The Italian brand UYN is buying up unsold face masks from retailers and using them to create a sustainable accessories collection made from recycled materials.
Under the “Change the Face of Your Mask” initiative, UYN will buy the masks – previously required during the Covid-19 pandemic – at €2.50 each (including transport costs) from retailers. In return, retailers have the opportunity to purchase an accessory from the new UYN Second Life range, which includes neck warmers, headbands and balaclavas. In all these items, masks will be reused in combination with other recycled fabric parts, and products will feature UYN’s new three-dimensional Heat Diamond technology, which provides excellent thermal insulation.
The action aims to prevent the disposal of masks currently in warehouses from being discarded in landfills and aims to reduce CO2 emissions and waste in the environment. The initiative includes not only UYN’s own masks but also masks from other brands.
UYN will also use the recycled masks to produce the Airnest padding used in the brand’s winter jackets, as well as materials for thermal and sound insulation used in the construction and automotive industries.
