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Innovation of Biodegradable Antimicrobial Abrics for Sustainable Face Masks Production to Reduce Respiratory Disease Transmission
Summary
Researchers evaluated biodegradable antimicrobial face mask materials—including cellulose, PLA-based nonwoven, and cotton-biopolymer blends—across healthcare, retail, and community settings, finding that perceived filtration confidence and antimicrobial efficacy were the strongest drivers of user adoption. The study found biodegradable alternatives can meet practical respiratory protection standards while improving sustainability outcomes, though cost concerns and the need for credible end-of-life pathways remain barriers to widespread uptake.
This study addresses a dual problem: widespread dependence on persistent polypropylene mask media that exacerbates waste streams, and uneven real-world protection due to variability in community mask materials and hygiene. The purpose is to evaluate whether biodegradable antimicrobial fabrics can satisfy practical respiratory performance and sustainability requirements without eroding user adoption. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional, multi-case design, we integrated case-level laboratory anchors with respondent perceptions across three industry-relevant enterprise cases cellulose-rich woven or knit, PLA-based nonwoven, and cotton or biopolymer blends sampled in healthcare, retail, education, and community settings (N ≈ 560). A structured literature review of 47 peer-reviewed studies informed construct definitions and technical thresholds. Key variables included filtration efficiency across submicron aerosols, pressure drop as a breathability proxy, antimicrobial log-reduction on fabric surfaces, and five Likert-scale drivers perceived antimicrobial efficacy, filtration confidence, comfort or breathability, sustainability perception, and cost concern with adoption intention and reported weekly use as outcomes and perceived risk as a moderator. The analysis plan specified descriptive summaries, correlations, ordinary least squares with case fixed effects for intention, ordered logit for use, an efficacy by risk interaction, and prespecified robustness checks. Headline findings show perceived antimicrobial efficacy and filtration confidence as the largest unique associates of intention, comfort contributes positively, sustainability adds a modest incremental lift, and cost concern suppresses intention; intention predicts weekly use, and higher perceived risk strengthens the efficacy to intention pathway, with an exploratory signal linking more frequent use to fewer recent respiratory symptoms. Implications emphasize specifying breathable submicron filtration, durable antimicrobial finishing, credible finished-article end-of-life pathways, simple care guidance, and value framing to overcome cost sensitivity.