Bacterial cellulose: Nano-biomaterial for biodegradable face masks – A greener approach towards environment

The use of face masks aids to stop the transmission of various deadly communicable ailments, and therefore widespread mask wearing habit is advocated by nearly all health organisations including the WHO to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent studies predicted a shocking requirement of masks globally, approximately billions of masks per week in a single country, and maximum of them are disposable masks, which are made up of nonbiodegradable material such as polypropylene. With expanding review on improper masks disposal, it is imperative to perceive this inherent environmental hazard and avert it from resulting in the subsequent problematic situation due to plastic. The shift towards biodegradable biopolymers alternatives such as bacterial cellulose and newly evolving sustainable scientific knowledge would be significant to dealt with upcoming environmental problem. Bacterial cellulose possesses various desirable properties to replace the conventional mask material. This review gives an overview of data about accumulation of waste masks and its potential harm on environment. It also focuses on diverse characteristics of bacterial cellulose which make it suitable material for making mask and the challenges in the way of bacterial cellulose production and their possible solution. The current review also discussed the report on global bacterial cellulose market growth.