Pulling the wool over … our faces

The pandemic face masks look set to be an environmental burden - disaster even - for decades to come. What about masks made from wool?

Photo by Julian Wan on Unsplash

A recent post in the Wool Farmer, “Why Aren’t More Masks Made of Wool?” (2020, November), sets out the environmental effect that disposable (and other) masks have, along with a solution. The four points made are:

Around 194 billion disposable masks and gloves are being used worldwide each month.
Every mask that ends up in the ocean could take up to 450 years to decompose.
Wearing a reusable mask is one thing we can all do together to make a difference.
Woollen face masks are a reusable, more responsible and a more comfortable choice.

The Wool Farmer serves the National Wool Growers Association (NWGA) and one says a hooray for its punting its product in a timely and appropriate way.

The reader is then referred to a blog by the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) for further reasons as to why woollen face masks are a good alternative: “Wool is unique among fibres in that, thanks to the structure of its fibres, it naturally wicks moisture away from the skin and allows the skin to breathe. Research has shown how superfine Merino wool operates as a dynamic buffer, regulating humidity and temperature near the skin … The result is: you feel drier and more comfortable”.

A problem is that “synthetic fabrics can cost as much as 5% of what a quality Merino wool fabric costs”. When you read the previous points that preceded this though, and an article in The Conversation which the IWTO as a marker, “Coronavirus face masks: an environmental disaster that might last generations“, a woolled mask sounds like a worthwhile investment!