|
 Geochanvre pitches the hemp masks as a way to reduce plastic waste
during the coronavirus pandemic from single-use protective gear that
environmentalists say will take centuries to decompose and is
polluting the oceans.
"It's heresy not to ban polyethylene products, materials that are
shipped to all corners of the world. Use local agricultural
materials," Frédéric Roure, founding president of Geochanvre, told
Reuters TV.
"This is a natural product and will go back into the soil."
The mask's lining includes a corn blend for comfort and the elastic
band is recyclable.
Bales of hemp fibre are passed through compressors and over rollers
before emerging at the end of the line as hard-packed flat sheets,
ready to be cut into shape and folded by hand.
Customers, mostly from Europe and Canada, have so far bought 1.5
million of the hemp masks since March.
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Worldwide, an estimated 129 billion disposable face masks and 65 billion gloves
are used every month, according to a study in the journal Environmental Science
and Technology.
Most single-use protective gear is made from plastics including polypropylene,
polythene and vinyl.
Disposable plastic masks that end up in the oceans could take up to 450 years to
decompose, according to campaign group Waste Free Oceans.
Biodegradable and compostable face masks, made from materials such as hemp or
wood fibres, are being made or developed around the world.
(Reporting by Yiming Woo; Editing by Richard Lough and Janet Lawrence)
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