TORONTO - Canada's Ezzigroup has launched its first ever-compostable surgical grade facemask manufactured in Canada.

The compostable masks are ASTM F-2100 certified, Health Canada approved and should be available for distribution in Canada and the United States this month under their EzziMed brand.

The PPE manufacturer and distributor is distributing the mask in partnership with Previcare, Inc., a company focused on delivering hand sanitizer, hard surface disinfectants, cleaners and PPE products to its customers worldwide.

Ezzigroup has also signed a distribution agreement to provide their EzziMed, ASTM level 3 certified compostable face masks to the US market with Medtheos LLC, a U.S.-based, wholesale distributor of healthcare products registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"How does a society continue to protect itself without putting the environment at risk?" said Ray Rasouli, chief executive officer of Ezzigroup. "The solution is not to discontinue the use of PPE, but to use alternative materials for making PPE. The compostable face masks are certified for surgical / medical use and, with a 99% + filtration ability, they are truly a game changer for the PPE industry and our community while helping to keep millions of synthetic, disposable face masks out of our landfills every day."

The substrate and nonwoven materials used by Ezzigroup are made with PLA or cotton and soft wood pulp, and will compost in less than 90 days under the soil.