With the spread of the coronavirus worldwide, the consumption of disposable face masks has seen an incredible spike.
Whilst wearing a mask had previously only been recommended to those that already showed symptoms, the situation has now changed. In fact, there is increasing evidence that the Covid-19 can be spread by pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers. For this reason, many Governments and health organisations , like the CDC, are recommending people consider wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

Is it always better to wear a mask?

Although there is still much to be learned about the novel coronavirus, it appears that many people who are infected are shedding the virus – through coughs, sneezes and other respiratory droplets – for 48 hours before they start feeling sick. And others who have the virus – up to 25%, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield — may never feel symptoms but may still play a role in transmitting it.
That’s why wearing a mask even if you don’t feel sick can be advisable for the general population.

Are there sustainable alternatives?

Now that everyone is concerned about protective equipment to stay safe, face masks are a must to prevent the contagion.
However, some consumers criticized the use of disposable masks because this does not represent an environmentally-friendly choice.
Are there sustainable alternatives for those who do not want to use surgical masks or respirators?
Can these consumers opt for masks that they can use again and stay safe?

Cloth Face Masks

Cloth Face Masks are certainly a sustainable option.
Conventional fabrics like cotton block liquid droplets and can provide incremental protection against airborne particles. Obviously, those in constant contact with people affected by the virus have to use disposable masks for safety reasons. But in certain circumstances, the use of a cloth mask can be a sustainable choice from a waste perspective as well as help alleviate the current medical supply shortage.
Moreover, cloth masks are washable, reusable and recyclable. A perfect choice for many consumers that care for sustainably.

Help from the Fashion Industry

Although this industry, in particular, is significantly impacted by the lockdowns across multiple continents – given people are not going out and will likely have less disposable income – the fashion world is working to aid healthcare workers in the battle against the coronavirus.
Recently, a number of fashion companies announced that they would pivot and use their workforce to produce personal protective equipment.

Gucci

Gucci is set to manufacture 1.1 million face masks to aid Italy amid the country’s shortage of medical supplies.

Armani

The Armani Group announced that it has converted all of its production sites in Italy to produce hospital gowns.

LVMH

The luxury conglomerate LVMH, which owns several fashion houses including Christian Dior, Fendi, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs, announced to use its global distribution network to provide more than 40 million masks in the coming weeks.

Brooks Brothers

Their factories in NY, North Carolina and Massachusetts will pivot from making ties, shirts and suits to manufacturing masks and gowns. The company expects to produce 150,000 masks per day.

In addition to the famous brand knitting cloth masks, a lot of labels are recycling fabrics from past collections to make sustainable cotton masks.

Cloth Masks – are they effective against coronavirus?

In Vietnam, several textiles businesses are dedicating the production to antibacterial masks.
In particular, our suppliers are developing 3-PLY Droplet Resistant Antibacterial Masks and Nano Silver Antibacterial Masks to help combat the virus.

3-PLY Droplet Resistant Antibacterial Masks.

These masks are made of 100% cotton and can be washed and dried for reuse.
The 3 integrated layers offer a great protection against airborne particles and droplets containing viruses and bacteria.
They are comfortable and enable a normal breathing.

Nano Silver Masks.

Made of washable 100% Cotton, these masks are composed by 3 integrated layers.
In particular, the one in the middle is treated with Silver Nano technology that works as a safety filter. In fact, it eliminates small particles of bacteria that pass through the outer layer of the mask.

Nano Silver technology is an antimicrobial colloid composed of silver nanoparticles stabilized by a polymer that exhibits excellent antimicrobial efficacy across a wide spectrum of microorganisms.
While Silver inhibits the oxygen exchange in bacteria and kills it, this technology has been demonstrated to enhance that effect.

Looking for Cotton Masks? We can help!

We are currently working with our partners in Vietnam to provide a range of Cloth Masks to meet the world’s needs and to combat this deadly virus. In addition, we have other medical products from disposable masks, protective gloves, face shields, hand sanitizers, medical suits, gowns and other products to meet your needs. From a sourcing perspective, the current regulatory landscape in China is very complex on these products so please make sure if you are buying direct, you are doing the appropriate due diligence and checks. For all enquiries, please contact us for more information at coronasupplies@et2cint.com .

Disclaimer. According to the World Health Organisation, masks alone will not prevent people from catching the coronavirus, and must be used in combination with normal hygiene methods, such as handwashing with soap and water.