The term “circular economy” has become fundamentally important in the lexicon of business and industry. In fact we now see Europe following Japan’s lead in setting a legislative framework that encourages thrift in the use of resources through processes and practices that go way beyond recycling. Leading institutions agree on the urgency to introduce new methods of manufacture and reuse within completely different business models, which necessarily will be more complex because they rely on cooperative, interconnected, local, and global networks.
As we know, the mother of invention is necessity, and pioneering work is under way to stretch Earth’s limited resources by harvesting materials that endlessly regenerate and using what is normally discarded in the making of new things. Driven by need, feasible because of technology, and made desirable by inventive design and marketing, materials such as cut grass, algae, and industrial byproducts are going on second and third cyclical journeys as components in everyday things including, of course, packaging. The luxury sector can afford to take a high-tech, low-impact circular route to exquisite beauty. Rich surfaces reminiscent of tortoiseshell, horn, and exotic wood can be created from human hair set in resin. Human hair is sustainable, too, and it offers a wide array of colors.
