Design Life-Cycle
assess.design.(don't)consume
Marisa Quiros
Gaby and Mayra
DES 40A
Professor Cogdell
Wigs: Raw material Life Cycle
Wigs are used in a variety of different ways for many different customers and candidates; the stylized and fashionable accessory that is a wig appears in society more often than one might be predisposed to assume. Often hidden through their meticulous and seamless methods of application, wigs are often seen in the media where celebrities and trendsetters are shown experimenting with bold and new cuts, color and style. Wigs are seen ubiquitously in the daily lives of many ranging ethnic groups who often add synthetic hair strands in order to complement their natural hair texture. Wigs are also found in more emotionally intense situations where hair loss occurs in patients affected by medical treatments, showing yet another way wigs make their way into our everyday lives. As the fashion industry continues to grow to use wigs to appease their ever-evolving demands, and advancements in cancer treatments bear no end in sight, there has been an influx in the necessity of wigs that is steadily increasing. With this increase in the demand for wigs comes an obvious increase in the necessity for wig production, assembly and processing. In particular, synthetic wigs, utilize a hearty majority of the wig creating process overall, though real hair wigs face immense processing as well.
Specifically focusing on synthetic wigs, the production process has continuously achieved the successfully completed result, a wig, that can be instrumental in forming a piece of a person’s identity, despite the abundance of environmental and impacts concerned with the specificity of the production materials. Keeping in mind the assumed basic vanity and necessary uses of synthetic wigs, the at times controversial production of this product’s fabrication are inseparable from the nonerasable materials and environmentally damaging emissions. The raw materials used include many polymers and fibers of modacrylic, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, polyester, and nylon, all which impartially affect the earth’s natural functionality as their non-biodegradable qualities overtly show disturbances through manufacturing and production of these raw materials.
Attempting to achieve the real feel, look and weight of actual human hair, synthetic hair goes through various chemical processes and transformations in ways that though gain a closer appearance to the look of natural human hair, by way disrupt the earth’s biological processes during disposal. In order to replicate the structure of real human hair as closely as possible the beginning steps to create the strands of hair begin under a microscope, literally. Naturally produced hair itself is a polymer and is thus the ideal method to reproduce like results is to essentially copy its chemical identity by making synthetic hair a polymer as well (Billmeyer). Keratin is used in real hair allowing a synthetic version to follow suit and use synthetic polymers. Often synthetic hair starts as one of two chemical routes; “single type, monofilament fibers (rare), or a combination of two or three, polyfilament, fibers (common)” as the base of the primary material within the chemical structure of a synthetic hair strand. This important structure is also known as a macromolecule. A macromolecule or polymer is made of many atoms forming small molecules which are chemically bound to one another to create large molecules. With one major role of a polymer being responsible for the producing of “tissue[s] and other components in living organisms”, polymers have highly specific structures to allow for the flexibility, strength and adaptability needed in an organism’s life (Bailey). These synthetic polymers are distinctively made up of molecules with structural features that repeat themselves over and over again creating a long chain of carbons and hydrogens (Gromisch). This method is in order to match the real hair as closely as possible. The way by which the faux hair is chemically bond and synthesized is crucial as it significantly can affect how the raw materials end up in terms of its life’s socio-economic popularity, and biodegradability.
In this next portion I will be focusing on how a wigs attempts at mimicking natural hair leads to positive and negative impacts in both popularity and decomposition. In real hair, keratin has “exceptional properties of biodegradability and biocompatibility” unlike the artificially synthesized polymers created and used in synthetic wigs (Zhang). Synthetic polymers are “derived from petroleum oil” which are then incorporated in different materials, such as low-grade acrylic or nylon. The method of linking multiple polymers in a “melt or solvent spinning” technique allows for the artificial strand to utilize the properties found in naturally derived hair such as heat resistance or refraction properties(Whitehurst and Bailey). Polymers found in hair are a very important raw material as they are the base of the hair fiber therefore polymer chemistry makes up the basis of the raw acrylic or polyester foundation of synthetic strands (Gromisch). The complex chemistry that goes into making a single strand of hair links many strong carbon-carbon bonds by which are unable to be easily decompose unlike the naturally found peptide bonds compounded in the proteins and structures of organic materials. The aforementioned method used in the creation of synthetic hair however becomes essential in order to match real hair as closely as possible. The many layers that are incorporated into real hair include the medulla, cortex and cuticle (Fair Fashion). These three biological layers which make up a hair strand are artificially mimicked with synthetic raw materials through chemical combinations of polymers and fibers of modacrylic, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, polyester, acrylic and nylon. The chemicals used are formatted in an ultra-specific way in order to encapsulate faux hair strand’s shape, body and properties to then continue its life into production and assembly, where many more new and non-reusable products are added.
