The world’s first plastic-free coronavirus visor that can be composted in your yard is sold at 50p per mask

• Kit is made from responsible paper and cellulose from wood pulp
• It will be priced at 50p per item if it goes on sale this week
• A Plastic Planet, Reelbrands and Transcend Packaging have developed the PPE
• Here’s how you can help people affected by Covid-19

  By Luke Andrews for Mailonline Published: 22:01 BST, June 2, 2020 | Updated: 22:01 BST, June 2, 2020   The ‘first’ plastic-free coronavirus visor in the world that can be composted in your backyard is on sale for 50p per mask.   The Plastic free PPE REELshield, sold in boxes of 150 for £ 75, consists of an adjustable responsible paper headband and a transparent cellulose visor extracted from wood pulp.   Once used, the designer says it can be disposed of with organic waste.   The US Composting Council adds that there is “no risk” of compost spreading coronavirus because it will decay in heat and humidity within three days.   International campaign group A Plastic Planet and packaging experts Reelbrands and Transcend Packaging have developed the PPE to reduce plastic pollution. The mask is made of responsible paper for the headband and cellulose extracted from wood pulp for the transparent visor   “No one wants to compromise the safety of workers and the public, but the plastic PPE visors are used once and then exist for centuries,” said campaign group co-founder Sian Sutherland.   “We wanted to set a good example and show that we can protect ourselves and our planet.   ‘We can no longer sacrifice nature without consequences. The public supports a green recovery from the pandemic because we simply cannot isolate or vaccinate against the climate crisis.’   The personal protective equipment is CE certified by the European Economic Area, which means that it has been extensively tested to ensure that it meets the same standards as the plastic alternative.   It has also received a Plastic Free Trust Mark from one of its designers, A Plastic Planet. The mask is a response to millions of plastic items that are feared to pollute the ocean. PPE masks have been washed off above on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, May 27   The PPE will be made available to companies this week. Some have already been picked up by delivery company Yodel and fish product company Three Oceans.   It can be bought by individuals or by companies looking to place larger orders, a spokesperson said.   For those concerned about composting, there will be a special service where used PPE can be disposed of in a specialized bin.   The stock is collected by Terracycle and taken to a location where it is recycled or composted.   Factories are poised to produce over a million plastic free PPE kits every week, with plans to start producing more in the US and distribute them in East and South Africa. “The virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule covered with a protective layer of lipid (fat),” they said.   “Because the virus is not a living organism, it is not killed, but perishes. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and the type of material where it lies: between three hours (drops in the air) to 24 hours (porous surfaces such as fabrics or cardboard) to 72 hours (hard, smooth surfaces such as plastic).   “At least it won’t survive the weeks or months in your compost pile, not even a not very active one.”   As of February 2020, an estimated 761 million pieces of PPE are distributed across the UK.