Protection from the Corona virus and protection of the environment are in the hands of all of us

Protective masks, gloves and disinfectants are urgently needed in large quantities all over the planet. In many places, high demands lead to delivery bottlenecks and waiting times.

We know that the availability of these hygiene products is not sufficient. However, we also know that the large number of products required is already causing considerable additional pollution to the environment. Masks and gloves can be found on the streets and the wind carries them into the sea. There they are extremely dangerous to marine life. Proper recycling of such products is difficult, especially if there are chemical additives in supposedly environmentally compatible products such as latex gloves that make recycling difficult or even impossible.

Experts from the Marine Institute at the University of Plymouth agree that a plastic product must be observed from its creation to its end, whether it is a PET bottle or a mask. Unfortunately, the circumstances surrounding this pandemic mean that this observation cannot be guaranteed. What protects people from the virus inevitably becomes a stake for the environment and for animals.

The seas, which have been badly affected by the (micro) plastic flood, are additionally burdened. Every day we see pictures of washed up masks and gloves or of animals with bellies full of plastic who suffer in agony. We have to put an end to this and focus more on sustainable products in order to better protect the sensitive ecosystems.

At Mermaid Protector, even before Covid-19, we focused on sustainable fabric production and closed cycles in the garment manufacturing. The current situation proves us right and makes rethinking more necessary than ever. We want to actively shape this rethinking by creating sustainable products. Products that are made from recycled materials and that become recycled at the end of their life cycle again. The WHO believes that washing your hands regularly offers greater protection against infection than wearing rubber gloves. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention declares that washable and reusable masks also provide the necessary protection.