The chemical significance of each strand of hair now takes on the role of “natural” hair and is pieced together on a mesh net to replicate a full head of hair. The hair’s ability to lay as natural hair would is essential and the raw, synthetic materials used in this assembly are crucial to production, however this process can be detrimental to environmental functionality. After the chemical and physical processes of the synthetic hair strands are completed, the individual pieces are taken to a mannequin and prepared to be assembled. The next major material used is the cap or net, which is a base material used to attach synthetic fibers. The hair cap is made of “lightweight, resistant, elastic and hypoallergenic materials” which is significant and necessary in order to be classified as “gentle on the skin” (Fair Fashion). There are a variety of methods to construct wig caps, but I will be specifically focusing on the most common method in the world of synthetic wigs. The most common method is using “Basic or Capless Construction” cap of wigs are weft strips of material which are attached using machinery to the frame or base of the cap. Wefting refers to how the hair is attached to the wig. The cap used in this method assembles the hair into rows or wefts. Wefts creates air flow and natural volume for the hair fibers (Wig Elegance).
Often times an open design for wig caps are used which is important for user satisfaction as it helps provide a lighter, cooler, and more comfortable fit (The Wig Company). The entire construction of the wig cap is important for how the hair falls and lays on the head, attempting to look as realistic as possible. Some common materials used to create the cap and realistic look are nylon, cotton or mesh, each withholding its own pros and cons in production and wear. For example, cotton, though offering more easily degradable and less damaging waste, also leads to a less enjoyable wear as cotton creates itchy and irritating sensations on the scalp. In addition to cotton, nylon and mesh another important raw material used in the production process is electricity. Electricity is a secondary raw material used in the processing, shipping and distributing of the wigs. About 62% of electricity is from fossil fuels which is a combination of natural gas, coal and petroleum. (U.S. Electricity Generation). This electricity is used to power machinery in production, ship wigs and run facilities involved in production.
The final product and end result of the happy customer shines through the rough destruction of earth’s welfare as the customer wears the wig, despite the laborious production process used achieve the end result, wigs serve their intended purpose. However, the life cycle in correlation to raw materials for the synthetic wig just begins to make its descent in its “shelf” life as the wig is thrown out or maybe even recycled. As the wig continues to descend in its life cycle the raw materials used to replenish its life or finish off the life cycle of the wig add to the list of raw materials being used in the overall wig process. In replenishment of synthetic hair wigs, washing and repair often lead to many sulfate free shampoos and more nutrient dense products which repair damage and breakage found in the strands. However, if the wig is unable to be revived and reused the product is often times sent to land fill, unable to decompose. Many sources I have found have claimed a recyclable program for synthetic wigs although a majority have minimal specifics and reference which leaves a gap in the materials used in recycle methods. More commonly sources recommend the potential reusability wigs have and suggests the potential of restructuring the strands into new forms such as clip ins or hair extensions (Wilson and Dawson).
