Reusable masks adorned with sharks including great whites raise funds for the animals facing multiple threats
- New mask collection aims to help the animals at risk of shark finning, ocean pollution and the hunt for a Covid-19 vaccine
- Disposable masks remain the facewear of choice in Hong Kong, but are not recyclable
Doug Woodring is making two statements with his face mask that’s emblazoned with images of great white sharks. First, he’s encouraging people to ditch disposable masks for reusable ones. Second, he’s raising awareness about the plight of sharks, a much-maligned marine animal.
The mask is part of the SpyHop Facewear collection released by Ocean Recovery Alliance (ORA), a non-profit Woodring founded in 2010 that focuses on improving ocean health.
Like many environmentalists in the city, Woodring is alarmed by the number of face masks washing up on beaches and discarded on hiking trails.
“When you wear a reusable face masks, you reduce the amount of waste that would be created with disposable masks and the packages they come in,” he says, adding that profits from sales of ORA’s masks go towards the alliance.
As early as March, Gary Stokes, founder of the environmental group Oceans Asia, warned about the environmental impact of discarded masks, while the Hong Kong-based Conservancy Association has long been urging hikers to dispose of their masks at home.