Eco-Friendly COVID Personal Protection Kit

An Eco-Friendly COVID Personal Protection Kit

Protect yourself and others from infection and illness with this eco-friendly personal protection kit! In addition to preventive and lifestyle medicine strategies to strengthen your body, immunity, and resiliency, you can use these sustainable solutions to implement preventive measures that could help protect yourself and reduce the chances of spreading infection to others.

Affiliate Disclosure & Privacy Policy (please review our complete policy here): we use affiliate links and analytics on our website, social media posts and newsletter which utilize cookies placed on your browser to track sales activity. This post is partially sponsored by EcoGloves and contains affiliate links. EcoGloves, Briotech, Plaine Products, and VogMask generously provided sample products for review, but all opinions are my own based on personal use. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and should not be considered medical advice or treatment. Please consult your personal health provider before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Why You Need a Personal Protection Kit

Many illnesses, including the novel coronavirus COVID-19 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the virus that causes influenza, spread mainly from person to person. An infected person may emit droplets and aerosols when they talk, cough, sing, or breathe that contain infectious particles that can float or drift around in the air for several hours (van Doremalen N, Bushmaker T, Morris DH, et al., 2020). In addition to practicing preventive and lifestyle medicine strategies to strengthen your body, immunity, and resiliency for life long health, a personal protection kit can help you address some of these risk factors to reduce the chance of illness and spread of disease.

Viruses like coronavirus can also spread from contact with infected surfaces or objects. This type of transmission can occur when you touch a surface or object contaminated with the virus and then touch your own mouth, nose, or eyes.

Health agencies recommend taking precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds, cleaning your hands and surfaces appropriately, and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue to reduce the spread and risk of infection. This eco-friendly personal protection kit includes products that I use to follow these guidelines in a way that also keeps the health of the planet in mind.

This collection of products in my personal protection kit are eco-friendly and gentler on the earth. They are intended for home-use and not meant for medical use. Of course each person has unique needs that should be personalized in conjunction with your own health professional.

A Reusable Mask as Part of a Personal Protection Kit

For many people, a mask has become a regular part of their personal protection kit. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that masks be worn over the mouth and nose as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission of aerosolized viral infections like COVID-19 for those for whom it is appropriate. Similarly, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that adults wear a mask in public settings and when around people who do not live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

It is important to note that the use of a mask alone is not sufficient to provide an adequate level of protection against COVID-19 nor a replacement for social distancing. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, medical-grade masks (such as surgical masks and N95 respirators) are currently largely reserved for healthcare workers and some first responders. Third-party tested Korean KN94s are becoming more widely available that may provide more extensive protection than surgical or cloth masks.

The mask I have been wearing for several years that continues to be part of my personal protection kit is a resuable organic cotton model from Vogmask. The Vogmask Organic VM Filtering face mask is made from soft organic cotton outer and inner layers with a VM particle filter middle layer. The non-valved design allows for filtering of the inflow and outflow for microscopic particles. Vogmask also makes ​a VMC Filtering face mask that contains a printed outer layer, woven inner layer, VM particle filter, and Carbon filter middle layer. Vogmasks are used for protection from airborne particles such as PM 0.3, PM 2.5, PM 10, dust, allergens, post-combustion particles, germs, shavings, biologics, odors, scents, mold, mold spores, particles in wildfire smoke, volcanic particulate pollution, and other airborne contaminants.

All Vogmasks include a highly efficient particle filter that conforms to standards for N95 workplace respirators. Although they are directly marketed to the consumer and not NIOSH Certified, third-party testing shows NaCl Particle Filtering Efficiency at mean diameter .3-microns and continuous flow rate at 85 L/min. Their masks are comfortable with various size options and an adjustable noseband for an appropriate comfortable fit. They are also latex-free. An optional head strap accessory is available for a more adjustable and comfortable fit, especially for those with small ears, when active, and for extended wear.

You can wash and reuse Vogmasks, making them a sustainable and eco-friendly choice. They also have excellent customer service and have always been very helpful in my interactions with the team.

To maximize the effectiveness of mask use, the appropriate use, storage, and cleaning or disposal of masks are essential. When wearing a mask to reduce the spread and risk of infection with COVID-19, there are a few basic guidelines to follow:

• Clean your hands before you put your mask on, before and after you take it off, and after you touch it at any time.
• Make sure the mask in your personal protection kit covers your nose, mouth, and chin and has a proper fit for your face. Adjust the mask to your face so there are no gaps at the sides or edges.
• Remove your mask by grasping the straps behind the ears or head.
• When you take off your reusable mask, store it in a clean bag and wash as soon as possible.
  • Wash in the laundry or boil fabric masks daily. Be sure the mask air dries completely before use. (*check with the manufacturer of your specific mask for proper care).
  • On the go, consider Briotech Total Mask Refresh which utilizes HOCl to cleanse and eliminate odor.

Biodegradable Disposable Gloves as Part of a Personal Protection Kit

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends wearing disposable gloves when disinfecting after someone who is sick. For example, they recommend wearing disposable gloves when you wash their dishes, do their laundry, or disinfect surfaces that they have touched. CDC guidelines recommend wearing gloves when you touch or have contact with a sick person’s blood, stool, or other body fluids, such as saliva, mucus, vomit, and urine. Soiled gloves should be disposed of properly to avoid cross-contamination, and it is important to wash your hands immediately after.

While plastic disposable gloves end up filling up landfills, there are more sustainable options. Eco Gloves use renewable plant-based materials that are biodegradable and compostable. The production process also emits less carbon than traditional standard plastics, latex and nitrile alternatives.