From the ground, beginning with chemical properties and plastic structures that make their way back into the ground in the form of emissions and waste, the raw materials used to create these elegant and beloved wigs are actually more damaging to the environment than anything else. All the artificially and chemically bound hair fibers which essentially form strings of plastic have been found to be the raw material in wigs that tends to leave the largest environmental footprint. Unfortunately, these plastic fibers are essentially the bulk of the wigs raw materials and by way leave the wig to be very negatively impactful to the environment. Often times more affordable, synthetic hair only lasts roughly 4-6 months and comes with a long cycle of non-biodegradable and non-reusable drawbacks (Orlova). Plastic as a primary raw material is extremely detrimental to our environment, sitting in landfill for what some sources estimate to being roughly 500+ years, and additionally the many chemicals bond in these strands leave some synthetic strand to never be fully decompose. For something as seemingly insignificant in the span of the many harmful contaminants to the earth, wigs exhaust an unbelievable amount of natural resources/materials through their technologically advanced processes of production and assembly.
The wig life cycle in relation to the raw materials it depletes has exposed the detrimental role plastic has on our earth and reprimands the cost plastic has to societal life and structure. Making hidden appearances in magazines, television and in day to day life, wigs have proven to be omniscient in both fashion and everyday wear. Despite its environmental drawbacks presented in a synthetic wig’s life cycle, the product appears to remain sessile in our society. The continual use of the primary raw materials used in synthetic wigs such as polyester, acrylic and nylon to name a few, have created damaging emissions and waste which continuously compromise our ecosystem and overall human health. The popularity of plastic, the base of each hair strand, has become a raw material that is found in many products, and withholds the reputation that is a necessity in society overall. Conclusively the manufacturing, distributing, and use of plastic persists no end as it relies on a linear life cycle by which decomposition never occurs. Consequentially, the earth faces continual damage as plastic proceeds to be synthesized and widespread. In order to revitalize the planet, limiting plastic use has been pushed in society in order to lessen plastic waste and allow the earth to heal from the toxins it has been exposed to. Resorting to paper rather than plastic, natural hair wigs rather than synthetic and making use of reusable and compostable products will effectively lead for a more ecofriendly life and beneficially lessen one’s carbon footprint.
Bibliography
Bailey, Regina. “What Are Biological Polymers?” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 24 May 2019, www.thoughtco.com/biological-polymers-373562.
Billmeyer, Jr, Fred W. Textbook of Polymer Science. Troy, New York: John Wiley and Sons ,
Inc, 1971.
Dawson, Joydan, and Joydan D'nay. “Stop Throwing Them Away! Ways to Recycle Your Old Hair Extensions.” Private Label Extensions, 1 Mar. 2019, www.privatelabelextensions.com/recycle-old-hair-extensions/.
Gromisch, Maryann, “How is Synthethic Hair Made?” Our Everyday Life, 31 Oct. 2018
https://oureverydaylife.com/how-is-synthetic-hair-made-3946630.html
“How Much of the US Electricity Generation Is Attributed to Coal? - TOXMAP FAQ.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/toxmap/faq/2009/08/how-much-of-the-us-electricity-generation-is-attributed-to-coal.html.
Orlova, Tamara A, “Let’s Talk Synthethic Wigs, and Prevailing Ignorance Within the Industry.”
Ikon London Magazine, 16 July, 2018
The Wig Company. “Wig Cap Types and Constructions.” The Wig Company, The Wig Company, 15 Sept. 2017, blog.thewigcompany.com/blog/wig-cap-construction-types.
Whitehurst, Lesia. “Polytails and Urban Tumble Weaves: The Chemistry of Synthetic Hair Fibers.” 11.05.10: Polytails and Urban Tumble Weaves: The Chemistry of Synthetic Hair Fibers, teachers.yale.edu/curriculum/viewer/initiative_11.05.10_u.
Fair Fashion . “Wig Production - An All You Need to Know Guide.” Natural Line, 20 Oct. 2016, www.natural-line.com/guides/all-you-need-to-know-about-wig-production/.
Wig Elegance . “How to Choose a Wig Cap.” Wigelegancewigs.com, 2018, www.wigelegancewigs.com/how-to-choose-a-wig-cap/.
Wilson, Nicky, et al. “Capturing the Life Cycle of False Hair Products to Identify Opportunities
for Remanufacture.” SpringerLink, Springer Netherlands, 11 Feb. 2019,
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13243-019-0067-0.
