2 Things to Consider Before Buying Face Masks and Face Shields

It has been no doubt that face masks and face shields are now considered not only as a fashion statement but an essential if one would like to survive the wrath of COVID-19 pandemic.

Face masks and face shields became too essential that even few months ago, President Duterte said that not wearing a face masks and face shields can be considered a “serious crime” as the country is facing a public health crisis. It even came to a point on the onset of the nationwide lockdown that people started panic buying facemasks and other sanitary essentials. However, before buying the next set of face mask for you and your family, here are the things which you might consider:

Tangled by the mask. A peregrine falcon catches a face mask before flying-off  Photo source: Dailymail.co.uk

1.    Is it Eco Friendly?-  Environmental problems could far exceed than the virus these days. Face shields which are plastic-based and liquid-resistant products have a long afterlife which could harm an animal's natural habitat if not discarded properly. While some face masks are mainly made of non-woven fabric such as polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene or polyester are some of the other commonly used materials in surgical masks. Adding to the predicament, according to the World Health Organization, an estimated number of additional 89 million disposable face masks are needed globally per month. In some cases, this may cause animals to mistake this trash for food, which could lead to entanglement, choking, ingestion and death.

For the environment. Picture on the left shows paper towel turned face mask while picture on the right shows the REwear face Mask. Both are promoted and approved by DOST.Photo source: DOST.com and Businessmirror.com.ph

Although here is good news! You could opt for choosing eco-friendly face masks which can help reduce a lot of wastes. Choose eco-friendly face masks such as the REwear Face Masks and paper towels turned face masks which were promoted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Killing your wallet softly. suggested retail price for medical supplies from the Department of Trade and IndustryPhoto source: www.facebook.com/DTI.Philippines

2. Is it budget friendly yet effective?- Eco-friendly face masks are budget friendly compared to disposable surgical masks which costs 24.00 php depending on its type. Instead of buying disposable masks, try opting for the eco-friendly one. But before buying, make sure that the eco-friendly face masks you are considering are tested water-repellency, toxicity, fluid resistance, bacterial filtration efficiency, particle filtration efficiency, breathability, and flammability. Afterall, you don’t want to compromise your health, right?

Now that face masks and face shields have become part of our everyday life, it is important that we choose what’s best not just for fashion or looks but also for our environment and health. Eco-friendly face mask and face shield would be a great choice and at the same time an opportunity for you to help and save our environment from waste without compromising the safety of our safety. Eco-friendly is really a big help for our environment and for us people especially when it comes to financial and health.

So the next time you are thinking of buying face masks and face shields for the family and for you, always remember to think before you buy.

Keywords: Face Masks, Face Shields, Eco-friendly Face Masks, Eco-Friendly Face Shields