Portuguese Mask
Project Narrative
The Portuguese Mask app (specifically the "Masks of Portugal" or Máscaras de Portugal project) was a specialized health and sustainability tool launched during the pandemic. It focused on the "social mask" movement, promoting the use of reusable textile masks produced by Portuguese industries while ensuring user safety through hygiene tracking.
Case Study: Portuguese Mask Sustainability App
The Challenge
With the rapid shift to reusable masks, a new safety problem emerged: users often forgot how many times they had washed their masks or how many hours they had been wearing them. Since the effectiveness of the protective filters degrades after a specific number of wash cycles, using an "expired" mask creates a false sense of security and increases infection risks.
The Solution
The app acted as a "digital health log" for personal protective equipment, focusing on hygiene compliance and local industry support:
Washing Cycle Tracker: Users could register their specific masks (often by scanning a QR code or selecting the model). The app tracked each wash, notifying the user when the mask reached its maximum safe usage limit (e.g., 25 or 50 washes).
Usage Timer: A real time countdown that alerted users when it was time to change their mask during the day, ensuring they didn't exceed the recommended 4 to 8 hour window of continuous wear.
Filter Integrity Alerts: Provided technical data on the filtration capacity of different certified Portuguese textiles, helping users understand the level of protection provided by their specific model.
Local Industry Showcase: A directory of certified Portuguese manufacturers, encouraging the consumption of "Made in Portugal" sustainable masks over disposable, single use plastics.
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