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As the UK launches itself out of the latest lockdown and life returns to normal, it has never been more important to wear a facemask, which guarantees full protection against the Covid-19 virus. Fabric face coverings and ‘fashion masks’ offer some minimal protection but now a team of healthcare scientists have developed The Silver Life Face Covering. This facemask uses silver-based 3D knitted technology, and meets the World Health Organization’s recommendations for use against the current microbial pandemic.
The Silver Life Face Covering uses silver as an integral part of the thread of its fabric, due to silver’s antiviral and antibacterial properties. The mask also filters incoming air and the outgoing breath through a mesh size of just 3 microns (whereas ten microns is the current WHO standard) and is an effective filter in reducing air pollution particles, as well as airborne viruses such as Covid-19.
The Silver Life Face Covering is also reusable for up to 100 washes and is made from 36% recycled material making it better for the environment, than standard issue personal protective equipment masks which are neither reusable nor recyclable. Globally 129 billion face masks are used every month and more and more of these masks are finding their way into the ocean.
Dr Alan Green, environmentalist and founder of SP Science Limited (the owner of The Silver Life Face Coverings) says: “Facemasks have become virtually compulsory both here in the UK and elsewhere throughout the world. Unfortunately, this has led to the estimate that the UK throws out 53 million face masks per day, and everyone has witnessed people throwing face masks onto the ground – our supermarket forecourts and entrances are littered with them!
‘The consequence is that face masks are now found in our high streets, rivers, meadows, oceans – almost everywhere. Of course, we’re already aware of the huge pollution problems from plastic wastes that are literally choking our oceans, as reported by Greenpeace and others, and now coral reefs in the Indian Ocean are also suffering from “face mask pollution” too.”
“Single-use or disposable face masks are made using a variety of plastics, including polypropylene, polyethylene and vinyl – which means they can take up to 450 years to break down. Even then, the plastic stays around as tiny microplastics. These microplastics are causing fundamental problems to our world-wide ecosystems and have even been found in the Antarctic and Arctic environments.”
“This mask has been developed by experienced healthcare scientists and has safety, the environment, recycling and manufacturing standards at the core of its design. Sustainability is at the essence of The Silver Life Face Covering, as it also meets US Environmental Protection Agency standards for disposal – the only silver-based textile that does so.”
The mask is manufactured with a sculptured design for comfort and long periods of wear. It has a soft feel on the skin and the integrated nose wire helps prevent fogging when wearing glasses, and adjustable ear loops making it a one-size-fits-all product. It is also ideal for indoor, outdoor and sports activities as is fully effective when wet – unlike the existing PPE masks.
The Silver Life Face Covering, was created by 3-D knitting technology experts, and SP Science Limited helped finalise the product for real-life use and undertakes sole source marketing and sales activity throughout the world. SP Science Limited is a company formed by a group of highly experienced scientists, and public healthcare specialists, with long term experience in the healthcare sector. Their aim is to provide a range of barrier protection products for use by the general public, which are carefully selected for environmentally sustainable and use recycled materials in their core manufacture.
“Since November 2018, we have undertaken a world-wide review of the anti-microbial marketplace” says Alan. “We have now secured the use of ground-breaking, proven international technologies. These technologies provide the protection our customers are seeking in this time of concern about viruses, and infections – and offer an ideal solution to disposable PPE face masks, which are now having a detrimental effect on our environment.”
Silver Life Face Coverings cost £14 for 2 plus postage (discounts are available for bulk purchasing). They are available in black and other colours will be available early in 2021. Visit https://www.silverlifemasks.com/ for more information, and also available for purchase on Amazon, E-Bay and ETSY.
