With the resurgence of COVID occurring worldwide it’s safe to say that social distancing and hygiene practices will continue for some time. While mask-wearing has been adopted in different countries with varying levels of adherence, it’s clear that disposable masks may have one of the most disappointing and avoidable impacts to the environment.
Across the UK and Europe the standard 3-ply disposable civilian mask appears to remain the mask of choice by many. And increasingly these masks, along with gloves, hand sanitiser bottles and other coronavirus waste are already being found on our seabeds and washed up on our beaches, joining the day-to-day detritus in our ocean ecosystems.
Along with photos and videos showing disturbing evidence of this new form of pollution, French clean-up charity Opération Mer Propre is among those calling for action: “There risks being more masks than jellyfish”
That’s where companies can play an important role in supplying staff with reusable masks that limit impact to the environment. With endless design, branding and messaging options, overt or subtle, they provide a perfect opportunity to reinforce awareness of your corporate commitment to sustainability, and encourage environmentally friendly habits amongst employees.
Increasing evidence from studies published in well-regarded scientific publications include the New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet suggests that the amount of virus someone is exposed to at the start of infection – the “infectious dose” – may determine the severity of their illness and that wearing masks could reduce the infectious dose that the wearer is exposed due to filtering out some virus-containing droplets.
Get in touch with us to discuss mask and accessory options, and keep your staff safe at home, while commuting and at the workplace. We can all do our part by taking a little extra care to make sure our masks don’t impact the environment!
Creative isn’t in our name for nothing. We can support your business through challenging times with innovative and sustainable merchandise strategies. Whether it’s ways to keep employees safe and engaged to pivoting events from physical to virtual, we’ve got lots of ideas to help. Check out our product catalogues here and get in touch with us at hiya@markecreative.com!