October 5, 2020

Why You Should Avoid Cotton Masks

Why Using Cotton Masks Are Dangerous

The rise in the number of COVID cases has led to an increase in the demand for face masks. And no doubt wearing a face mask offers great protection. Many people mistakenly believe cotton masks are the best choice. Most research studies have proved the effectiveness of cotton masks over synthetic masks. However, cotton masks have a big problem that hardly any research study is pointing out. Most of these cotton masks have a dye of artificial color which is dangerous for your health. Here it is to be noted that the face of the body is more sensitive than other parts. Aerosols of these colors when enter in our breath can cause many other health problems. Another problem is our oceans and rivers are going to be clogged with face masks which is not good for the environment at all. Though many people consider the cotton environment friendly, the truth is far from reality. Cotton production requires a lot of water and pesticide and it also causes deforestation. When you buy a cotton mask, you indirectly contribute to chocking our oceans. So when you buy a cotton mask, take care of these things. What is the solution then? Unfortunately, there are not many environment-friendly face masks. Hemp masks can be a good choice as they don’t use any artificial dye. They require 1/10th of the amount of water compared to cotton crops and no pesticides. Here it is to be noted that 20% pesticide consumption is done in the cotton production only resulting in soil erosion and other health hazards. When you buy hemp, you also contribute to environmental preservation.

So how to buy a hemp mask, click here. 

Vishal Vivek is the Founder and CEO of Ukhi, a pioneering bio-materials company dedicated to ending plastic pollution by converting agricultural waste into high-performance compostable polymers. With a background in sustainable entrepreneurship and over a decade of technology experience, he leads Ukhi’s vision to create scalable, planet-positive material solutions. Previously, Vishal founded the Hemp Foundation, where he empowered more than 1,000 farmers and advanced sustainable livelihood initiatives. His work has been recognized through awards such as the HDFC Parivartan Grant and featured in leading publications like Forbes and Entrepreneur. Times Group recognized him as a legendary entrepreneur and published his biography in “I Did IT- Vol 2” alongside social pioneers like Bindeshwar Pathak (Sulabh International) and Anshu Gupta (Goonj). Vishal has authored more than 200 articles on sustainability and hemp, reflecting his deep expertise and advocacy for regenerative solutions. His commitment to grassroots impact led him to live in the remote mountains of Uttarakhand, where he immersed himself in the lives of marginal farmers, understanding their challenges and co-creating economic opportunities through hemp-based initiatives. A deeply passionate innovator, Vishal often draws inspiration from seemingly impossible achievements: “If Elon Musk can make rockets reusable, or Dashrath Manjhi can carve a path through a mountain with rudimentary tools, why can’t we eliminate the demon of single-use plastic while uplifting struggling farmers? We will make it happen—whatever it takes.” Ukhi is proud to be supported by premier institutions including IIT Guwahati, NSRCEL-IIM Bangalore, Indian School of Business (Hyderabad), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR Pusa), and the Indian Institute of Packaging. Vishal is committed to demonstrating that business can be a powerful catalyst for global environmental and social good. Connect with Vishal Vivek