Sustainable alternatives for COVID-19 PPE: biodegradable wipes and reusable mask made of pineapple leaf fibre

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our way of living in many ways. It affects not only mainly our health but also has a huge impact in the optimum performance of our health system. It is important to look for possibilities that can decrease the spread of the virus and help to live in a safer environment. The existing used PPE with the aim of protecting the society are mainly made from non-degradable either recyclable single use plastics or microplastics. Without a clear route recycle the existing PPE. This fact will cause a huge waste impact with increased pressures is going to sum up to the actual environmental problem and derived climate change. "At the current rate we are putting a 129 billion face masks and 65 billion plastic gloves into the environment every single month." Laurent Lombard and most of it is ending in the ocean, adding up to the plastic waste problem. A biodegradable, non-toxic alternative is urgently needed to substitute the existing PPE without compromising the performance.

In this project we suggest the use of Pineapple leaf fibres to be used to produce biodegradable hygienic wipes and reusable masks. This would help to fulfil our need for PPE whilst relieving pressure on an already overloaded environment, with a positive climate-friendly alternative. In other words, decrease the spreading of the virus in a more sustainable way to decrease the impact of the pandemic also in climate change and keep our oceans clean.

Due to the imminent EU regulation related to the ban of using single use plastic products, the search for use of recoverable natural fibres to replace the existing synthetic fibres is widespread, Ananas Anam has already started positioning pineapple leaf fibres as suitable alternative with good response from the market. However, this potential market also requires the fibres to be microbiologically safe, which can be achieved with pineapple leaf fibre by adding a new step to the existing production line. This would give Ananas Anam the opportunity to grow in these markets through providing a more sustainable fibre and yarn to the market.

The viability of the use of pineapple leaf fibres in the development of hygienic wipes has already been proven with established great interest from the market.

In order to achieve this, it is necessary to enhance the supply chain with an additional step to assure the final quality of the fibres. This project will be based on the exploring and incorporation of a sterilisation step to the production line, that needs to be sustainable, scalable and do not affect the existing other fibre properties.

In addition, after being sterilised, the fibres can be used as a source for yarn, that can be converted into a knitted mask using 3D knitting technology, designed to reduce waste.