Face Masks

The year 2020 brought massive business for face mask manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers. Several countries implemented strict rules regarding their use in public, and hence the demand went through the roof.

We could see disposable face masks everywhere. From people’s faces to trash cans, they became a symbol of the pandemic. According to a study, 1.6 billion face masks made their way to our oceans in 2020 alone. That makes up for 75% of the total sales.

The numbers were so insane that they became a nightmare for environmentally conscious people. And that is when sustainable face masks gained popularity. They are fit for general public use without turning our world into a wasteland.

So if you are thinking of switching to sustainable masks, here are four reasons to do it faster:

Disposable face masks are made of a plastic called polypropylene. The manufacturing process of plastic pellets takes up enormous amounts of electricity and water and produces significant carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that leads to global warming. But the same is not valid for sustainable face masks. They use natural fabrics and dyes and don’t release harmful gases into the atmosphere.

According to a study, we discarded almost 3.4 billion face masks and shields daily during the pandemic. The number is crazy high for a day, right?

Sustainable face masks are a way to make up for the damage we did to our planet. They are washable and reusable; you do not need to throw them away after a single use.

Plus, even when you decide to discard them, their biodegradable nature helps them disintegrate into the soil naturally. On the other hand, disposable face masks sit forever in our landfills and oceans and give off hazardous gases if you try to get rid of them by burning them.

Sustainable face masks are cost-efficient

You’d think a fabric face mask costing 36 CHF is much more expensive than a 25 CHF pack of 50 disposable masks. But you’re wrong!

While a disposable mask only lasts a day, you can wash and reuse sustainable ones as long as they serve their purpose. And that could mean even a year! So sustainable face masks are incredibly cheap when considering them a long-term investment. Check out our linen natural dyed face mask!

Used plastic face masks become biohazardous material. They need a proper disposal protocol to be followed by the authorities, or they can cause secondary infections among the public.

Just imagine accidentally touching a face mask of a covid patient. Ah, just thinking about it gives us the chills! But only some institutes follow the disposal protocol strictly. Hence, these plastic masks become a threat to the public.

Think of the losses to the tourism industry due to the massive rise in litter due to face masks. According to the United Nations Environment Program, trash in tourist spots costs the tourism and recreational departments a worldwide loss of $40 billion.

Besides, the masks that end up in the oceans cause several troubles for the fishery businesses. Fish and aquatic birds mistake them for food and die from choking on them. Eco-friendly masks are the best way to fight against fast fashion and an environmentally harmful apparel production and supply chain.

You can now choose ecological alternatives to the “classical” disposable face mask. There are many possibilities that you can find on the market: zero-waste face masks, ethical face masks that respect both the environment and the labor condition, Oeko-Tex-certified face masks in organic cotton, or even upcycled face masks.

So, have you decided to switch from disposable to sustainable masks? Now, head over to the Swiss Impact Store to buy the best deals and find the sustainable accessories you are looking for.