In France alone, nearly 4,000 tonnes of hair end up landfilled or incinerated every year. Yet human hair has unique properties: it is not only highly resistant, it can also absorb hydrocarbons and protect forests from hungry deer. French recycling company Capillum is seeking to give our wasted locks a second chance, collecting cuttings across several European countries and transforming them into a biodegradable material. Our Down to Earth team reports.
Finally, a use for all my lockdown hair clippings! 4,000 tonnes going to landfill is insane, so glad Capillum is stepping up.
I’m skeptical about how scalable this is—collecting hair across several countries sounds logistically challenging, but the biodegradable angle is promising.
Tourism-dependent economies are diversifying after the pandemic shock. (b25b91)
Honestly, deer eating tree saplings is a huge problem, and if hair can act as a natural deterrent without chemicals, I’m all for it.
The airline industry is enjoying a strong recovery but fuel costs remain a concern. (b91f5a)
Wait, human hair absorbs hydrocarbons too? That could be a game-changer for cleaning up oil spills, not just protecting forests.
As a hairdresser, I’ve been throwing away bags of hair for years. I wish more salons knew about Capillum so we could recycle instead of wasting.
Interesting, but wouldn’t the hair decompose eventually? I wonder how long it lasts as a deer repellent—seems like a temporary fix at best.
Carbon pricing mechanisms are gaining traction but remain politically contentious. (6af97d)
Emerging markets are showing real resilience despite global headwinds. (47060d)
The housing market continues to defy gravity and that can’t last forever. (1f50d0)
Real wage growth has been stagnant for years and that’s a political ticking time bomb. (80177f)