Dutch start-up Human Material Loop is redefining the textile landscape by transforming human hair waste into high-performance, sustainable fibres for use in interior design. Recognized for its groundbreaking innovation, the company was recently named ISC3 Start-up of the Month for May 2025 by the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre.
Founded and led by designer Zsofia Kollar, Human Material Loop is on a mission to restore value to a commonly discarded material — human hair — sourced from local hair salons. The company’s pioneering approach avoids the use of agricultural land or toxic chemicals and produces fibres with a remarkably low carbon footprint compared to conventional textile materials like wool or cotton.
“Our goal is to build a closed-loop textile system that redefines waste,” says Kollar. “Hair is incredibly strong, antibacterial, and thermally insulating — yet it’s treated as garbage. We want to change that.”
A Functional, Eco-Friendly Alternative
The fibres developed by Human Material Loop retain hair’s natural properties, making them hypoallergenic, durable, and capable of sound and thermal insulation. These features make the material ideal for long-lasting interior applications, including carpets, furniture, and acoustic panels. Unlike fast fashion, the company promotes longevity and circularity over disposability.
To manufacture the fibres, the start-up uses two advanced technologies:
- One semi-physical and semi-chemical process modifies the hair for compatibility with existing textile machinery.
- The second extracts keratin through wet-spinning to create a new filament.
In a circular innovation, waste from the first process is repurposed as feedstock for the second, ensuring that no material goes unused. Hair length or prior dyeing poses no barrier to the process.
From Local Waste to Global Impact
Currently focused on building a European production hub, Human Material Loop envisions a future where hair is collected and processed locally on every continent. By minimizing transportation and maintaining a short, efficient supply chain, the company is not only reducing emissions but also demonstrating the scalability of sustainable chemistry.
Industry Recognition and Vision for the Future
Being awarded the ISC3 Start-up of the Month highlights the company’s potential to drive meaningful change in both the textile and sustainable chemistry sectors.
“Chemistry has a bad reputation, but it can be a force for good,” says Kollar. “We’re showing how sustainable chemistry can turn waste into something valuable.”
Human Material Loop is now preparing commercial pilot projects in acoustic design and noise reduction, while scaling up its production capacity to meet growing industry interest. The company aims to become a trusted supplier of innovative, circular fibres for businesses committed to sustainable design.
