Life Cycle Assessment: Type I Face Masks (2025) 1/3

Summary

This is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) report analyzing the environmental impacts of single-use and reusable masks. It presents data on greenhouse gas emissions and health impacts, advocating for reusable masks to significantly reduce carbon footprints in humanitarian contexts.

Content

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted by Climate Action Accelerator, ICRC, EPFL, and LEURE on the use of plastic jerrycans vs. plastic buckets, typical core relief items used in humanitarian contexts. 

The materials are available for download as: 

Download 1: Summary of the LCA of Type I Face Masks (2025) 

Download 2: Output Document of the LCA of Type I Face Masks (2025) 

Download 3: Technical Appendis of the LCA of Type I Face Masks (2025) 

The WREC has made these documents available here but they are also available directly via the Climate Action Accelerator's website here. 

Sources