Sustainable mouth/nose mask consortium successfully concluded

​In January 2021, Eindhoven Engine began a consortium with SionBioText BV, specialist in FFP2 mouth/nose masks, and research institute TNO to develop and test a sustainable FFP2 mouth/nose mask for healthcare: the ProM mouth/nose mask.

The aim of the project was to develop and test a sustainable FFP2 mouth/nose mask for healthcare, called the ProM mouth/nose mask, in response to the global supply problem of FFP2 masks at the start of the corona pandemic in 2020 and the environmental impact of these masks.
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Produced locally

​The ProM mouth/nose mask is produced in Europe, which means that Europe no longer has to depend on the supply from Asia, and its production can be quickly scaled up. The mask is also more environmentally friendly throughout its lifespan. The project was supported by Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and it was successfully concluded at the end of 2022.
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​The ProM mouth/nose mask is incredibly sustainable as it is made almost entirely (95%) from renewable, biological resources such as PLA with bio-based polypropylene (PP) for filtration and recycled steel for the nose bridge. It is about 30% lighter than regular mouth/nose masks made of polyphenylene ether (PPE), which requires fewer raw materials to produce the mask. The mask is also highly comfortable to wear. From mid-2024, the production of these masks will take place entirely at co-developer and manufacturer SionBiotext BV in Maastricht, ensuring better security of supply.

Doublechecking for quality

During the project, the consortium successfully tested the technical feasibility, business case, wearability, and contribution to sustainability of the prototype FFP2 mouth/nose mask. In the final phase, a lifecycle analysis (LCA) was performed, which proved that it is possible to develop and produce an FFP2 mouth/nose mask made of PLA and bio-based PP. The LCA tests also showed that these masks have some 72% lower CO2-related environmental impact throughout their lifecycle compared to a conventional PPE mouth/nose mask. The next step is to certify these masks.

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