Earth Day: 6 unique ways single use masks have been repurposed
From purposeful furniture to fashionable outfits, here's how entrepreneurs and artists are upcycling masks
SINGAPORE - Have you found yourself with too many face masks and unsure of what to do with them this coming Earth Day?
Here are some unique ideas from creatives around the world on how to reuse face masks and combat face mask pollution. From furniture to household appliances, there are out-of-the-box ways to repurpose single-use masks.
1. Couch-19 pouf
Since masks can't be recycled through conventional recycling, they can become medical waste. Italian interior designer and artist Tobia Zambotti came up with a creative solution in 2021.
Zambotti used a few cubic meters of masks as stuffing for a recyclable crystal PVC modular pouf, which can function as a chair, footrest, a tabletop and more.
The pouf is shaped irregularly to resemble an iceberg, an iconic symbol of global warming.
The white and light blue coloured masks were chosen to give an "icy" look, and they were thoroughly disinfected with ozone and safely stored before use.
2. Puffer jacket
Following Tobia's Couch-19 pouf, Finnish fashion designer and photography artist Aleksi Saastamoinen partnered with Zambotti to create an oversized puffer jacket. The duo gathered 1,500 light-blue masks and used the semi-transparent material of the jacket to let the masks show through as filling.
This resulted into a unique and stylish piece of outerwear.
3. Stools
Ever thought face masks could become functional stools? South Korean designer Haneul Kim successfully converted disposable masks into stackable stools called “Stack and Stack”.
He piled 1,500 face masks were piled on top of each other, melted them together, and then moulded into shape to create one stool.
Haneul started the project by collecting discarded masks from his school, the Kaywon University of Art and Design, to create these innovative stools.
4. Bricks
Dr Binish Desai of Eco Eclectic Tech from India found a way to recycle discarded masks collected from eco bins in public places like hospitals in 2020.
The masks are sealed in bins for 72 hours according to government guidelines, then brought to a disinfectant chamber in a factory where they are kept for three to four hours.
Afterward, they are shredded into paper waste and mixed with a binder. The mixture is then put into a mould, taken out and naturally dried for 24 hours.
The resulting bricks are waterproof and fire-resistant, made from 52 per cent shredded material, 45 per cent paper sludge and 3 per cent adhesive.
5. Geometry kits for students
French company Plaxtil has found a creative way to repurpose disposable masks into school kits for students. The kit includes a ruler, set square and protractor in bluey-black colour, all made from the plastic fibre of sanitised masks.
The idea was birthed after a charity sought Plaxtil's help to deal with a mountain of clothing that could not be resold. Since then, masks have been used to make these geometry kits.
According to Core77 magazine, the company has transformed 25 million sanitised masks into 100,000 geometry kits that French municipalities provide to students for free.
6. Seedling bags
Ever thought of having your own DIY mini garden? If you're a gardening enthusiast, you can create your very own by crafting seedling bags out of disposable masks.
Start by washing and disinfecting your masks. Then trim off both sides of the masks with the elastic band.
Sew or staple three corners of two masks together to create a seedling bag. Once done, fill the bag with soil and plant your seedling, then water it.
Voila! You have your very own DIY face mask seedling bag.
We hope these ideas help kickstart your own creative ways to upcycle disposable masks this Earth Day. Let's do out part to reduce face mask pollution.
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