Bamboo Face Masks: the reusable & sustainable textile Face Masks designed to protect us and the planet

Sadly, we have to face the reality that Covid 19 isn’t leaving any time soon. So we must adapt and take the necessary and vital and measures these challenging times demand.

• The Case Against Disposables

We also must consider that a disposable mask is simply not an environmentally-friendly choice.

Disposable masks are made from non-woven fabric, specifically polypropylene. In other words, nothing more than plastic — manufactured from — you know it — crude oil. Plastics and fossil fuels, two of the environments worst enemies.

Moreover, disposable masks do not decompose, are not recyclable, and pollute our oceans and litter our land. Yes, it’s very convenient to throw them away, but let’s ask ourselves where “away” is? Even if disposed correctly, used masks fill our rubbish bins (garbage cans), end up in our landfills and don’t decompose. Burning them releases toxins into the air we breathe.

We all know the terrible consequences of plastic in our oceans: breaking down into microscopic pieces, eaten by fish and other sea life. Numerous studies show that plastic kills the creatures that consume it and finds its way into the fish and seafood we eat.

So, make a small, yet powerful change: abandon the throw-away and wear an equally safe, environmentally friendly and hygienic bamboa mask.

• The Case for Bamboo

Bamboo is an enduring and reusable fabric. Our masks are washable, a very important point to remember. Use them, wash them and use them again. No pollution, no land fill, no damage. You control what’s on your face.

Here is what the experts and World Health Organization say about reusable mask:

• Use a fabric mask that has at least 3 layers

• Opt for a woven fabric which is commonly used for bed sheets due to the higher thread count. The tighter the weave, the higher the thread count, therefore the better the protection, as long as it’s still breathable.

• Opt for natural fibers

• Avoid fabrics treated with bleach or harsh chemicals.

Julia Washbourne, the founder of Bamboa, couldn’t bear the thought of disposable masks. When the virus emerged, she went on the look-out for a reusable alternative. Unable to find a mask from natural fibers, she thought of her bamboo bedsheets — breathable and washable. In quick order she designed and developed a perfect, 100% bamboo face mask.

• Why bamboo fiber?

1. Bamboo fabric, due to its extremely thin fibers, has a naturally tighter weave and one of the highest thread counts of all bed sheets. Egyptian cotton sheets are known for high thread count, However they only soften considerably after washing. Bamboo is silky from the start and maintains its silky feel.
2. Bamboo fabric is naturally antibacterial, containing bamboo kun, an anti-bacterial substance which protects the fabric against insects, fungus and bacteria. No pesticides are required to treat bamboo; it has a natural protection barrier. The antibacterial properties remain in the fabric (as backed up by research studies in Japan). The best proof is that bamboo towels and bamboo bed sheets always stay fresh and never get smelly. In climates with a high humidity, cotton towels and bed sheets very quickly smell and become mouldy. This never happens to bamboo fabric.
3. Therefore, it was an easy decision for Julia to develop protective, reusable face masks from premium, high-thread-count bamboo bed sheet fabric.

• The advantages of our bamboo fiber face masks:

1. Three layers of 100% bamboo woven fabric with a thread count of 800. This fabric, used for our bed sheets, is tightly-woven, therefore hindering particles from permeating the mask.
2. Bamboo fiber,being naturally antibacterial, inhibits bacterial growth (see below footnote 1).
3. Silky and soft, they don’t irritate the skin.
4. They are 50% cooler than cotton, so a great choice for the hot summer.
5. Breathable, which is important. If the mask is not breathable, the user tends to suck in and inhale air from the sides, which not filtered defeats the purpose of the mask.
6. Our bamboo masks don’t leave any compression marks on your face.
7. Our 100% natural bamboo fabric and doesn’t use any harsh chemicals, dyes or bleaches and therefore complies with the highest standard OEKOTEX
8. Machine washable and therefore reusable for many years. (We, of course, hope masks will not be needed for that long.)

• Bamboa’s tips:

To make sure your fabric mask provides adequate protection, perform a test where you hold the mask against the light. If you can see through it, then it is too thin, not sufficiently tightly-knit and won’t provide adequate protection.

!!! Bandanas, or t shirt fabric, which is knitted jersey are not tightly knit enough, allowing too many particles to permeate.

Our Bamboa 100% bamboo masks:

• Come in four different colours: flamingo, mint, dark blue, light grey.
• All have three layers of bamboo fabric and fit snugly over any face with comfortable elastic bands.
• All come with an individual draw string pouch, a practical and lovely way to store your mask.

At the end of the day, throw the mask in the washer or hand wash it. It will dry over night and be ready to protect you and others the following day.

•  Machine wash (40 degrees C) or hand wash
•  No need to use softener
•  Hang dry

$HK 130 each ($US 16.7)

It is even more important now to change immediately to our reusable non-disposable bamboo mask TODAY!

Research and Resources:

• 1.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293025927_Development_of_Surgical_Clothing_from_Bamboo_Fibres ´The anti bacterial assessment of the surgical wears made from 100% bamboo fibres was carried out and compared with commonly used surgical wears made from 100% cotton after using them in actual hospital condition during a surgery. Their effectiveness towards inhibiting bacterial growth were evaluated by Blood agar plate method qualitatively and quantitatively as well as by turbidity method. The results revealed that the use of 100% bamboo fibre in surgical wears inhibits the growth of bacteria. It has been proven in this research work that surgical wears could be manufactured from bamboo fibres and effectively used for better sanitation and hygiene in hospitals.’
• 2. https://www.today.com/style/what-type-fabric-best-face-masks-t179615 It found that three of the top materials (for their balance of protection and breathability) were made from cotton. In particular, denim and bed sheets with 120 thread count filtered out more than 90% of large particles and 24-29% of small ones. In addition, canvas (0.4-0.5mm thick), often made from cotton, filtered out 84% of large particles and 19% of small. For comparison, the research found cotton T-shirts and bandanas captured less than 10% of small particles.
• 3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/allisongasparini/2020/04/27/how-effective-are-cloth-face-masks-anyway-here-are-the-fabrics-which-filter-out-airborne-particles-best/ When each fabric was used in a single layer, high thread count cotton performed the best with a filtration efficiency of around 80% for particles larger than 300 nanometers. However, the fabric samples performed even better when layered, especially in hybrid combinations. One layer of cotton with two layers of silk was effective at filtering greater than 90% of particles larger than 300 nanometers

Thank you to Days Like Laura for the pictures. Laura is a sustainable lifestyle blogger based in Hong Kong. Days Like Laura is all about sustainable living and encouraging people to make small changes to live more consciously in their everyday lives.