Why pineapple leaves are a promising candidate to replace plastic materials used in single-use masks

By Dwi Umi Siswanti, S.Si.,M.Sc. /Dosen F Biologi UGM, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Tiara Putri, S.Si., M.Sc. /Kandidat Doktor Biologi, Universitas Gadjah Mada

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased demand for single-use masks, putting pressure on global plastic waste problems.

A single face mask can release as many as 173,000 microfibres per day into the seas. According to a 2020 report by an environmental group OceansAsia, about 1.56 billion face masks entered oceans globally in 2020.

Face masks are made from combination of several types of plastic. There are several layers of plastic…

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