CALGARY - Roswell Textiles, alongside its sister company and commercial partner PADM Medical, has announced the use of its proprietary plant based nonwoven materials, Ecofuse, in Canada's first plant based, medical grade procedural mask. The Viraloc Eco facemask has a 65% carbon footprint reduction, when compared to a traditional synthetic mask.

The use of Ecofuse materials in the Viraloc Eco product (and PADM Medical USA's Precision Eco product for the US market) means that this product is now in compliance with sustainability initiatives and requirements under The Paris Agreement, COP26, WHO, the Canadian Governments 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, the US Federal Buy Clean Initiative, the US Inflation Reduction Act, the US Building a Clean Energy Economy and general US federal sustainable procurement initiatives.

"Roswell Textiles' Ecofuse nonwoven materials are produced from plant-based biopolymers and manufactured right here, in the city of Calgary," said Kyle Fiolka, president of Roswell Textiles and chief innovation officer for the PADM Group. "Our Ecofuse materials are highly engineered and possess similar technical specifications as synthetic, polypropylene materials but with a 65% net carbon reduction. Ecofuse materials, due to their plant-based start of life, contribute to a more sustainable and circular economy. We believe that Alberta is paving the way for a more sustainable future. Ecofuse materials are our answer to making meaningful steps towards carbon reduction, by driving adoption of plant-based materials and reducing our reliance on synthetic materials."

"Roswell Textiles' Ecofuse nonwoven materials are a critical component of our revolutionary, low carbon footprint medical grade face mask, Viraloc Eco," added David Donnelly, president & general manager of PADM Medical Canada. "We are thrilled to have them as a strategic partner in our mission to reduce the carbon footprint and negative environmental consequences of global waste produced by the healthcare industry."

Viraloc Eco is in use in Canadian healthcare facilities, and a rapid increase in market adoption is anticipated as hospitals and healthcare systems better understand that they now have a greener and more sustainable choice when it comes to procedural ASTM compliant face masks.

The company says it is starting with masks, but alongside Roswell Textiles, is committed to replacing all single-use, synthetic plastic materials in its hospitals and clinics with its new carbon friendly, plant-based products.