Roswell Textiles, alongside its’ sister company and commercial partner PADM Medical, announced the use of its proprietary plant-based nonwoven materials, ECOFUSE, in Canada’s first plant based, medical grade procedural mask (VIRALOC ECO). The VIRALOC ECO face mask has a 65% carbon footprint reduction, when compared to a traditional synthetic mask.

“Roswell Textiles’ ECOFUSE nonwoven materials are produced from plant-based biopolymers and manufactured right here, in the city of Calgary,” says 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. This kind of forward thinking is symbolic of Alberta’s progressive and innovative spirit.”

“Roswell Textiles’ ECOFUSE nonwoven materials are a critical component of our revolutionary, low carbon footprint medical grade face mask, VIRALOC ECO. 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,” says David Donnelly, president & general manager of PADM Medical Canada. “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. We are starting with masks, but alongside Roswell Textiles, we are committed to replacing all single-use, synthetic plastic materials in our hospitals and clinics with our new carbon friendly, plant-based products.”

The use of ECOFUSE materials in the VIRALOC ECO product (and PADM Medical USA’s PRECISION ECO product for the U.S. 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 U.S. Federal Buy Clean Initiative, the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. Building a Clean Energy Economy and general U.S. federal sustainable procurement initiatives.

“We are working tirelessly alongside PADM Medical to assist with the adoption of their plant based VIRALOC ECO face masks into provincial health care systems across Canada. Our innovative, and carbon friendly ECOFUSE materials are intended to be used in medical products such as VIRALOC ECO and they are exactly what provincial healthcare systems are looking for when it comes to reducing their overall carbon footprint,” says Fiolka. “We are very proud to be working alongside PADM Medical as they introduce provincial healthcare procurement teams and representatives to a more sustainable product option, with the added benefit of supporting investment and job creation here in Calgary.”