Two former student housemates have started a business making environmentally-friendly masks 鈥 just in time for face coverings to become mandatory in shops.
Dominic Hughes and Robert Hulmes once shared a pad while studying at the University of Exeter and area now 鈥渙n a mission to inspire change in the fashion industry鈥. The pair have launched a #ChooseToReuse campaign and are promoting their reusable face coverings.
Mr Hughes and Mr Hulmes founded Myriad in May 2020 to produce a 鈥渃ircular fashion range鈥 and its #ChooseToReuse campaign has been started as a response to the surge in sales of single-use face masks anticipated in the coming months.
Myriad鈥檚 face coverings, produced in collaboration with another University of Exeter alumni, Melisa Gooding, are made from 鈥渦pcycled鈥 fabric.
Upcycling, defined as the conversion of waste materials to something useful or valuable, is a key strategy within the 鈥渃ircular economy鈥 to ensure products are given additional life and avoid landfill.
Myriad aims to give a new lease of life to textiles, and help curb the increase in ocean pollution associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
The firm鈥檚 face coverings are triple lined to offer the space to add a filter, and machine washable so they can be reused time and time again.
Single-use masks are, however, commonly made from polypropylene, which is non-biodegradable and non-recyclable, the businessmen said.
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According to the WWF, the incorrect disposal of just 1% of masks results in as many as 10million masks per month polluting the environment.
Also, every year more than 300,000 tonnes of textiles go to landfill in the 海角视频, and only 1% of clothing is recycled into new clobber, the Myriad team said.
Through a fresh approach to fashion, Myriad aims to challenge industry leaders to design out waste from the start, by radically rethinking the materials used and optimising opportunities for reuse, re-manufacturing, repair and recycling.
Mr Hughes said: 鈥淕lobally we are using 129billion face masks every month and we are already seeing them washing up on coastlines around the world.
鈥淭his must be confronted. Unless you鈥檙e in a medical situation, the best option is to get a reusable face covering that can be worn and washed again and again.鈥
Mr Hulmes said: 鈥淲e have really seen the fragility and brittleness of global supply chains as a result of the pandemic.
鈥淭he case for moving away from single-use towards reuse models is stronger than ever. We should be looking to save the valuable yet limited single-use face coverings for medical staff whilst the rest of us choose to reuse.鈥
