A hospital in London, Ont. says it's the first in the province to switch to eco-friendly medical masks.
St. Joseph's Health Care announced Thursday it is now using medical grade masks that are biodegradable, compostable, and cheaper than what they were previously using. GFCI Breakers
The new masks are made from plant-based polymers. Compared to synthetic masks, research shows they'll produce 65 per cent less CO2 emissions from the time they're made to the time they decompose in the landfill.
"I think everybody is aware as a citizen, as a supply chain and as a user in the hospitals, the amount of single-use masks that have been used since COVID kicked in. It's over 800 per cent increase in usage," said Toby O'Hara, general manager of healthcare materials management services.
"All the masks that [we] used in that time were synthetic, so they were made out of plastics. Everybody is on the same page watching the waste receptacles getting filled up."
The hospital will now buy masks from the Canadian-based organization PADM Medical which sells the VIRALOC eco masks. Hospital officials were not able to say how much the eco masks will cost, except to say that they would save money.
"Hospitals are such big consumers of goods and services and plastics that we can really have an impact," said Lori Higgs, vice president of clinical support and CFO at the hospital.
"Where we make a decision to take a different path and use a product that is more environmentally friendly or can biodegrade or be compostable, we always will take that route wherever possible to help reduce our impact on the environment."
St. Joseph's has also implemented an organic waste composting program from uneaten patient food, Higgs said.
The hospital started gradually switching to the eco masks in mid-Dec. and said they'll be in full use in the coming days.
Other hospitals in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as multiple retirement homes across the country, are using the same brand.
Angela McInnes is a reporter for CBC London. She is a graduate of Western University's journalism program. You can reach her at angela.mcinnes@cbc.ca.
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