Image via Plaxtil
The pandemic has only added to the plastic waste problem, what with the disposable protective equipment and testing kits we go through every day.
Rather than tossing their used masks in the trash, though, some people drop them into collection bins. A French recycling facility called Plaxtil then picks them up and converts them into household items.
In a past life, Plaxtil supplied plastic parts to car and aeronautical companies. It only found its calling when a charity reached out to ask if there was a way to upcycle donated clothes that weren’t good enough to sell.
This sense of purpose compounded when COVID-19 struck the world, accelerating the use of face masks while waste piled on. Plaxtil began taking in masks as raw materials since they’re “practically all plastic fiber,” co-founder Jean-Marc Neveu told Marketplace (via Core77).
The face coverings are first sanitized and broken down into what Marketplace described as “mush,” which is then shaped into everyday objects.
Neveu said the company has converted 25 million used masks from around the world, of which 100,000 have been turned into school kits and donated to schools for free.
Image via Plaxtil
The recycled-plastic sets of rulers, squares, and protractors take on a different shade at each upcycling round, mirroring the colors of the masks from the batch of the day.
Other items that Plaxtil has transformed from old face masks include coat hangers and phone stands.
Nous sommes très heureux de lancer aujourd’hui la marque Yet, Made from clothes fruit de notre partenariat avec PATATAM...
Posted by Plaxtil on Monday, August 9, 2021
You might be wondering: They’re doing all this for free? Luckily, the firm runs a profitable business—it continues to supply recycled plastics to brands looking to turn green. Looking at the landscape today, there are plenty of them.
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[via Core77 and Marketplace, images via Plaxtil]