The real cost of disposable masks

4284 comments

There's a much greater cost to disposable masks than just the ongoing expense of purchasing large quantities for everyday use. While intended to be a convenient and hygienic solution for medical professionals, many consumers have taken to using disposable surgical masks on a day-to-day basis for protection from a range of contaminants including pollution, dust, viruses, and bacteria. Here we take a look at some of the detrimental effects of long-term disposable mask use and the key reasons why you should consider switching to a reusable mask for your daily protection.

Environmental waste

The most obvious impact of disposable masks is environmental waste. Most manufacturers recommend using a mask for no longer than one day, resulting in a significant amount of non-recyclable waste over time. Not only does this obviously increase the amount of waste in landfill, but when not properly disposed of, used masks can end up in ocean, rivers, and on beaches. This waste is not just from the masks themselves, as often masks are individually wrapped in plastic packaging, adding to the amount of landfill produced by each mask.

A used disposable mask creating environmental waste on the ground of a natural environment

Increased use of disposable masks during the recent pandemic has led to more enviornmental waste

Non-degrading materials

The main material used to make surgical masks is in fact a non-woven polymer and therefore by definition a single-use plastic. The threat of contamination makes masks unsuitable for re-use or recycling, meaning they inevitably end up being thrown away as trash. The material can take several decades to break down, releasing toxins in the process and adding to the amount of waste plastic in landfill, waterways, and oceans.

Carbon footprint

The production and distribution of disposable masks is a carbon-intensive process made more harmful by their single-use nature, which increases the volume of emissions due to the large number produced to meet demand. From materials production, to individual packaging, to distribution, each part of the process produces a large amount of carbon for an item which is essentially only used for a short period of time.

"The production and distribution of disposable masks is a carbon-intensive process made more harmful by their single-use nature"

Harm to animals

As with many disposable items—especially plastics—the potential for harm to animals is a serious problem for masks. Not only can masks be consumed by both land and marine animals, but the elasticized ear loops are particularly dangerous in terms of entanglement of animals' limbs, mouths, and other body parts. If you absolutely do have to use a disposable mask, we highly recommend that you cut the ear loops before disposal to reduce the potential for it to cause injury, or even death to animals.

There is no arguing that single-use masks are an essential form of protection for medical professionals and can also be a last resort for consumers who need to protect themselves from potential hazards. However due to the potential for negative environmental impact, it is highly recommended to seek a more sustainable long-term solution in the form of a quality disposable mask.

Moshi's OmniGuard™ Mask is washable and reusable, with replaceable filters which block up to 99.9% of particles including dust, germs, and viruses. Learn more about OmniGuard™ at moshi.com.

4284 comments

  • Posted on by antibioticsDus

    drugstore online usa. Best price antibiotics online antibiotics quick cheap order buy cytotec cheap on line buy antibiotic no prescription jenuine antibiotics cheap generic antibiotics online pillpack prices buy antibiotics with no rx express airmail/fedex What is the best source to order antibiotics tablets with American Express over the net? antibiotic purchase online antibiotics overnight cod no prescription Best buy antibiotics online generic medicines online

  • Posted on by doxycyclinemyday

    doxycycline with no script overnight buy doxycycline online overnight shipping buying doxycycline overnight online buy doxycycline from Canada no rx buy doxycycline no prescription low cost doxycycline order free, unlimited follow‑ups cheapest doxycycline on net canadian generic: buy doxycycline USA can you get doxycycline no with credit card over the net? cheapest doxycycline without insurance cheap piles doxycycline buy cheap doxycycline quick best canadian online pharmacy

  • Posted on by antibioticsflary

    antibiotics order in United States antibiotics price without insurance no script required antibiotics cod orders cytotec 100 mcg buy no dr buy antibiotic Canada online purcase antibiotics onlin buy cheap generic antibiotics online excellent online service Amoxicillin 500 mg price pillpack pharmacy amazon Save buying antibiotics In Canada On The Net cheapest antibiotic antibiotics non perscription Buy antibiotics without rx US online pharmacy delivery service

  • Posted on by doxycyclinesep

    cheapest doxycycline buy doxycycline online over the counter cheap doxycycline online without rx cheap gerneric doxycycline doxycycline free fedex shipping online order doxycycline cheap without a prescription amazing prices! special offers purchase doxycycline without prescription free bonuses on all orders; buy doxycycline free shipping am I able to get an alternative to doxycycline hassle free on the internet? doxycycline no rx online Usa best deall doxycycline cheap doxycycline with out a rx low prices and best quality

  • Posted on by FelixOxymn

    Модные заметки по подбору превосходных луков на любой день.
    Обзоры профессионалов, новости, все показы и мероприятия.
    https://pitersk.ru/articles/2024-09-10-7-veshchey-v-kotoryh-demna-gvasaliya-ne-imeet-ravnyh/

Leave a comment

All blog comments are checked prior to publishing
The cookie settings on this website are set to 'allow all cookies' to give you the very best experience. Please click Accept Cookies to continue to use the site.
You have successfully subscribed!
This email has been registered
Newsletter