Not long ago, some people were so outraged by an image of a turtle with a plastic straw in is nose that many refused to use or even offer straws. While an increased awareness of hygiene (drinking through a straw means less risk of infecting others via a reusable beverage container, such as a glass) has led many people to realize the advantages of straws, it now appears that face masks are exactly the problem some thought straws were.
Given the excessive use of face masks in 2020, despite many studies proving their ineffectiveness in preventing the spread of Covid, countless facemasks have ended up in the world’s oceans. It is believed that as many as 1.5 billion facemasks are already floating around in the ocean, threatening marine life around the world. It can take up to 450 years for the average facemask to decay.
Hence, deciding against wearing or even buying a facemask, can actually help protect wildlife in oceans around the world for centuries to come.