Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, there has been an enormous demand for face masks with countries worldwide facing shortage problems. In Korea, the government even enacted a weekly ration of two masks per person to ensure that health care and medical professionals don’t fall short.

Unfortunately, the masks most commonly used are disposable ones referred to as N94 or N95 masks as they filter out up to 94% or 95% of fine airborne particles. Another issue, and the reason they’re one-time-use only, is that their electrostatic function disappears when exposed to liquid, thus reducing the filtering efficiency.

Performance issues aside, the fact that millions of masks are being used daily and thrown away is ridiculously unsustainable and destructive for the environment. The waste is polluting the planet. Pictures are being shared online of coastlines covered in N95 masks. Somehow, they’re making it into the oceans and washing up on beaches – that’s how dire the situation has become.