<p>This study aims to evaluate the environmental safety and material composition of disposable polymer gloves by examining the role of chemical additives and applying the Analytical GREEnness Metric Index for Polymers (AGREEMIP) tool. A literature-based review was conducted on common chemical additives used in disposable gloves—including plasticizers, stabilizers, accelerators, and colorants—to assess their functional contributions to glove performance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the physical degradation of selected glove types. The environmental profile of three glove materials (latex, nitrile, and vinyl) was assessed using the AGREEMIP tool, which considers factors such as chemical toxicity, plastic waste generation, energy intensity, and degradability. Additives were found to significantly enhance glove elasticity, mechanical strength, and degradation resistance, though often at the cost of environmental sustainability. SEM analysis revealed microstructural degradation in used gloves, particularly latex types, indicating potential for biodegradation. The AGREEMIP assessment showed that nitrile gloves have the lowest environmental performance due to toxic additives and high energy consumption during production. Latex gloves demonstrated a superior profile in terms of biodegradability and lower ecological toxicity. The integration of performance-enhancing additives into disposable gloves improves usability but often compromises environmental safety. Latex gloves offer a more sustainable alternative compared to nitrile and vinyl. These findings support the need for greener design and procurement strategies in healthcare, food handling, and industrial applications to reduce the environmental impact of disposable glove use.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>