Japanese company repurposes COVID protective materials

A Japanese company has found a business opportunity in the materials used in protective gear that have been piling up since the country downgraded the legal status of COVID-19.

The company based in the city of Mino, in the central prefecture of Gifu operates an online shop offering fabric and other products for people who make clothing and bags by hand.

The company bought nonwoven fabric that would have been used to make about 15,000 protective suits, as it is ideal for making sewing patterns.

Miyajima Daisuke who runs the company says "All of this material would have definitely been thrown away. We want to make good use of it by turning it into useful products."

Sewing patterns are often made from copier paper, which can crease and tear the first time it is used.

Nonwoven fabric is much more durable, making it possible to use the same pattern many times.