As you probably know by now etee stands for everything touches everything else. Our goal is for all our products to come from the earth and return to the earth, meaning biodegradable, eco-certified ingredients (non-toxic) and plastic-free.
Now that we're in the middle of a Global Pandemic, we are challenged with the desire to stay true to our mission, while also providing the protection people deserve.
You see, while Our FaceMasks fit perfectly with this mission - they are made with GOTS certified organic cotton and they are reusable - it is recommended to use a filter to ensure the masks provide maximum protection.
So we've been looking at filter options and the quickest to get in stock, cheapest and most tested is the disposable/single-use PM2.5 multi-layer, activated charcoal filter (with layers of synthetic melt-blown fabric), BUUUUT it's single use and it won't biodegrade any time soon.
Disposable/single-use PM2.5 set of 10 for $10.99. QUICK TO MARKET, SINGLE USE & NON-BIODEGRADABLE, PROVEN EFFECTIVE AGAINST VIRUSES
At the other end of the spectrum is a cotton filter that is more expensive, will take longer to bring to market and is not as proven.
Reusable antibacterial cotton filter - set of 4 for $12.00USD. SLOW TO MARKET, BIODEGRADABLE, EXPENSIVE and unproven.
Another option that has been popping up in DIY circles is the Coffee filter. It is - as yet - unproven, but it would be biodegradable and less expensive to produce.
Disposable paper filter (coffee filter type) - set of 20 for $5.99. REASONABLE SPEED TO MARKET, BIODEGRADABLE, UNPROVEN
Soooo, with this in mind, we're feeling that in light of the Pandemic, it makes most sense to get the PM2.5 filter to market as quickly as possible while we continue to look into the more sustainable options; both from an 'ecological footprint' perspective AND from a functionality perspective.
Comments
Still waiting for the masks I ordered on April 13. Until I see them I won’t know about the filters……but I would think the first ones until you find a biodegradable option.
My vote is for the coffee filter type.
I agree with others that you need to make “something” available now, so I suppose the PM2.5 is your short-term answer, while you continue the search for a better alternative. Although I purchased 4 of your masks (without a filter), I needed a quicker solution for my employees. I purchased 16 hand-sewn masks from my neighbor whose masks include an inner layer of flannel fabric with an inner and outer cotton layer and draw string tie. Reusable, comfortable and easily adjustable for different size faces.
To me it only makes sense to wear a face mask if it is actually protective against a virus. Therefore, I vote for the single use filter that is readily available until you can come up with something else that is as good but biodegradable as well.
Continue with what you have and keep researching for biodegradable.
Hi – thanks for asking our opinion. I hate to say this, but in this instance I would go with proven to be effective over environmental impact until you can find an option that offers both.
To those who are saying the masks are too small to be effective, I thought that too until I realized that the pleats allow you to expand the mask to easily cover from under your chin to over your nose. This works for my husband too, who is much bigger than me. My masks took almost 3 weeks to arrive but were worth the wait!
What about the stuff that nursing shields or panty liners are made of; or gauze bandages; or HEPA filters
Since we are in a pandemic that I think won’t be over for awhile suggestion is to go with single-use PM2.5. And keep researching biodegradable filters.
I haven’t received my order either and some of the comments that people are leaving really make me want to cancel my order if it’s to small it’s useless and the reason I ordered was to be protected they also are really expensive for me and shopping around I see such better priced mask so now I wonder if I should just get a refund? Only on the mask I need it to be at least 8 inches across my face and 6 inches to cover my nose to below my chin with no open sides so if this is not possible again it would be useless please don’t send them to me if the measurements aren’t what I require thank you
A fused mesh material like pellon is a good filter material. I’m not sure what the base material of pellon is but I believe it’s cotton. Not sure how long it would take to biodegrade either. I’ve also heard vacuum cleaner bags are good—-the paper that they’re made of cut into filter size. The thing to consider with filter material is can you breathe through it, and will it provide significant protection in terms of preventing the passage of micron-sized particles (if you’re trying to replicate the same or nearly the same protection as an N95 mask). I have heard that coffee filters are not breathable. As a nurse who now wears a mask 100% of the time on the job, let me just tell you that it gets very hot under surgical and cloth masks, breathable as they are. Just some things to consider. Thank you for all you do to provide sustainability in our world.