10 Lessons from a Decade of Fighting Air Pollution
At Cambridge Mask Co., we believe everyone should be able to get out and enjoy life, without having to worry about what they breathe or the way they look. This year, we celebrate our 10th anniversary—a decade shaped by innovation, challenges, and your trust.
The last ten years have brought significant obstacles: rising urban pollution, devastating wildfires, the Covid 19 pandemic, and increasingly severe allergy seasons. These challenges have underscored the importance of our work. Here’s what we’ve learned along the way.
Lesson 1: The Growing Importance of Air Quality
Air pollution has become one of the leading global health risks, significantly impacting the quality of life for millions worldwide. Over the past decade, the focus has shifted from traditional industrial pollution to emerging threats, including urban smog caused by vehicle emissions, smoke from wildfires in places like Canada, the US and Australia, and the pandemic have all changed the way we think about what we are breathing. We started with a vision to protect against air pollution. As awareness of its health impacts grows, our role has become more urgent and essential.
Lesson 2: The Importance of Advanced Filtration Technology
When we first started, masks were often worn in the west for those who have respiratory issues, and in the east frequently for air pollution. Now, they’ve become an essential part of staying healthy and safe, in moments when you need it. We’ve developed advanced filtration technology to meet evolving needs. Our masks are built to protect against fine particles like PM2.5 and PM10, viruses and bacteria, and airborne allergens like pollen. With the carbon layer filtration, our respirator are durable and perfect for long-term use. Our focus has always been to create masks that protect you against the most pressing air quality challenges.
Lesson 3: The Comfort Factor & Role of Style in Face Mask Design
Wearing a mask shouldn’t feel restrictive. That’s why we prioritised comfort and functionality in our designs. Breathable, soft materials and adjustable straps make our masks easy to wear for long periods. We’ve also embraced style. Masks can help you express yourself, which is why we’ve designed over 25 patterns throughout the years.
Lesson 4: The Power of Trust
Trust is at the heart of our work. Over the years, we’ve built this trust by listening to you, providing high-quality products, and delivering accessible and reliable customer service. For example, when demand for masks surged during the pandemic, we maintained weekly communications to convey transparency about availability, new batches available and delivery times. Your trust and feedback motivates us to continually improve.
Lesson 5: Adapting to Changing Circumstances
The world changes rapidly, and air pollution protection must keep up. From the pandemic to wildfires, we’ve adapted quickly. We introduced valve deactivators to align with health guidelines and designed non-valve masks for environments where the prevents or filtration of exhaled air is critical. Your feedback has allowed us to respond to your needs, no matter the circumstances.
Lesson 6: The Importance of Sustainability
Disposable masks generate immense waste. Reusability is a cornerstone of our sustainability efforts. Washable masks that last months help reduce reliance on single-use products, while reusable packaging minimises environmental impact.
Lesson 7: The Global Impact of Air Pollution Protection
Our masks have made a difference worldwide. During US and Australian wildfires, they protected people from dangerous smoke. In high-pollution regions like China, India, Mongolia and Nepal, they’ve offered daily relief. For travellers, they’ve become essential companions in polluted cities or for air travel. We’ve also worked with global organisations like the United Nations during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week to raise awareness about antibiotic resistance and protection.
Lesson 8: Collaboration with Frontline Workers and Communities
Partnerships have been instrumental in shaping our products. Collaborations include providing masks to the Nepal police force during periods of high pollution, and partnering with Jen Ronnenberg to develop specialised masks like 65Roses to raise awareness about Cystic Fibrosis. These relationships help us better understand your real-world needs and refine our products.
Lesson 9: The Power of Community and Customer Service
Your feedback has driven our evolution. By listening to you, we’ve made meaningful changes, including developing non-valve masks for specific health guidelines and adding accessories to improve mask fit and comfort. High-quality customer care isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about building relationships, taking both good and bad feedback, and ensuring our customers have their problems solved quickly.
Lesson 10: The Future of Air Pollution Protection
Air quality challenges will continue to evolve, and we are here to be your trusted respirator to give your daily protection. Ten years have taught us that protecting clean air isn’t just about technology—it’s about trust, collaboration, and constant innovation. We’re grateful for your support, which has made these lessons possible.
Thank you for prioritising your health and for trusting Cambridge Mask Co. Here’s to the next decade of clean air protection.
