“Petropelo”: turning human and pet hair into an environmental solution in Chile

The Matter of Trust organization created “petropelo” which turns human and animal hair and hair into absorbent tubes that capture oils, oils, hydrocarbons and other fatty substances

An innovative project in Chile has transformed human and animal hair into a precious input in environmental cleaning. Thus comes “Petropelo“: developed by the organization Matter of Trust, this technology will use hair to recycle them into absorbent tubes responsible for decontaminating oil and other pollutants from contaminated bodies of water.

 

What are “Petropelos”?

These devices, called “petropelos,” are becoming a useful tool in environmental restoration. The idea is both simple and powerful: human and animal hair has an exceptional ability to absorb.

Inside a mesh tube, the hair captures oils, hydrocarbons, and other greasy substances, common contaminants in oceans, rivers, and lakes. The tubes are placed in polluted water zones, where they absorb contaminants over 30 to 50 days.

Once saturated, the tubes are removed, having trapped up to 18 pounds (8 kg) of oil each, effectively purifying large volumes of water. To put it into perspective, a single donation of hair can clean up to 5,280 gallons (20,000 liters) of contaminated water.

Where do the hair and fur come from?

This project characterizes the philosophy of the circular economy, whereby discarded hair is given a second life that would otherwise go to waste. Besides decontaminating water, petropelos prevent future pollution by impeding contaminants from reaching underground water sources. These tubes can also be placed over sewer and drainage systems to intercept pollutants before they flow into critical water supplies.

But where does the hair and fur used for petropelos come from? It’s collected from salons, pet groomers, and even private donations. MoT works with companies like L’Oréal to collect vast amounts of hair, so the supply for these environmental projects is always there.

This indeed, is a very interesting initiative, proving how waste materials can be converted into strong tools of environmental conservation. By leveraging the natural properties of hair, MoT is making strides in protecting water resources while promoting recycling and waste reduction. Once more, it shows the power of ingenuity and resourcefulness to address pressing environmental challenges.