Name: Vitacore Industries

Products: N95 and N99 respirators, surgical masks, children’s masks

Manufactured In: Burnaby, BC

Where to buy: Company website, London Drugs, medical distributors

Website: vitacore.ca

Canadian Owned: Yes

Burnaby-based startup was the first certified Canadian manufacturer of N95 masks and in early 2021 became the first manufacturer of N99 certified masks. They also make surgical masks (ASTM 1, 2, 3) and children’s masks. With the capacity to make 4 million masks per month, this company stepped up in a big way to domestically solve PPE challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vitacore is also big on recycling and has developed the first PPE recycling programme in Canada. Since early 2021, Vitacore’s recycling programme has prevented more than 651,000 kg of PPE waste. This is equivalent to 175 million masks that would have otherwise been disposed of in incinerators or landfills.