What can be done about the discarded face mask pandemic? An innovative engineering solution

Elhawary, Omar; Bakthavatchaalam, Venkat

Abstract

The severe increase in pollution caused by the discarded face masks during COVID-19 cannot be overstated. This research provides an innovative engineering solution to this issue by recycling polypropylene, the primary plastic found in the facemasks to manufacture eco-composite by reinforcing it with natural flax fibres. Providing a manufacturing recycling path for polypropylene is important to prevent ecological damage to the rivers and water supplies that are already contaminated by the disposed face masks. The proposed eco-composite material is a more sustainable alternative to the existing materials being used in automotive and aerospace interiors, sports equipment and acoustic structures such as speakers and soundproofing panels. This research turns the unaddressed problem of discarded face masks into a novel engineering material for various industrial manufacturing applications. SDGs 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are the focus of this work.

• Report Type: Policy Document
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Deposit Date: Dec 28, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 4, 2023
• Series Title: Science Policy Brief for the Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum)
• Keywords: Facemasks, COVID, Composites, Recycling, Sustainability
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10251652
• Publisher URL: https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/3.2.1-65-Omar%20-recycling%20face%20masks.pdf
• Related Public URLs: https://sdgs.un.org/; ; https://sdgs.un.org/tfm/STIForum2022