French manufacturer Geochanvre has begun developing and selling face masks made from hemp. Unlike medical masks, the cannabis-derived masks are biodegradable and compostable.
A majority of disposable, single-use personal protective gear comes from plastics. These masks end up in oceans, lakes and landfills, and could take up to 450 years to decompose.
A study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology said approximately 129 billion face masks and 65 billion latex gloves are being used every month.
Keep reading if you need a few more reasons why hemp wins out as the best material for protective face masks.
Hemp vs Cotton
Antimicrobial
Hemp wins this one hands down. The hemp plant contains an oil known as CBD that is antiseptic in nature. The CBD content is certainly not high enough for altering mood but just enough to offer you better protection against invisible threats as compared to cotton.
The presence of a variety of plant chemicals and alkaloids in hemp cloth makes it the ideal material to make a face mask. Imagine having a barrier to entry over your mouth and nose that kills germs naturally. Is that not a fantastic ally to have in this deadly battle?
Sweat absorbent
Hemp has a unique molecular structure. Due to this reason, it can hold 50% of its own weight in water. It goes without saying that a warm and humid summer causes copious amounts of sweat. If the sweat accumulates, one gets rashes and itchy skin that needs medication.
If there is one thing you have to avoid if possible, it is medicating yourself and making your immune system weak. Hemp successfully wicks off all the sweat pouring out of you and lets your skin breathe and be healthy without any effort at all.
Wearability
Hemp is remarkably strong. That is why ropes are made of hemp and not cotton. Sailors have trusted hemp with their lives for millennia.
You need a mask that you are sure would last you all day and not tear apart. It also needs to withstand continuous cycles through the washing machine. If you are looking for a face covering made of robust material, look no further than hemp. While hemp is durable, it is not at all rough. Modern technology has ensured that hemp is soft and feels gentle against your skin.
