The Winterthur Cantonal Hospital and the University Hospital Zurich get in touch with EPFL and Empa as the stock of masks is running low. They want to know if there is a way that surgical masks could be used more than once.

The two textile industry associations Swissmem and Swiss Textiles also ask Empa for support. They were commissioned by the federal government’s crisis management team to start mask production in Switzerland.

Yesterday we spoke with Innosuisse about possible support. We call the project ReMask – short for reusable mask, based on one of the goals of being able to reuse masks. Today we met for the first time as a ReMask team – with 15 individual institutes, epidemiologists and hospitals.

The graphic shows that the types of masks that have been widely used to date – FFP and surgical masks – are only suitable for everyday use to a limited extent, and masks made of simple fabric – known as “community masks” – provide insufficient protection. We will develop a list of criteria that specifies everything a community mask must be able to do.

The pressing enquiries about the mask shortage are keeping us busy! I have been working at Empa for over 25 years, but have never been so busy at work. Yesterday we conducted the first mask tests at the hospital. There’s also a lot of administration involved. Today, the ReMask team officially joined the expert group of the Swiss National Covid-19 Science Task Force. And we submitted our project to Innosuisse.

A few days ago, the Science Task Force published the “Community Masks Specifications and Recommendations” policy brief. The ReMask team drew up these quality recommendations for textile masks in just one week. And today we supplemented the application to Innosuisse – focusing on a long-term strategy for mask production in Switzerland.

The first mask type from our industrial partners, the textile companies Forster Rohner AG and Schoeller Textil AG in eastern Switzerland, meets the requirements of the Science Task Force. The production of washable community masks in Switzerland can begin!

After Innosuisse accepted our project submission on 13 May, we are meeting for the first time as the newly formed ReMask team: the associations Swiss Textiles and Swissmem as well as 41 industrial partners are now officially involved.

Empa, together with the testing and certification company Testex, has developed a test method in which textile masks can be tested for filter function, splash resistance, wearing comfort, reusability and textile compatibility. The masks made by Schoeller Textil AG and Forster Rohner AG are the first to be awarded the Testex label.

Another breakthrough! Tests show improved filtration and comfort properties on a laminated nanofibre membrane for the first time. The top layer, which protects against viruses, impairs breathing only minimally.

After Innosuisse’s go/no-go review, one thing is clear: we’re moving ahead! With a scientific focus on new filter systems with better filtration efficiency and high wearing comfort, fabrics that provide better protection against viruses and bacteria to make masks safer, as well as the reusability of masks – for a sustainable Swiss mask strategy.

The first reusable textile mask is recognised as a Type I surgical mask pursuant to the EN 14683:2019 standard. Empa is also publishing an initial study on the sustainability of masks. It shows that cotton fabric masks perform better than surgical masks in terms of energy consumption and carbon footprint. In contrast, the surgical mask performs better than its cotton counterpart in terms of water consumption and overall environmental impact.

The concept for the SNV Swiss regulation for community masks is ready. This uniform standard enables consumers to compare fabric masks from different manufacturers with regard to various parameters such as filter efficiency.