10 Questions

 

1.     What product or service have we taken inspiration from?

An ordinary fabric face mask has inspired TriMask to improve its features and bring out its best quality. Due to the low efficacy of an ordinary fabric face mask, TriMask brings you a better one – a cloth mask that is as effective as surgical mask.

2.     What are its key features and benefits?

TriMask is a reusable, washable, and breathable cloth mask. Like the surgical face masks, it is three-layered but whose materials are sustainable – cotton inner absorbent layer, spunbonded non-woven polypropylene (NWPP) middle filter, and polyester non-absorbent outer layer. The outer layer is coated with plant-based wax to add a water-repellent, hydrophobic property. The three-layered mechanism and hydrophobic wax coating ensure additional protection against the transmission of communicable disease, thus increasing the efficacy of the usual, non-layered cloth mask. Not only does it offer comfort, breathability and superior filtration but it is also a sustainable and environment-friendly substitute to the single-use, non-biodegradable surgical face masks.

3.     Who is our target market?

The rampancy of COVID-19 pandemic is still prominent in current times, which makes everybody susceptible to having it. SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, does not select its victim to infect. Thus, it is of interest to serve everybody, regardless of their age and gender.

4.     What makes this particular product innovative?

COVID-19 remains rampant until today even with the strict implementation of protocols and immediate administration of vaccines. Hence, the use of face masks is still mandated for the safety of everyone. TriMask is unlike other cloth and surgical masks because it is created with multifunctional features. The integration of these qualities in one face mask has never been seen before and because of that, this has driven the realization of creating this innovation for a safer and more effective product. This is also geared towards sustainability which further sets it apart from the rest. With its sustainable state-of-the-art features, this product will surely answer the alarming concerns regarding the environment and this pandemic.

5.     Is it eco-friendly?

TriMask is eco-friendly because it is made of biodegradable and sustainable materials. Thus, TriMask is environment-friendly unlike the disposable, non-biodegradable surgical masks which are threat to the environment and wildlife.

6.     Do we intend to create a sketch/ nonfunction prototype from scrap material/ drawing/ operational framework to show (a) how it will possibly look like and (b) the process it will undertake?

Yes.

7.     If this will be sold in the market, will it be expensive, or will this be for free?

Quality and safety are prioritized in the production of TriMask. Therefore, it is neither expensive nor free, but rest assured that a reasonable price would be given considering the amount of money it can save upon the reuse of this mask. The evaluation of the TriMask price came from the needed materials such as pure cotton, spunbond non-woven polypropylene (NWPP), polyester, and plant-based wax, and the production cost which arrived at a starting price of P260.00 per adult mask. As compared to other premium cloth masks in the market that start at P500.00 retail price, TriMask is evidently cheaper, considering its quality and environmental benefits.

8.     Will this innovation be a solution to societal/world problems?

The COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on the lives of everyone, affecting human health and daily life for every person in the world. In order to limit viral transmission, face masks are extensively utilized as personal protective equipment (PPE), and their worldwide usage has expanded. It is projected that approximately 7,200 tons of medical waste is produced every day by the Covid-19 pandemic because of the increasing use of disposable face masks over the previous two years (Trafton, 2021). Because TriMask is a reusable and sustainable fabric mask, the usage of this product results in the protection of human health and the preservation of environmental purity. As an effective alternative for the single-use, non-biodegradable face mask, TriMask will surely curb the face mask pollution which is both a threat to the environment and wildlife.

9.     Given that we can create a product description out of this idea, can we also create the following:

●      process/mechanism description

●      Direction for use/product manual

●      Technical report containing theoretical background

           Yes.

10.  Do we have online sources to help in our research about innovation?

Yes.