With the environment in mind, the packaging is made from paper/cardboard that can also be composted or recycled. Eco Gloves are latex-free, powder-free and BPA-free making them an alternative option for those with latex allergies or sensitivities. 

Eco Gloves are not tightly form-fitting and stretchy like common nitrile or latex gloves so it is important to select the proper size. Instead, they are thinner and transparent, making them durable while also lightweight. They fit a bit looser, more like food service gloves.

Despite their light weight, Eco Gloves have extraordinary strength, stretchable durability, and are puncture resistant so they won’t easily rip, tear or leak. I include them in my personal protection kit for uses ranging from cleaning, pumping gas, handling food, and more.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Products In My Personal Protection Kit

Disinfectant agents change the protective protein coat of viruses upon contact, which causes the pathogen to lose its structure. The CDC recommends regularly cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces and frequently used items each day. These may include tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, and electronics.

Currently, the US Environmental Protection Agency recommends numerous disinfectants against different viruses including hypochlorous acid (HOCl), hydrogen peroxide, alcohol (ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, phenol), and others. My personal protection kit contains a few of these for different purposes.

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a natural part of the body’s oxidative defenses. It is produced by specific immune cells to inactivate pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi as well as prions and other proteins, enhance healing, and control responses to injury. HOCl is a powerful oxidizing agent that dissociates in aqueous solution into H+ and OCl–, denaturing and aggregating proteins, and also destroys viruses by chlorination, resulting in single- as well as double-stranded DNA breaks that render the nucleic acid useless and the virus harmless.

Briotech manufactures BrioHOCl, a highly purified formulation of hypochlorous acid stabilized at a weakly acidic, skin-neutral pH that mimics the HOCl that is produced inside the body. Made with HOCl, Briotech Multi-Surface Sanitizer kills 99.99% of germs and harmful bacteria and has demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) on hard, non-porous surfaces, making it a key part of my personal protection kit. Unlike chlorine bleach or peroxide products, HOCl is not irritating for most people. Briotech offers a line of simple HOCl formulations with varying specifications (as to strength and salt content primarily) that are optimized for specific uses.

*Registered List N Disinfectant: EPA #93108-1. Kills Harmful Viruses and Bacteria including Feline calicivirus (Human Norovirus), E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa.

Disclaimer: The current Briotech product line within the US does not make any label claims to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure medical conditions, including COVID-19 infection. Please speak with your own healthcare provider and refer to the individual product labels for specific recommended use.

Soap for Hand Washing in a Personal Protection Kit

One of the most fundamental ways to prevent the spread of infectious pathogens is hand washing. It is recommended that you wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and before eating or preparing food. Therefore, an effective, natural, biodegradable hand soap is a key part of my personal protection kit.

Soap molecules possess both hydrophobic (water-averse) and hydrophilic (water-attracting) properties that can dissolve fatty substances and lipids. Therefore, proper hand washing can disrupt the fatty lipid envelope encasing the coronavirus, making it less likely to survive and then rinsing it off of your skin. Most soaps will work to remove viruses from your hands as long as you spend at least 20 seconds lathering up rubbing all over your hands before you rinse with water. The CDC and the WHO have each laid out step-by-step instructions for hand washing.

For my personal protection kit, I look for environmentally-friendly soap options that are also safe for the skin. For hand washing, I choose organic options without parabens, synthetic fragrances, phthalates, triclosan, artificial dyes, and SLS (sodium laurel sulfate). To make your choice more sustainable and less-waste, look for soap bars that are wrapped in paper or refillable bottles for liquid soaps.

Plaine Products makes refillable bath and body products that allow you to reduce your use of plastic and live a less waste lifestyle. One of my favorite hand soaps in my personal protection kit is Plaine Products’ hand wash. This soap comes in a reusable and refillable metal container that can be fitted with a reusable pump and the organic and natural hand wash ingredients are vegan, cruelty-free, non-GMO, biodegradable, sulfate-free, and palm oil-free. It features organic aloe as the main ingredient to gently wash away germs and bacteria without the use of harsh chemical detergents. They offer unscented options as well as pleasant natural scents.

Use the coupon code SPW for 20% off at Plaine Products!

Hand Sanitizer in a Personal Protection Kit for On-the-Go Use

For on-the-go use, hand sanitizer is included in my personal protection kit. While washing your hands with soap and water is generally the best way to get rid of germs, the CDC recommends the use of a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol when soap and water are not readily available. When using hand sanitizers, you should cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

Plaine Products offers a peppermint antiseptic hand sanitizer that utilizes the antimicrobial and antiviral activities of ethyl alcohol with peppermint essential oil. The vegan, cruelty-free, non-GMO, biodegradable formula is triclosan-free and free of synthetic fragrances. It is also a zero-waste option, coming in a reusable and refillable metal container in 16oz and travel sizes. It has a light scent and a non-sticky, quick-drying formula.

 

For some people, frequent use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers may disrupt the oils from the skin surface and result in dehydrated skin. As an alternative in my personal protection kit, I also include a HOCl-based hand spray.

Briotech makes an Electrolyzed Hand Spray that utilizes HOCl with no alcohol, fragrance, triclosan, or harmful chemicals. This natural cleansing solution brings a gentle and natural balance to your skin to soothe while cleansing.

What are your favorite eco-friendly products in your personal protection kit?

Have you tried any of these sustainable solutions for reducing illness?

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