Uploaded October 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Hairdressers generate 6.7m kg of human hair waste every year, just in the UK. Most of it ends up in landfill, where it generates methane, contributing to climate change.
Sanne Visser, a material design PhD researcher, is working with local hairdressers to understand how hair can be gathered and recycled, and to develop systems to use that hair effectively.
Sanne is part of the 2021/22 Design Researchers in Residence programme at the Design Museum, exploring sustainability through the lens of design research.
There are 97 barbers and hairdressers within one mile of London's Design Museum. On average, each of these will cut off 2.4 kilograms of hair every month. Sanne’s residency is exploring human hair as both a waste stream and a material resource, and the way in which it can be practically gathered and used. She has produced a range of products made from human hair, including dog leads and belts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We are UK Research and Innovation, the body that allocates government funds for research. If you're a UK tax payer, your contributions help fund the work we showcase on our channel. And if you liked this video, follow us on these channels:
Medium: medium.com/@UKRI
Instagram: instagram.com/weareukri
Facebook: facebook.com/weareUKRI
YouTube: youtube.com/c/UKResearchandInnovation
Or sign up for our weekly newsletter public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKRI/subscriber/new?topic_id=UKRI_newsletter
Hairdressers generate 6.7m kg of human hair waste every year, just in the UK. Most of it ends up in landfill, where it generates methane, contributing to climate change.
Sanne Visser, a material design PhD researcher, is working with local hairdressers to understand how hair can be gathered and recycled, and to develop systems to use that hair effectively.
Sanne is part of the 2021/22 Design Researchers in Residence programme at the Design Museum, exploring sustainability through the lens of design research.
There are 97 barbers and hairdressers within one mile of London's Design Museum. On average, each of these will cut off 2.4 kilograms of hair every month. Sanne’s residency is exploring human hair as both a waste stream and a material resource, and the way in which it can be practically gathered and used. She has produced a range of products made from human hair, including dog leads and belts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We are UK Research and Innovation, the body that allocates government funds for research. If you're a UK tax payer, your contributions help fund the work we showcase on our channel. And if you liked this video, follow us on these channels:
Medium: medium.com/@UKRI
Instagram: instagram.com/weareukri
Facebook: facebook.com/weareUKRI
YouTube: youtube.com/c/UKResearchandInnovation
Or sign up for our weekly newsletter public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKRI/subscriber/new?topic_id=UKRI_newsletter
