Local company Tegere Outdoors has announced the introduction of a high quality face mask to Australia. Manufactured by its NZ partner (Cactus Outdoors), the filter in the face mask complies with key Australian and New Zealand standards (AS/NZS 1716:2012 P2) and Chinese standards as well. The critical technology is an organic wool filter, and is of such a high standard NASA is evaluating it for use in future space craft.
“Wool offers some natural advantages we often overlook,” said Tegere founder Hamish Fox. “We advocate wool for clothing warmth and water resistance. But wool resists bacteria, fungus and other microbes. Wool also scrubs toxic vapours from the air and is slow to burn. There’s a lot going on for wool which places it ahead of synthetic competitors.”
These attributes of the filter are important but so too a snug fit and the natural cotton outer of the mask. In particular, the filter is considered to be much more breathable than others, the filter not restricting air flow in the same way some others do. The mask is suitable for community applications but is not suited for healthcare situations. “We take care to note that this is not a clinical mask but a consumer mask,” added Hamish.
“We like the standards the filter meets, the NASA vote of confidence, and of course the sustainable and eco friendly nature of the materials used. And it’s not lost on us that small businesses supporting small businesses can go some way towards creating that cross-Tasman business bubble to which our leaders aspire. If we can do that with products which benefit our community, then we all benefit,” said co-founder Bruce Lyman.
The product, references to standards, NASA interest in the filter, and the natural attributes of wool can be found at the Tegere Outdoors website www.tegere.com.au.
