Our scientific advisors developed the structure of the BOE mask.
Our designers give you positive, stigma-reducing prints.
REUSABLE FACE MASK
Shop New Reusable Face Masks
Our scientific advisors developed the structure of the BOE mask. Our designers give you positive, stigma-reducing prints.
Positive Child-Friendly Prints
Our first collection of nature-based prints is designed to help children feel better when they go outdoors.
Our first collection of nature-based prints is designed to help children feel better when they go outdoors.
Made Responsibly. For You, and Our Planet
Developed in collaboration with British and European scientists and designers, we bring you a reusable face mask, that is washable, suitable for sensitive skin, from organic certified cotton, printed with REACH compliant non-toxic inks, containing no single-use plastic. Raw materials from our accredited partners in India with a 90% women work force, assembled in the UK.
All whilst preventing the spread of viruses.
Developed in collaboration with British and European scientists and designers, we bring you a reusable face mask, that is washable, suitable for sensitive skin, from organic certified cotton, printed with REACH compliant non-toxic inks, containing no single-use plastic. Raw materials from our accredited partners in India with a 90% women work force, assembled in the UK.
All whilst preventing the spread of viruses.
Mask Details and Accreditations
This is not a medical-grade mask. Those are needed by healthcare workers with specific filtration requirements which are currently in short-supply across the world. However below are the requirements our scientific advisors have stipulated to reduce the spread of virus through droplets.
Protective against droplets from coughing, sneezing, talk, dust, and pollution PM 10
Washable with soap/detergent by hand or machine. Machine washable at maximum 60oC but you can wash at lower temperatures
2 layers of tight weave cotton fabric – protective and comfortable for breathing
GOTS certified organic cotton
REACH compliant non-toxic inks
Snug fit around nose and mouth with panel available for filters, and a nose strip
Meet one of our Scientific Advisors
Dr Thomas Eaton MChem PhD AMRSC
“There is growing evidence amongst the scientific community that face coverings, including cloth masks should be worn by the general public to reduce the transmission of the Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) coronavirus. In order to supplement the medical grade masks, several health authorities have amended their guidance and now encourage wearing of cloth masks by the general population. In particular the public should limit the use of higher grade FFP and filtered respirators (including N-95) to medical personnel only.
Reusable fabric face covering, properly applied, removed, and which can be washed with soap will be useful for the general public and provide a longer term and better value solution for both people and the environment – especially compared to disposable alternatives.
The most effective treatment against the virus outside the body is to use soap and equivalent surfactants to render the virus harmless and prevent transmission. When washing the mask, plain hand soap, dishwasher or washing detergent are sufficient, no need for antibacterial-soap or hand-sanitizer against viral contaminants, though these can supplement if soap is not available.
After use, or once damp, cloth masks should be removed and washed immediately. When this is not possible to be placed directly in a bag or similar prior to washing.”
Dr Eaton is a Scientific Advisor & Technology Transfer Specialist, from Switzerland. www.inotio.ch
Dr Thomas Eaton MChem PhD AMRSC
“There is growing evidence amongst the scientific community that face coverings, including cloth masks should be worn by the general public to reduce the transmission of the Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) coronavirus. In order to supplement the medical grade masks, several health authorities have amended their guidance and now encourage wearing of cloth masks by the general population. In particular the public should limit the use of higher grade FFP and filtered respirators (including N-95) to medical personnel only.
Reusable fabric face covering, properly applied, removed, and which can be washed with soap will be useful for the general public and provide a longer term and better value solution for both people and the environment – especially compared to disposable alternatives.
The most effective treatment against the virus outside the body is to use soap and equivalent surfactants to render the virus harmless and prevent transmission. When washing the mask, plain hand soap, dishwasher or washing detergent are sufficient, no need for antibacterial-soap or hand-sanitizer against viral contaminants, though these can supplement if soap is not available.
After use, or once damp, cloth masks should be removed and washed immediately. When this is not possible to be placed directly in a bag or similar prior to washing.”
Dr Eaton is a Scientific Advisor & Technology Transfer Specialist, from Switzerland. www.inotio.ch
Goodbye Single-Use Plastic
Disposable face masks, if disposed of incorrectly by non-healthcare professionals can leave a devastating effect on our planet and communities here’s why.
Photo credit Naomi Brannan
Fact sources: PlasticsOcean.org, and Oceansasia.org
An Unintended Disaster Cause By The Coronavirus Pandemic
Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced every year; 50% of which are single-use purpose. With the burgeoning usage of single-use face masks, by the general public, a tragic unintended consequence of the Coronavirus pandemic is a new item of single-use plastic waste amassing. Pictured here on the beaches in Hong Kong, NGO Oceans Asia found masses of surgical masks washed up on the shoreline.
