COVID-19 is a virus for humans; mask is a “virus” for the environment.

The masks are like armour that protects us, but in doing so, they have become a nightmare for animals and the environment.

Protecting the natural environment and life on earth is also protecting ourselves.

 

BBC NEWS. (2020). Coronavirus: Gull caught in PPE face mask in Chelmsford. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-53474772

Fant, S. (2022). RECYCLING COVID MASKS: HERE ARE THOSE WHO ATTEMPT IT AROUND THE WORLD. https://www.renewablematter.eu/articles/article/recycling-covid-masks-here-are-those-who-attempt-it-around-the-world

France 24. (2020). Face mask recycling: French firm finds way to re-use Covid waste. https://www.france24.com/en/20200827-face-mask-recycling-french-firm-finds-way-to-re-use-covid-waste

Garger, K. (2020). Littered face mask found inside stomach of dead penguin in Brazil. Nypost.com. https://nypost.com/2020/09/23/littered-face-mask-found-inside-stomach-of-dead-penguin-in-brazil/.

HESTER, J. (2021). We’re Finally Getting a Picture of How Dangerous PPE Is for Wildlife. Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/covid-trash-affecting-animals.

Imada, K. (2020). These gorgeous face masks are made from Japanese washi paper – and they’re reusable. Time Out Tokyo. https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/these-gorgeous-face-masks-are-made-from-japanese-washi-paper-and-theyre-reusable-081720.

Leitch, C. (2020). Face masks – how can we reduce the environmental impact? https://www.greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk/face-masks-how-can-we-reduce-the-environmental-impact/

Ma, J. (2022). Surgical face masks linked with rising water pollution | FairPlanet. FairPlanet. Retrieved 13 October 2022, from https://www.fairplanet.org/story/surgical-face-masks-linked-with-rising-water-pollution/.

TodayOnline. (2021). From macaques to crabs, wildlife faces threat from face masks. https://www.todayonline.com/world/macaques-crabs-wildlife-faces-threat-face-masks.

Wanless. (2021). New virus-filtering mask material made from agriculture waste. https://wanless.com.au/qut-innovyz-mask/