Human Material Loop – Innovating Tomorrow's Textiles
The Dutch, women-led start-up Human Material Loop is transforming human hair – a common waste product from hair salons – into an innovative alternative fibre for the textile industry.
With qualities like strength, durability, noise reduction capabilities and hypoallergenicity this fibre does not compromise on functionality compared to conventional fibre sources. The production process of the material does not require land or harvest and uses only biodegradable and non-toxic chemicals in a short, efficient supply chain. Additionally, because the hair is sourced locally, transportation-related emissions remain minimal. Overall, this innovative material has a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional textile fibres such as wool or cotton. For these reasons, the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre presented Human Material Loop as the ISC3 Start-up of the Month for May 2025.
The young company does not target the fashion industry directly, as fashion is marked by the short lifespan of its products. Instead, the team advocates for durability and longevity. Their current focus is on interior design – integrating the fibre into carpets, furniture, and noise-cancelling panels, as human hair offers excellent additional qualities like thermal insulation and antibacterial properties. Moreover, the material keeps its properties after processing.
The start-up employs two different technologies: One method semi-physically and semi-chemically alters the hair’s structure, making it compatible with existing textile machinery. The other breaks down keratin from the hair and extracts it to create a new filament via a wet-spinning process. The technology can process both dyed and undyed hair. To ensure a closed-loop system, the waste generated by the first process serves as a valuable input for the second. Hair length is not an issue: shorter hair is used in extraction, while longer strands become staple fibre. Once the textiles are produced, they can be fully recycled and reintroduced into the system, contributing to a closed-loop lifecycle.
Human Material Loop plans to build a European production hub where hair is collected and processed locally – before applying the same model to other continents. The goal is to keep the sourcing, production, and distribution loop as small as possible – creating long-lasting textiles that support a circular economy.
The whole success story of the ISC3 Start-up of the Month in May 2025 is currently told by the ISC3 on its website at Start-up Human Material Loop (isc3.org).
Three questions for Zsofia Kollar (Founder & CEO of Human Material Loop):
What led to your solution in Sustainable Chemistry?
Zsofia Kollar: I believe one of the biggest issues in our society is how quickly we discard things. We simply can't afford this level of wastefulness anymore. As a designer, I was inspired by the idea that a single thread can create entire structures and spaces – it made me rethink how we perceive and use materials. What fascinated me most was how something like hair is considered incredibly valuable while it’s on our heads – we spend so much time and money on it – but the moment it's cut, it loses all value. That made me ask: How can we restore value to materials we usually overlook or throw away? At the core, I think many of the problems we face today stem from humanity's arrogance – treating the world like an ego-system rather than an ecosystem. We need to start seeing ourselves as part of the latter.
What does being chosen as ISC3 Start-up of the Month mean to you?
Z. Kollar: It's incredibly exciting! ISC3 is such an inspiring organization that champions the need to rethink how chemistry contributes to our modern lives. Without chemistry, we wouldn’t enjoy many of the comforts we take for granted today. Unfortunately, chemistry often has a negative reputation – but that’s something I believe needs to change. Chemistry isn't inherently bad; it's only harmful when misused.
What’s exciting now is that we have so many alternative innovations emerging – and Green and Sustainable Chemistry solutions are playing a key role in shaping a more sustainable future. I hope our work can inspire others and encourage more people to think outside the box.
What’s next up at Human Material Loop?
Z. Kollar: We’re currently preparing commercial pilot projects to test the real-world viability of our material, with a focus on interior design – especially acoustic panels and noise-reduction solutions for commercial spaces. At the same time, we’re working on scaling up our production to meet the growing demand. In the long term, our goal is for Human Material Loop to become a trusted supplier of alternative fibres – one that companies can rely on when designing innovative and sustainable products.
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