UNWASTED: A Human-Centred Approach to Solid waste Management of Synthetic Hair Extensions

Typically, once hair additions and extensions are utilised as a beauty and cosmetics accessory, they last for only three months before the customers discard of it for a newer look or style. On the other hand, human hair extensions (the main competitor for the synthetic extensions) can last twice as long before being discarded. Due to the lower costs associated with synthetic hair additions and extensions, the demand and utilisation is growing exponentially, particularly within the African region. Consequently, this demand for hair additions and extensions has created a bustling industry of hairdressers, stylists and salons that can be found even in the most remote rural villages on the continent.

Whereas the vocational, entrepreneurial and socioeconomic benefits afforded by hair additions and extensions products is laudable, the ecological and environmental problems associated with the said industry cannot be overemphasized. Subsequently, vast quantities of weaves and hair extensions find their way to landfills and rubbish dumps – this not only creates an eyesore, but importantly perpetuates many health and safety concerns relating mainly to humans and domestic animals. The fact that most popular hair additions and extensions products and allied consumer plastics last for at least 500 years is depressing news indeed. The lack of awareness by most people of the consequences of wrongful disposal of post-consumer waste only compounds the problem further.

This initiative aims to align to National guidelines on waste management, particularly on manufacturers’ Extended Producer Responsibility for waste generated in their entire production value chain. It also aligns elegantly with a number of specific united Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), as well as Kenya’s Vision 2030. Instructively, Vision 2030 identifies waste management as a major national issue that it oversees through designated bodies. County governments have also allocated substantial sums of money for waste management and are also bound by the National Waste Management Bill 2018 of Kenya’s Department of Environment and Forestry.

Professor Mugendi K. Mrithaa engaged in ideation with local artisans.

The HCD project co-opted women’s weaving groups as well as other co-operative groups working within Machakos County to co-create new products in an exploratory manner. The ultimate aim of this intervention was to proffer proposals on final products that have economic viability/market potential that genuinely contributes to women’s empowerment, youth employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in a manner that offers sustainable livelihoods for participating groups. Tests were performed on the efficacy of various cleaning agents/detergents for use on post-consumer hair additions and extensions to ensure sanitary and hygienic handling.