The novel coronavirus started spreading at the start of 2020, so we’ve been living with it for a while now. As a result, COVID-19 has become a part of how businesses make decisions. At first, it was a localized issue. Businesses closed. Some, like Hobby Lobby or Canadian Tire, fought to stay open, despite restrictions. Unfortunately, some smaller retailers went out of business entirely. Then, those impacts spread. Certain items, like toilet paper, flew off the shelves, leading to increased demand. On the other hand, dairy farmers, unable to sell stock to cruise ships or hotels, had to dump their milk.
Additionally, we’ve seen that COVID-19 has had an impact on the environment, leading to less smog and less disturbance to marine animals.
There’s another area where our decisions are starting to be affected, one that might not immediately spring to mind: the production of masks.
Banana Masks?
Not quite. Abaca trees are part of the banana tree family, and native to the Philippines. In 1925, The United States Department of Agriculture started planting Abaca in Central America. American-managed Abaca plantings increased their outputs enormously WWII. The Philippines still produces the most Abaca fiber, however.
Abaca fiber turns into saltwater-resistant ropes. Up to 30% of the composition of Japan’s banknotes comes from Abaca, and the fiber is used in the production of Mercedes-Benz automobiles too.
Now, companies in China, India, and Vietnam which manufacture masks are going to use Abaca fiber in their mask production. (1, 2)
Abaca Masks Vs. Plastic Masks
Plastic masks and other disposable healthcare equipment could have devastating effects on the environment. Head of the Philippines fiber agency, Kennedy Costales, says, “if we all buy masks made of synthetic fiber, they will pile up in dumpsites because they take so long to decompose.” Abaca fiber masks, however, take only two months to break down in landfills. Additionally, the Philippines Department of Science and Technology found that N-95 masks made with Abaca fiber have pores within the regulations set to prevent infection by the United States’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Furthermore, Abaca masks are more water-resistant than a plastic-based N-95 mask.
Firat Kabasakalli, general manager of Dragon Vision Trading, remarks that “people see this pandemic lasting for some time.” As a result, “even small companies are trying to make protective equipment, which require our fiber. We are getting a lot of inquiries from new clients abroad.” (2)
More Mask Material Facts
A report by Bloomberg found that “Covid-19 could increase plastic packaging intensity, undoing some of the early progress made by companies.” Disposable face masks were one of the biggest spikes in products requiring plastics.
Unfortunately, there’s not enough Abaca in the Philippines to match the potential demand, if people turn away from plastic-based masks. “Abaca is like precious gold for the Philippines, but it’s been often overlooked,“ says Costales. “This is a missed opportunity for us.“
It’s an opportunity worth jumping on, according to Neil Francis Rafisura, the general manager of Salay Handmade Products Industries Inc. Because “the awareness of consumers now is higher when it comes to taking care of the environment,” according to him, “there are people who will pay a premium for environmentally friendly products.” (2, 3)
