Eco-Art Competition 2022

After the breakout of COVID-19, the global world has changed greatly, during which large amount of masks have been used and discarded. The improper disposal of the masks has caused more environmental problems than before. Studies suggest that at least 1.56 billion masks, weighing around 4,680 to 6,240 tons, were dumped into the ocean in 2020. Unfortunately, it takes 400-500 years for a mask to decompose, which endangers not only human beings but also other wildlife species. To ease the problem of mask-pollution, we can recycle and reuse disposable masks. My design proposed that, after being recollected, sanitized, decomposed and remodeled into bricks, masks can be used as insulation material for buildings. In Northern Europe, for example, sauna rooms in the wild can be the first beneficiaries of this new material. To plant the seed of recycling the masks for sustainable building, the drawings shows a possible scenario. People’s environmental awareness can be further promoted by actually using the sauna space. I sincerely hope that this drawing can tell a vivid story of transforming a pandemic byproduct into something useful and environmentally sustainable, so that our natural environment can be improved and more people will take action to save it.