Why keratin from hair?

Our planet is home to an exponential resource of 8,1 billion people. Every year 2.2 billion kg of keratin waste is generated globally from hair salons and ends up in landfills or burnt causing significant harm upon our environment.

Hair waste is today mostly sent to landfills or burned causing significant harm upon our environment. When keratin waste is disposed of in plastic bags and ends up in landfills it produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that is released into the atmosphere. When keratin waste is burnt it also releases extremely toxic gases which worsen air quality. Furthermore it can clog drains and waterways. When hair decomposes in landfills, it increases the likelihood of nitrate leaking into aquifers and underground rivers. On the other hand, burning hair releases extremely toxic gases and worsens air quality because of allergens and pollutants (Kohli 2008).

Consider this surprising fact: about 3 kilos of keratin contains 500g of nitrogen, as much as 45-90 kilos of cow manure. Recycling hair means decreasing the negative impact hair has on the environment when thrown in landfills or burnt. 

Keratin is also versatile, waterproof, non-conductive, corrosion-free, fire-resistant, strong, durable natural fibre that can compete with products such as medium density fibreboard, fibreglass, polymers and aluminium. 

Keratin can be recycled and converted into new products with many possible uses, but they require hair to be disposed of in a responsible way in order to mitigate any environmental risks. Through our keratin waste recycling service we have an innovative formula to create organic eco products for marine preservation, regenerative agriculture as well as natural fibre products for design and architecture that minimise the negative impact on the environment.