Our mission since 1999 has been to eradicate single-use plastic in packaging. We have helped 60,000 clients worldwide to create desirable, beautiful reusable products, which can degrade into the earth without toxic effects, or by recycled to form part of the circular economy.
Why Disposable Masks can cause Havoc, if not Disposed Properly
Scientists, from the US National Institutes of Health, have reported that viruses, such as the Coronavirus (COVID-19), can last on plastic surfaces for up to 72 hours, with further investigations happening. If a passerby touches, or picks up any personal protective equipment, like single-use masks, there is a risk that the virus can get transmitted onto their hands.
There is a real danger, especially in the developing world, that the reuse of single-use masks, can lure wearers of pre-worn masks into a false sense of security, with the effect of the virus actually being caught and spread further…
Please note that disposable masks are needed by healthcare systems and there are well-established practices on the correct disposal of these items. The reusable mask is designed for the general public who will not have access to incineration facilities like hospital-grade institutions.
Scientists, from the US National Institutes of Health, have reported that viruses, such as the Coronavirus (COVID-19), can last on plastic surfaces for up to 72 hours, with further investigations happening. If a passerby touches, or picks up any personal protective equipment, like single-use masks, there is a risk that the virus can get transmitted onto their hands.
There is a real danger, especially in the developing world, that the reuse of single-use masks, can lure wearers of pre-worn masks into a false sense of security, with the effect of the virus actually being caught and spread further…
Please note that disposable masks are needed by healthcare systems and there are well-established practices on the correct disposal of these items. The reusable mask is designed for the general public who will not have access to incineration facilities like hospital-grade institutions.
People in Our Supply Chain
BOE reusable masks are mainly assembled in London, with raw materials coming from our partner Supreme Creation’s factory in South India. The community is made up of a 90% female workforce working in merchandising, design, tailoring, fabric checking, printing, packing, and QC. The factory has one of the lowers turnovers of employees in the textile industry with many team members being at the factory for nearly 15 years. There is a beautiful family atmosphere of support, care, and kindness at the factory. Hundreds of pairs of eyes, and hands have been involved in designing, and producing your product.
BOE reusable masks are mainly assembled in London, with raw materials coming from our partner Supreme Creation’s factory in South India. The community is made up of a 90% female workforce working in merchandising, design, tailoring, fabric checking, printing, packing, and QC. The factory has one of the lowers turnovers of employees in the textile industry with many team members being at the factory for nearly 15 years. There is a beautiful family atmosphere of support, care, and kindness at the factory. Hundreds of pairs of eyes, and hands have been involved in designing, and producing your product.
Watch a video about our partner factory
Mask Science: Information Collected from Trusted Publications and Sources
This chart from the Financial Times, shows the trajectory of Coronavirus cases
amongst countries which have strong social norms to wear masks and those that do not.
This chart from the Financial Times, shows the trajectory of Coronavirus cases amongst countries which have strong social norms to wear masks and those that do not.
SOURCE: FINANCIAL TIMES
Scientific Community Conversation on Masks
The environmental dangers of employing single-use face masks as part of a COVID-19 exit strategy – UCL Plastic Innovation Hub: Summary
Paola Lettieri and UCL Plastic Innovation Hub, 24th April 2020
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Mandatory wearing of masks in public is likely to be considered by the government as part of a lockdown exit strategy.
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Most masks available for sale are made from layers of plastics and are designed to be single-use. If every person in the UK used one single-use mask each day for a year, that would create 66,000 tonnes of contaminated plastic waste and create ten times more climate change impact than using reusable masks.
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The NHS states that there needs to be clear evidence that wearing masks will deliver significant benefits to take the UK out of lockdown if it is to jeopardise mask supply.
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There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that even basic face masks can be effective in reducing the spread of the virus, by reducing the range and volume of exhaled water droplets containing the virus.
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In a hospital environment, single-use protective wear such as masks and gloves are contaminated items, and there are systems in place for their safe disposal, which involve segregation and incineration.
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No such segregated system exists for the general public, and a policy that makes wearing face masks mandatory will result in thousands of tonnes of contaminated waste deposited in the street and in the household waste.
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Evidence suggests that reusable masks perform most of the tasks of single-use masks without the associated waste stream.
How Far Droplets Travel
