Management of disposable surgical masks for tackling pandemic-generated pollution: Thermo-acoustic investigations and life cycle assessment of novel recycled building panels

•Surgical masks are converted in panels for building applications.•Thermo-acoustic investigations are performed on a small and large scale.•The environmental impacts of the panels are evaluated in a life cycle perspective.•Recycled panels lead to both thermal and acoustic performance improvements.•The disinfection process of used masks has the greatest impact on the environment.