Future of face masks: What next for startup businesses?

Sixteen months later and the face of the country is changing – in more ways than one. The Covid pandemic has normalised face coverings in all aspects of life for the best part of a year and now the day is coming that this is changing.

From Monday 19th July, it will no longer be a legal requirement to wear face masks in public settings (excluding whilst on transport in London), which has caused some uncertainty across the country. Where does the future of Britain’s health lie?

But this also poses a second question – what does the future hold for Britain’s small businesses? With so many startup businesses focusing on face masks, what will happen to those firms’ owners now that the restrictions are changing?

Speaking on this topic and the demand for more eco-friendly options, Julie Cook, from Eco Green Communities, said: “Eco Green Living was founded in November 2020 as a direct result of consumer demand for compostable swap outs for the home, replacing everyday single-use plastics.

“We turned our attention to sourcing truly 100% certified EN 13432 compostable products for everyday use, which clearly included face masks.

“Aware that by this time, our launch could be behind the curve, we decided to continue and to carry on. We were able to receive our stock in May of 2021 and have been selling online through our shop and Amazon and to wholesale customers.

“The face masks are completely compostable – every single different component. They are certified EN 13432 and we are just waiting for the final testing to attain EN-14683 for medical grade.

“EN 13432 requires the compostable product to disintegrate after 12 weeks and completely biodegrade after six months. That means that 90 per cent or more of the plastic material will have been converted to CO2. The remaining share is converted into water and biomass – i.e. valuable compost.”

Despite the easing of restrictions on the horizon, Julie is certain that Eco Green Communities will continue to sell their compostable face masks,

She said: “We will carry on! Coronavirus is here to stay, even with Monday’s news, figures are going up, people are confused and want reassurance.

“We have a product that is not only a sensible precaution but it is compostable – a massive bonus for the environment.

“The face mask is something that we all resent wearing, however, they also give us some form of protection that we believe we are in control of. Crowded spaces, public transport, work, restaurants – the mask is a personal choice in some instances and mandatory in others.

“Whatever the choice, an environmental alternative is key and that is what we provide.”

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Description automatically generatedMany businesses brought facemasks in alongside their existing offering, saving the future of their business during the pandemic. Another example of a business owner who had to adapt to the world around us is Bobbi Trehan-Young, founder of Bobbi London.

She said: “When I created my startup in 2019, the development of my luxury leather collection had just started when everything came to a grinding halt last March. It was devastating for me as the year I was due to launch I was facing the uncertainty of what lied ahead.

“Instead of losing hope, I decided to remain fluid and proceed with bringing forward my collection of luxury tech products. To remain relevant during the pandemic, I added silk face masks to my line of products, given the prolonged wear of face masks.

“Again, I wanted something which was not only functional but stood apart from the disposable and fabric masks which started to dominate the market, without causing skin-irritation or breakouts.

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Description automatically generated”The ease of restrictions won’t really have a great deal of impact on my business, even though I launched during the pandemic. However, I’m looking forward to being able to network in person again. Given my target audience are frequently travelling, I can only look forward to the demand for my products growing.”

Not every business has had to sell facemasks to be impacted by the pandemic and the changing of restrictions. Precious Delivery was created for pregnant women having to go into hospital during the peak of the pandemic, offering an opportunity for additional help and support from midwives during the crisis.

Senior midwife and founder of Precious Delivery, Siobhan Obodai-Payne (pictured left) said: “I started Precious Delivery during the second wave of lockdown.

“I’m a midwife and saw first-hand the devastating effect lockdown/Covid-19 had on pregnant women and their families. This included feeling alone as they were too scared to come into hospital due to the fear of catching COVID.

“When women called the wards, phones were often unanswered as midwives were working with minimal staff and busy looking after patients that were in their care.

“It was also difficult for pregnant women to go shopping for their hospital bag essentials as the government guideline was for pregnant women to refrain from going out as they were at higher risk of catching Covid.

“That’s when the idea occurred to me – to offer affordable midwifery consultations that women could book online at a time to suit them. I also offered a luxury prepacked hospital bag so that women could order everything they needed for their unborn baby and themselves.

“This hospital bag also came with a free consultation as I was aware that many antenatal classes had been cancelled. These are so important for first-time mums to learn about labour and the postnatal period.”

In terms of the future of her business, Siobhan is fearful about what the easing of restrictions may mean for her,

She said: “With the easing of lockdown rules and mask wearing, I fear my business will be short-lived as pregnant women will start to venture back out to get their essentials.

“My plan going forward is to maintain the best standards and contribute to support pregnant women and their families, all while offering the most competitively-priced items.

“After all, who doesn’t want a senior midwife to pack their hospital bag?”