THE founder of a sustainable tartan mill is calling on the Scottish Government to make clear its policy on reusable masks to avoid a “plastic pandemic”. Single-use masks and plastic gloves have become an unfortunate by-product of the coronavirus pandemic and as many people embark on staycation holidays around Scotland, they are becoming a blight on areas of natural beauty. The Highland tartan mill Prickly Thistle highlighted the need to have a clear government agenda to encourage people to choose reusable and biodegradable masks after seeing plastics across the Clootie Well in the Black Isle. Clootie Wells were places of pilgrimage in Celtic culture where strips of cloth or rags are left as part of a healing ritual and the practice continues to this day.