Zhang, Zheng. “Keratin.” Keratin - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, 2014, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/keratin.
Mayra Leon Garcia
Professor Cogdell
DES 40A
December 2019
Synthetic Wigs Embodied Energy
Synthetic wigs are products that consumers can purchase for an alternative use of natural
hair. They can be bought brand new at beauty markets or online in various different styles ranging from a natural to unrealistic look. Consumers purchase synthetic wigs for many reasons such as personal health issues with hair, for personal style preferences, and for entertainment purposes. (WIGS: Wig Production Information) Depending on the complexity of style and the quality of the wig, more embodied energy will be needed throughout the lifecycle of them to help make them, maintain them, and dispose of them. The main prime movers for creating the work to make the energy to produce the wigs are humans and machines and the energy that exists throughout the process is mainly chemical, mechanical, and electrical.
In the first part of the process of making synthetic wigs is extracting the raw materials. Making a synthetic product is different from a natural one. In the case of wigs, using human hair is an option but one that is highly expensive. Therefore the majority of wigs are synthetically made of various different man made materials such as polyester because they are cheaper to make which is a chemical energy based process. With a polyester based wig, polyester is a material made from petroleum, coal, air, and water which in this case are not only the primary fuels to make the polyester fibers themselves but also serve as the materials. ( Polyester) The embodied energy of the lifecycle of a synthetic wig also grows if the wig is made of different materials to make the synthetic hair have certain properties. For example, a good synthetic wig will have good texture that doesn’t become dull quickly, is not prone to breakage easily, retains its color well, and resemble the feel of natural hair.
All of these examples will create additional steps in the manufacturing process and therefore require more machines and more chemical and electrical energy. An example of this material is toyokalon, which is a popular material for making synthetic wigs in Asia because it is known for being heat resistant. ( What is Synthetic Hair Made Of?) This allows the wigs to be styled with hair styling tools such as hair straighteners and curlers which may also be included in the life cycle of synthetic wigs for being an additional form of energy. These hair styling tools us electrical energy to generate power to create heat. This type of thermal energy helps change the structure of the material to be able to hold a certain hairstyle such as curls or waves and be straightened again after without damaging the hair strands.
With the system at work the hair strands are able to look and feel similar to natural human hair in various styles such as straight long blonde hair or curly purple short hair. The more complex the style of hair the more nonrenewable energy is also used to power the machinery to create them. If the wigs are being made by hand by an individual, then the energy required will mainly be chemical. The individual needs to have enough energy to be able to pick out the right set of hair, brush it and prepare it, and apply the various strands to a wig cap the part that holds all of the hair together in one piece. In order to have a good quality wig this process takes various hours because looping the strands of hair is time consuming. Therefore the individual making the wig should consume a good amount of food adequately from carbohydrates, protein, and fat which provide calories the basic unit of energy for humans. (How Do Humans Get Energy) All of which are a good source of energy to be able to work efficiently.
Once the synthetic wigs have been made the process of distributing them for sale to consumers arises. After they have been made in a manufacturing facility, the packaged products have to be transported to various different locations such as retail stores or even directly to the consumer’s home. Depending on where the synthetic wigs are manufactured, the energy needed to transport the product overseas and into a retail store on the other side of the world will be larger than if the product was made domestically in the United States and purchased in the United States. The different types of transportation vehicles used to ship products are trucks, ships, trains, and planes. (How Transportation Pollution Impacts the Environment) The bigger the transportation vehicle used the more nonrenewable energy such as coal and oil will be used to fuel the vehicle to travel longer distances.
A reason why nonrenewable fuels are used instead of renewable sources of energy such as solar is because renewable sources are not as reliable and cheap as nonrenewable fuels. Nonrenewable fuels create the electrical energy to power the vehicles faster and more reliant and create the mechanical energy to actually move the vehicle. Which makes the time to transport the product worldwide faster and preferable for consumers wanting to get a hold of the product as quickly as possible. (How Transportation Pollution Impacts the Environment) An effect of all the energy used in the distribution and transportation process that occurs is the release of certain gases on the environment. For example greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide which are released from burning gasoline and diesel some forms of fossil fuels. (Carbon Pollution from Transportation) This is important to consider in the lifecycle of products such as synthetic wigs because the more transportation there is the more these gases are released and have negative effects on the planet.
