Masks have become our daily companions, and they won’t be going away anytime soon. Huge piles of discarded disposable masks are already accumulating in our environment. Cloth masks are more sustainable and stay fresh for a long time thanks to antimicrobial treatments.
It’s all but certain that we will have to keep using these mouth and nose-covering community masks (MNS) for even longer. A necessary but protective evil in this pandemic. Speaking of evil: Sometimes, this word can also describe the odor that is exuded from masks that have been worn several times. And it generally has nothing to do with the hearty meal you had last night but rather the bacteria that colonize the textile surface that is moistened by your breath.
Heads of state wear them with the colors of their national flags, CEOs with their company’s logo, and, of course, the community masks of fashion influencers perfectly match the style of their outfit. If we have to continue wearing mouth and nose masks to protect ourselves from the coronavirus, then they should at least look good and perhaps send a message as well. But is this enough?
Community masks are less likely to pollute the environment
The right community mask not only lets you make a fashion statement but also meets the requirement of using sustainable products. Nowadays, disposable masks lying on the ground in parks and on sidewalks is something you see every day. But these are by far not the only places where they show up. Environmentalists describe a new wave of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans, caused by disposable plastic masks. It is estimated that 1.56 billion facemasks have ended up in the world’s oceans in 2020. Source: New York Post
Reusable multiple times and still fresh
There are more sustainable alternatives to disposable masks that can be reused and even washed several times. And if the mask also bears the Sanitized® brand, then it means that less washing is necessary since the Sanitized® hygiene function ensures that the growth of odor-producing bacteria is inhibited. And less odor means less washing plus improved wearing enjoyment.
Ensuring integrity: Antibacterial and antiviral promise
But the sad truth is that not all companies can be trusted. Reality shows that hygiene promises are made for products without any substantial proof. Governments have set clear guidelines on when the claims “antibacterial” or “antiviral” can be made at all. Violations, even major ones, are unfortunately a frequent occurrence. It’s dishonest business since the safety and health of everyone is at stake.
SANITIZED AG regularly reviews the safety and protective function of textile products in its proprietary and in third-party laboratories. And, of course, manufacturers of community masks who wish to display the Sanitized® brand on their products need to meet very explicit requirements. Furthermore, SANITIZED has opted to not use any particle-based solutions for facemasks since we still do not know the effects of particles on our respiratory system. Times of uncertainty make it all the more important to trust in proven brands, and for over 85 years, Sanitized® has been the seal of confidence for antimicrobial hygiene function. Let’s stay alert and protect ourselves and each other.
SANITIZED proves hygiene function on community masks in wearing test
An internal mask wearing test has impressively proven the effectiveness of the Sanitized® hygiene function on community masks. Microbiological tests show that an untreated mask holds up to more than three times as much bacteria as a treated mask. SANITIZED AG uses particle-free technologies and values sustainability. Learn more:
