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Spotted: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on, people have developed a growing awareness of just how many places could be secretly harbouring dangerous microbes. For those who are concerned about coming into contact with objects other people have touched – or perhaps coughed on – Spanish startup Handshield offers an easy solution. The company has devised a protective wrap that can be easily placed on all types of handles.

The idea for the wrap came when Handshield founder Roger Gonzalez was returning home from a trip. Arriving in Spain in the middle of the pandemic, he went to the supermarket and noticed that no one wanted to touch the handles of the shopping carts – with some people using towels from home and others holding the cart with their elbows. So, he decided to find a practical and safe solution.

The Handshield wrap fits easily and securely over many different types of handles, and is coated in Si Bac-Pure®, an anti-viral and anti-bacterial solution with an active ingredient of Benzalkonium Chloride. The wrap not only kills most germs on the handle, but also protects the users’ hands. The Handshield can be safely washed and will retain its anti-microbial properties for at least 100 washes and one year.

Handshield claims that it is not only an effective way of protecting against microbes while on the go, but it is also sustainable – a growing concern as landfills are inundated with used PPE. The company told Springwise that, “Handshield does not need high-temperature water to remove unwanted microbes. [The] antimicrobial treatment is constantly responsible for killing bacteria and fungi and contributes to the saving of water and energy due to fewer washes, lower temperature and lower detergent use.”

Handshield joins the growing ranks of innovative approaches to PPE and other types of protection that we have seen since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, including face shields made from food waste and recyclable gloves. In the future, these innovations could help reduce the spread of all types of harmful microbes.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Explore more: Health & Wellbeing Innovations | COVID-19 Innovations