During the COVID-19 crisis, the usage of personal protective equipment, particularly medical masks, has witnessed a significant surge. Medical masks are primarily composed of synthetic materials, predominantly polypropylene, and a substantial proportion of them are manufactured in China and subsequently imported into the European market.

This study aims to evaluate the environmental implications associated with various strategies pertaining to the use of face masks. It shows that the use of medical masks with a wait and reuse strategy offers several benefits when considering both environmental impact and effectiveness.