“Air Pollution is Killing Us” – Mask Creators Hit the Streets with Hard-Hitting Message

The founders of the Airhead anti-pollution mask took to the streets of London as part of their ongoing mission to protect commuters’ health against toxic air

Three entrepreneurial friends behind British-made revolutionary face mask, Airhead, hit the streets of London this month to raise awareness of the dangers of air pollution, especially for commuters in populated cities.

Donning the mask which has filters capable of blocking >99% of particulate matter, the Airhead team held up whiteboards brandished with messages that read, “We don’t love masks either / But while air pollution is killing us / We’d rather wear one that works,” in Borough – at the southern end of London Bridge.

The guerrilla marketing approach was in a bid to encourage commuters to ‘mask up’ and took place in the midst of COP26 where world leaders had been tackling the topic of climate change in Glasgow.

Elliot Denvir, Airhead Co-Founder said: “Everyday thousands of commuters across London are being exposed to toxic air which is having a huge impact on their health – without them even realising it.

“We wanted to get in front of as many cyclists and pedestrians as we could to try and make a difference in any small way we can.

“The response was fantastic, we spent time speaking to people about how wearing a mask can help combat the ill-effects, and how things like our TPE seal ensure our masks actually do what they say they will, as opposed to masks which don’t fit properly or provide adequate filtration.

“Even if we made just one person realise how the fumes in the city are damaging their physical and mental health, we’re happy.”

The brainchild of socially conscious entrepreneurial university friends Harry Young, Alex Smith, and Elliot, Airhead was founded in June 2019, before the pandemic, as a solution to the lack of effective pollution masks on the market.

The friends were determined to launch a mask that combined personality with real, research-backed innovation, and, as London commuters themselves, fed into their mission of helping city workers combat pollution.

Providing maximum comfort and breathability, effective filtration, an airtight fit which prevents leakage, and offering a sustainable alternative to disposable masks, the Airhead Mask is aimed at those who love being active outdoors, and to improve their lives when they are on the move around the city.

The trio enlisted the help of a team of industry-leading researchers and scientists from Brunel University in 2019 to create a mask capable of blocking PM2.5 particulates from the air, as well as tiny particles down to 0.3 microns in diameter. Crucially, it features a TPE seal to ensure no air leakage, as well as rear-facing valves to quickly move hot air away from the face. The mask also comes with exhalation valve blockers, to make it suitable for use as a Covid face covering in crowded places.

Harry Young, Airhead Co-Founder said: “As all eyes have been on Glasgow for COP26, and with climate change a ‘hot’ topic at the moment, we felt this was the perfect opportunity to play our own small part.

“Air pollution is a global health emergency, killing 8.8 million people each year. Hitting the streets of London to spread this message is something that we are extremely passionate about. Airhead was born with the vision of creating a face mask that protects people from air pollution, combining performance with comfort and a good look.”

The Airhead mask is available in three colour options (blue, grey, and black) and comes with two filters, a carry bag and exhalation valve blockers. RRP £89 purchase through Airhead’s website