There are a number of methods to adapt to sustainable methods of residing. It may be accomplished by way of water conservation efforts, minimizing waste in your house or by striving to solely purchase from companies that observe fair-trade methods. However what about fake hair used for braiding?
Whereas extension hair is is nice for protecting styling, after utilization, a lot of it goes to waste and finally ends up sitting in landfills.
Enter Rebundle into the sustainability dialog.
Ciara Imani Could is the founding father of the primary ever plant-based fake hair model Rebundle. By progressive know-how and the repurposing of biopolymers and naturally extracted banana fiber, Rebundle’s hair permits for extra consolation throughout put on and fewer waste after use. The corporate’s plant-based hair—which it calls braidbetter—is produced from naturally extracted banana fiber and formulated to match textured hair with not one of the components showing on California’s Prop 65 checklist of banned chemical substances. Because the inception of the corporate, Could has raised $2.1M million towards the model’s efforts and is working to make the haircare area extra sustainable by reimagining the way forward for hair extensions with a protected and non-toxic various to conventional hair extensions.
Beneath, the hair innovator shares with us how what we placed on on head additionally impacts our well being and the planet.
EBONY: What impressed Rebundle’s mission of sustainability?Ciara Imani Could: Again in the summertime of 2019, I used to be making an attempt to undertake a extra sustainable way of life after studying concerning the round financial system and nil waste. I spotted that I may by no means actually be sustainable if I did not deal with the waste my haircare routines created; due to this fact, I acknowledged that different Black girls who wore braids have been in all probability having the same expertise as me. This meant Rebundle needed to deal with each the well being and environmental disparities within the hair extensions trade and create an alternate that was higher on your scalp and equally higher for the atmosphere.
On the highway to sustainability, what challenges have you ever confronted?Typically, for one thing to be deemed sustainable, the stakes might be low. Whereas many firms could imply nicely, greenwashing is actual. It may be tough to navigate what is really sustainable versus what just isn’t, so I’ve to take an additional step and analysis a model or a product to know simply how sustainable it’s. Fortunately, this additional step has skilled my thoughts to consider individuals and the planet first, which forces my group to develop their thought processes, too, and to make higher choices throughout the corporate. We have discovered about so many cool and progressive firms around the globe which are simply as dedicated and keen about constructing the sustainable future that we wish to see.
Fake hair extensions might be largely poisonous because of the coating used for preservation which may trigger allergy symptoms and be detrimental for many who put on it. Are you able to speak concerning the testing course of you underwent earlier than deciding upon supplies used for Rebundle’s hair?
Along with rigorously sourcing our components, we underwent prolonged testing to verify that our merchandise have been protected for the pores and skin. Braidbetter is microbiome pleasant, which is a certification for sustaining a wholesome pores and skin microbiome. We additionally examined the merchandise for toxicity and formaldehyde, principally any toxins we may display screen for we may. And these all got here again unfavourable.
Why are Rebundle’s merchandise ecologically and sustainably higher for long run utilization?
Using waste diversion, we dramatically reducing the well being and environmental affect of hair extensions within the trade. By our recycling program, we accumulate plastic artificial hair to lower the time it spends in landfills. This hair is then recycled to create out of doors furnishings, decking and extra. Presently, we’ve got collected virtually 400 kilos of artificial hair to be recycled.
