Ensuring front-line workers who need medical-grade masks can always access them, while reducing the amount of plastic going to landfills is more important now than ever.
University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine researchers are developing a reusable mask that meets Level 1 safety criteria. Working with a textile engineer, an architect, sewing experts, a knowledge translation expert and a medical student, they have created a prototype that people in health-care settings can wash and wear multiple times. The team is testing to see how many times the masks can be re-used while maintaining their protective qualities.
The hope is that if there’s a reusable alternative, disposable mask use will decrease so we can protect the planet while we protect each other and ourselves.
For more information, visit the University of Toronto.
