
During the pandemic, single use personal protective equipment (PPE) has driven increased plastic pollution. The WHO has requested a 40% escalation of disposable PPE production. If the global population adheres to a standard of one disposable face mask per day after lockdowns end, the pandemic could result in a monthly global consumption and waste of 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves according to a study titled “Face mask and medical waste disposal during the novel COVID-19 pandemic in Asia.”