The startup CUT4ALL, founded by two architecture students at the Fachhochschule Dortmund, has developed a method for transforming cut hair into a high-quality building material.
Nils Ebler and Gero Ulrich had already explored the idea of applied research while they were still students. As the son of a master hairdresser, Gero Ulrich is very familiar with the day-to-day operations of a hair salon. He was constantly intrigued by the amount of hair clippings generated there every day and wondered whether they could be put to good use.
While studying architecture, he and his classmate Nils Ebler approached the problem scientifically. They discovered the promising properties of keratin, the raw material that makes up hair.
The Benefits of Natural Fibers
With support from the FH Makerspace SQuArE, they founded the startup cut4all and developed a process for turning hair into a natural fiber material that is ideal for interior construction and other applications.
Their natural fiber is
- hypoallergenic and antibacterial thanks to its pure protein structures
- plastic- and toxin-free due to a processing method that poses no health risks
- sound-absorbing due to the way the hair is interwoven
- naturally moisture-regulating
The Benefits for the Partners
They collect their raw materials in partnership with about 20 hair salons. For the hairstylists, this means free pickup of the hair and the assurance that they are not only reducing waste but also helping to create a high-quality, eco-friendly building material.
Additional hair salons are welcome: Information and registration details are available at www.cut4all.com(Opens in a new tab)
In the FH podcast “reinSTUDIERT(Opens in a new tab) ,” Gero Ulrich and Nils Ebler describe how their project emerged from their studies.