COVID, demand for PPE surged. Suppliers scaled quickly to keep up. Large, established players grew fast, expanded their ranges, and strengthened their market position. But that level of growth was never going to last. As demand has normalised post-pandemic, many suppliers are now balancing reduced volumes with increased pressure on margins.

Now, the market is adjusting. Margin recovery has become a priority, and that is starting to show. We are seeing restructuring, redundancies, and a noticeable drive towards own-brand products.

In some cases, this change is beginning to affect customer confidence. When trusted products are replaced or specifications change, questions follow. Consistency, quality, transparency and compliance are being looked at more closely than before. For example, some organisations are seeing previously standardised product lines replaced with own-brand alternatives, often with subtle changes in specification.

The result is a more fragmented market.

Longstanding leaders are no longer as secure as they once were, and customers are becoming more selective. Stability of supply is being actively tested. Reliability is no longer assumed. The question has changed.

It is no longer just about who can deliver. It is about who can be trusted to deliver, consistently.

Standards beginning to catch up

The introduction of BS 30417, the standard for inclusive PPE, which focuses on improving fit, accessibility, and usability across diverse workforces, signals where the industry is heading. Although it is not yet mandatory, its direction is clear. It encourages organisations to think beyond basic provision and consider individual needs more carefully.

It reinforces the shift already underway.

Compliance is no longer just about meeting a minimum. It is about making sure PPE works for the people who rely on it.

Where traditional models start to break down

At the same time, the way organisations want to buy and manage PPE is changing.

Many large providers still operate with rigid structures. Minimum order values, account-managed processes, and limited flexibility are common. These models were built for scale, but not necessarily for speed or control. That gap is becoming more visible.

Modern estates teams and procurement functions are managing multiple sites, changing requirements, and increasing pressure to deliver efficiency. They want easier access to products, clearer data, and the ability to act quickly. They want flexibility.

When that is missing, friction builds. Ordering becomes slower, visibility is reduced, and decision-making suffers. This is where alternative approaches begin to stand out.

Providers who can offer a more agile, transparent, and digitally enabled experience are starting to gain ground.

From saying the right thing to doing the right thing

While the market changes direction operationally, a deeper change is happening at the level of the individual. Inclusivity is no longer a differentiator on its own. Most organisations now have a position on it. Most suppliers have something to say. But saying it is not the same as doing it.

The focus is moving beyond statements and into application. It is no longer about whether inclusivity is acknowledged. It’s about whether it is actively designed as part of the product and experienced day to day.

This is where expectations have moved on. In many cases, organisations are only just beginning to recognise how much traditional PPE design has excluded parts of their workforce.

Real inclusivity is not about meeting a baseline requirement, it’s about whether PPE works in practice for the person wearing it.

Designing for reality, not averages

For years, PPE has been designed around a standard user. A set of assumptions about size, fit, and function shaped how products were created. That model is starting to fall away.

Workforces are diverse. Roles are varied. Environments are unpredictable. The idea that one design can comfortably serve everyone is no longer realistic.

Instead, there is a growing focus on designing for real people.

That means thinking about how garments feel over a full working day, not just how they perform in a test. Recognising that sensory factors can matter, particularly for neurodivergent users. It means understanding that comfort can fluctuate, especially in situations like menopause where temperature regulation becomes important.

It also means paying attention to details that were previously overlooked. Something as simple as safety eyewear not working for someone with false eyelashes may seem minor, but it creates a real barrier. If PPE does not work in practice, it will not be used as intended.

Why this matters more than ever

This change has practical consequences. When PPE fits well and feels right, it is worn properly. Compliance improves. Risk reduces. Performance becomes more consistent.

But the impact goes further than that.

It reflects how organisations value their people. It shows that individuals have been considered, not just categories or averages. In a market where attracting and retaining talent is increasingly important, that level of detail matters. PPE is no longer just about protection. It is part of the wider employee experience.

Innovation that challenges old assumptions

Alongside this market change already underway, innovation is starting to take a different direction. As expectations around people evolve, so too does the thinking behind the products themselves.

Historically, many PPE categories have been treated as fixed. Single-use meant single-use. Standard design meant standard design. That thinking is now being challenged.

Reusable nitrile gloves are a good example of how established assumptions are being challenged. They take something that has always been disposable and rethink it in a way that delivers both environmental and operational value.

More broadly, there is a move towards closer collaboration with suppliers. Instead of simply selecting products, organisations are working to shape them. Solutions are being developed around real use cases, not just specifications.

What comes next

Taken together, these changes point to a market that is becoming more considered and more demanding. Customers expect more. They want easier access to products, clearer data, and the ability to act quickly with the flexibility to match. They want solutions that reflect how their people actually work.

For suppliers, this changes the role.

It is no longer enough to offer products at scale. The differentiator is understanding. Understanding the customer, the environment, and the individual. Those who can do that will stand out. The future of workwear and PPE will not be defined by products alone, but by how well those products understand the people who use them.