Hair Matters’s Amazing Idea of Using Waste Hair To Clean Oil Spills

The Hair Matters initiative by Matter of Trust and Phil McCrory transforms waste hair into eco-friendly felt pads for oil spill cleanup, promoting sustainability through innovative recycling. #HairMatters #OilSpillCleanup

Hair Can Absorb Oil

Did you know? Hair is significantly better at absorbing oil than all other materials.[1] In 1989, Alabama hairdresser Phil McCrory made an insightful observation while watching television: he noticed that the water around oil-soaked otters was cleaner. This sparked an innovative idea—recycling discarded hair from salons to create hair fibers that absorb oil.

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McCrory conducted extensive research, applied for a patent, and eventually partnered with the nonprofit Matter of Trust. Together, they developed sausage-shaped hair pads using recycled hair from salons and animal hair from farms. These pads proved their worth during major environmental disasters, such as the 2007 Cosco Busan oil spill and the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, showcasing an ingenious way to turn waste into a valuable resource for environmental cleanup.

via Hair Matters

I. Influence of Oil Spills

While the annual volume of oil spills from global tanker accidents has significantly decreased since 1970, incidents still occur due to various factors, including grounding cruise ships. In 2018, tanker accidents resulted in 116,000 tons of oil leaking—the largest spill in 24 years. Recently, the BBC reported an oil contamination in a Warwickshire lake in England, potentially devastating around 200 geese, ducks, and hens within a few miles. The pollution source remains unidentified, and the full impact on the local bird population is uncertain.

the annual volume of oil spills from global tanker accidents

Oil spills and plastic waste in oceans and rivers cause severe environmental damage, impacting marine and coastal ecosystems. These pollutants are challenging to remove, and oceanic tides, currents, and weather conditions can make oil spill movements unpredictable. The consequences of oil spills include:

The RSPCA has been trying to reach as many birds as it can to clean them up, via BBC
  1. Harm to Animals: Animals suffer from ingesting or inhaling spilled oil and through exposure to oil-coated fur.
  2. Habitat Loss: Oil spills can alter migration patterns and disrupt animal life cycles.
  3. Impact on Local Economy and Tourism: Oil spills can lead to the closure of beaches, parks, waterways, and recreational and commercial fisheries, severely affecting local economies and tourism.

II. The Hair Matters Project

The Hair Matters initiative, founded by Matter of Trust, offers a renewable resource solution focused on large-scale waste fiber recycling to help clean contaminated water. They collect hair clippings from individuals, salons, beauticians, and farmers, sorting them by length and transforming them into felt pad products. These pads are designed to absorb petrochemicals from storm drains, wells, filtration systems, rivers, and oceans.

Since its inception in 1999, the project has evolved from a volunteer organization into a global network. This community includes felt workers, researchers, artists, recyclers, and entrepreneurs, all dedicated to sustainability. Additionally, Matter of Trust collaborates with the U.S. Air Force to research the use of renewable natural fibers for filtration, further expanding the potential applications of their innovative work.

III. TBLD of Hair Matters

People

Matter of Trust’s felt network extends globally, allowing individuals to contribute by donating hair, participating in research, or creating art and designs. This initiative provides green jobs and offers safe, empowering volunteer opportunities, particularly during major oil spills. Even small family workshops can become local hubs for hair recycling and sales, making a significant impact.

hair hat, artistic performance

Profit

Hair Matters has approximately 3,000 sales contracts across the United States. Partners receive 95% of sales revenue to produce more felt, while 5% is reinvested into the Hair Matters Trust. Although this endeavor doesn’t generate immense wealth, it plays a crucial role in environmental sustainability and community engagement.

Local Hubs
Art Installation made of hair

Planet

The United States experiences over 2,500 oil spills annually. Additionally, more than 370,000 hair salons and 200,000 pet groomers each generate about two pounds of hair or fur daily. These fibers can be recycled into eco-friendly, oil-absorbing products. Once saturated with oil, the felt can be composted, completing a sustainable lifecycle in just 18 months.

Some Thoughts

We often overlook the abundance of free hair waste around us, which typically ends up as garbage. The Hair Matters initiative ingeniously repurposes these hair clippings into felt pads that absorb oil and filter chemical waste. Once used, these pads can biodegrade into fertilizer, bringing us one step closer to a sustainable planet. This clever recycling method transforms waste into valuable resources, demonstrating a practical approach to environmental sustainability.

Extended Readings

[1] ELSEVIER – Comparative effectiveness of natural by-products and synthetic sorbents in T oil spill booms,  https://matteroftrust.org/comparative-effectiveness-of-natural-by-products-and-synthetic-sorbents-in-t-oil-spill-booms/

[2] https://matteroftrust.org/history-partners/

[3] The Global Compost Project https://matteroftrust.org/global-compost-home/

[4] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpdg94n1gv1o

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