Industries

As societies evolve, there’s a concerted effort from academia and industry towards utilizing renewable resources. Human hair has emerged as a focal point of research due to its abundance and rich keratin content (constituting 65-95% of hair). With a rapid growth rate of approximately 12.7 mm per month and adults capable of producing 80-100 g of hair annually, global hair production has surged since 2010, reaching 300,000 tons per year, an increase of about 10,000 tons annually. However, the effective utilization of hair remains low. While some is employed in wigs, decorative items, and concrete additives, a significant portion is either incinerated or discarded, leading to environmental pollution and resource wastage. Extracting and utilizing keratin from hair could transform it into a valuable resource, opening avenues for applications like hair extensions.