Human Hair as a Regenerative Material Resource: utilising protein fibre waste in the circular bioeconomy through interdisciplinary collaborative desig

目前，人类头发每年在英国产生650万公斤废物。到2050年，它将在全球产生100万吨纤维-这几乎与目前每年的羊毛产量相同-由于世界人口的增加，这一增长将有所增加。这项以实践为基础的设计研究关注蛋白质废物的回收利用，探索人类头发作为一种资源，为循环生物经济（CBE）增加价值。通过从垃圾填埋场转移资源，减少纤维行业对不可再生材料的压力，该研究将发现新的环保材料和模型。CBE在应对气候紧急情况方面发挥着重要作用。它已经开始通过使用自然的再生系统来扩展传统的废物设计方法。这给我们带来了新的生物基材料。虽然植物基和人造材料的回收利用势头强劲，但蛋白质基纤维的整体前景尚未得到充分探索。与其他动物源性蛋白质纤维一样，人类头发是一种丰富的废物流。它还没有一个闭环系统的恢复和再生，尽管其有害的，但也有价值的，属性。如果从整体的角度进行研究，利用跨学科合作和设计驱动的实践，并考虑到新生成的生物材料的美学，伦理，社会，经济和文化价值，利用蛋白质纤维将为CBE增加价值。作为一名创意设计研究员，我将通过科学，设计，艺术和文化领域的合作，利用绿色化学和机械回收方法，从头发废物中开发可再生的生物基材料，包括纺织品和生物塑料。探索性设计和反思性实践是激励创新系统/材料/产品的关键方法。与科学合作伙伴和文化机构的访谈，研讨会，实地研究和居住与材料开发相结合将构成基于实践的研究的核心部分。最终形成实体展示和最终的书面论文。

Human hair currently generates 6.5 million kilogrammes of waste in the UK annually. By 2050 it will generate one million tonnes globally - this is nearly the same amount of fibre as current annual wool production - an increase due to our increased world population. This practice-based design research is concerned with the recycling of protein-based waste, exploring human hair as a resource to add value to the circular bioeconomy (CBE). By diverting the resource from landfill, reducing pressure on non-renewable materials in the fibre industry, the research will uncover new, environmentally-beneficial materials and models.CBE plays an important role in responding to the climate emergency. It has begun to extend conventional approaches to designing with waste by using natural, regenerative systems. This has brought us new, biobased materials. While the recycling of plant-based and man-made materials has gained momentum, the full landscape of protein-based fibres has been underexplored. Alongside other animal-derived protein fibres, human hair is an abundant waste stream. It does not yet have a closed-loop system for recovery and regeneration, despite its harmful, yet also valuable, properties. Utilising protein-based fibres will add value to the CBE if examined from a holistic perspective, using interdisciplinary collaboration and design-driven practice, taking into account the aesthetic, ethical, social, economic and cultural values of newly generated biomaterials. As a creative design researcher, I will develop renewable biobased materials from hair waste including textiles and bioplastics, utilising green chemical and mechanical recycling methods by collaborating across the fields of science, design, arts and culture. Participatory design and reflective practice are key methods used to stimulate innovative systems/materials/products. Interviews, workshops, field research and residencies with scientific partners and cultural institutes combined with material development will form the core part of the practice-based research. Resulting into a physical showcase and final written thesis.