It’s been over a year since the pandemic started, and face masks have officially become a part of our daily lives. To minimise the environmental impacts of mask waste, Hong Kong face mask brand Maskology has partnered up with non-profit, A Plastic Ocean Foundation to develop biodegradable, disposable face masks that’s set to launch within 2021. However, this ambitious project still requires significant investment from the public to make it into reality.
The environmental cost of staying safe during a pandemic is high—it is estimated that 1.56 billion face masks have polluted the ocean in 2020. Since disposable face masks are made of polypropylene, the material can only be recycled at special facilities, and then it’s hard to do so due to its composite materials.