Cultural Impact

Based on the cost of our product, which we intend to keep below that of traditional N95s, we do not expect the mask to negatively impact any specific culture. Bioplastics need to be culturally accepted in order to have an impact on the environment, meaning that people must be willing and able to use it instead of petroleum-based plastics. In order to be culturally accepted, people need to be educated on the benefits of bioplastics, to the environment, human health, and even the economy. We need our product to be accepted by the general public, which pertains to both social and cultural processes. In order to get bioplastic to be widely accepted, we can create educational tools and materials to provide the public with information and educate them about the benefits of bioplastics to the environment, human health, and the economy. Since bioplastic production will not be restricted to any group or place, we do not expect it to have a large cultural impact. Paper is a well-accepted material ubiquitous in everyday life. Paper also shows potential for the circular economy and the recyclability of paper is widely accepted. Since the paper we intend to use does not comes from easily-obtainable grass, it won't contribute to deforestation that affects some portions of the world. No processes are needed to address culture for cellulose based paper as it is a ubiquitous material. Therefore, use of paper should have no significant cultural impact.