7A Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

1) I'd like the pursue the opportunity of developing recyclable face masks and other PPE products that are in high use right now. 

2) Recycle PPE and face masks are an unmet need for people who are environmentally conscience and want to practice self-preservation.

Who: People who want to reduce their carbon foot-print while not compromising their safety and health. 

What: Current materials and usage of face masks and PPE render them unrecyclable.

Why: Face masks and PPE are considered to be bio hazardous after they are used once, the material developed for face masks are not recyclable by conventional means.

3) Hypothesis:

    With the high usage of protective personal equipment (PPE) and one time use disposable face masks, there has been an increase of pollution and litter. People who use face masks and other PPE are unable to recycle them after usage, they can be unaware that they cannot be recycled. People think they can recycle them because of their simple materials that are recyclable in other products. 

Testing Who: This need can be expanded to people all over the world that use face masks. Doctors and nurses in hospitals that go through a large volume of face masks can benefit knowing that their face masks can be recycled. 

Testing What: The boundary for this need would be that some people prefer using a cloth face mask that they wash and reuse. Another boundary would be that some people don't wear face masks at all. 

Testing Why: Many people that I have talked to did not know that face masks were not recyclable, this ignorance may be widespread to people all over the country. 

4) Interviews: For this part I interviewed my cousin, who is a nurse in a Georgia healthcare facility, my dad, my sister, a restaurant worker, and an old high school teacher. My cousin Antonio, when I interviewed him, said that as a nurse he knew that the PPE and face masks that he wore were not recyclable. I asked them if he saw any downgrade or reason why they should not be made recyclable, he told me that he thinks face masks being able to be recycled may be dangerous, telling me that people might confuse recyclable with reusable. He told me that PPE and face masks were designed for single use and they were meant to be disposed of. Another person I interviewed told me that they were unaware that face masks were not recyclable, they told me that they thought of them just like plastic bags and that their paper-like material was recyclable. They told me that there could be a lot of benefit in creating a biodegradable face mask that can dissolve in the ocean or break down easier in a land fill. 

5) After interviewing I did a little more research into why face masks weren't recyclable, because they are considered a bio hazard after a single use. But also, after conducting interviews it was made clear to me that face masks were developed to be disposed of. Their cheap design and material made them ideal for mass production. The most helpful interview was with my cousin Antonio, he was the most knowledgeable in information about the usage and disposable of used PPE and face masks.