As for the human individuals who are conducting and driving the vehicles require food as their main source of fuel which as stated before is chemical energy that comes from the calories of the macronutrients to be able to work skillfully and efficiently throughout the long hours of transporting products overseas by plane or ship, unloading the products, and then transporting them by trucks to retail centers. Once in retail locations, human employees have to unload them from the trucks and get them up on shelves to be ready for purchase. This part is mostly done by animate prime movers, the employees who work on arranging them for display in brick and mortar stores. However with the increase of online shopping there is no need for a retail location to purchase, a warehouse can store the wigs and be mailed to the consumer directly from an online supplier.
This sale online, where the consumer has to have access of the image of the wig, needs employees to create pictures of the product and upload the description of it online as well as ship it once purchased. For the various wigs being sold workers in the United States may work full time and therefore need enough energy for this process as well to perform the job efficiently. The last step to remain is to have it transported again to the consumer which requires a mailing carrier. In the United States mail arrives by mail workers in small vehicles traveling city wide distances and therefore require enough fuel to be able to deliver the product.
When a consumer finally gets their purchase of their synthetic wig they might use it frequently or for just a one time use but the application process requires little energy if it is a simple wig to apply. The majority of wigs come with a head cap this is applied on the head and to keep the person’s real hair contained and hidden so it doesn’t fall out and and to create an even layer to be able to secure the wig properly on the head. Therefore this is a very simple hands on application and only requires caloric energy from food to fuel the individual to have the energy to create the mechanical movements of moving their hands and arms to apply the wig. Maintaining a wig also requires minimal energy. Wigs need to be brushed gently and correctly depending on the texture of the strands of the hair, if prone to knots then more brushing will be needed by the consumer. As well as be stored in dry areas and be washed with certain wig maintenance products to keep it looking good. Some wigs may be washed in the washing machine and this requires electrical energy to power the machine but they are for the most part easy to maintain.
Synthetic wigs will eventually lose some of their properties and the consumer will most likely dispose of it and will most likely end up in a landfill. Since synthetic wigs are made of synthetic materials these do not biodegrade. (Let’s Talk Synthetic Wigs, and Prevailing Ignorance Within the Industry) It takes hundreds to thousands of years to even break down small parts of the synthetic material. Generally if the synthetic wig has more properties and is made of more than one material, it is very difficult to break down. This is true with a lot of synthetic materials for example faux leather and faux fur which also have the purpose of imitating organic material. This way of product design has been able to occur because of the ability of making synthetic materials has become easily attainable in today’s world due to inexpensive, available fossil fuels. This way of manufacturing is the reason why products are made quickly and has fueled the demand of inexpensive products from all over the world.
Another reason this has become the normal way of manufacturing is because in comparison with biodegradable materials, biodegradable materials are renewable which means that they come from organic substances that will take a longer time to grow therefore requiring more energy and therefore can not be produced in large masses in a short period of time. That is why human hair made wigs are more expensive since the time to grow hair takes months to years depending on the length desired and only certain people donate or sell hair which makes it even more rare to have human hair wigs the main preference. This leads to synthetic wigs being disposed of after 4-6 months and can easily be bought again. (Capturing the Life Cycle of False Hair Products to Identify Opportunities for Remanufacture) The majority of them are sitting in landfills not being able to break down. Non biodegradable materials can find their way into soil, water, and air. (What Synthetic Materials are Doing to Our Environment) This can be harmful to animals such as birds and fish that may try to consume the waste and harm their health and possibly kill them.(What are the Effects of Non-Biodegradable Waste?) Therefore getting wigs to be recycled would be beneficial to the environment and living organisms. However there is not enough research demonstrating that wigs are recycled already. A reason that synthetic wigs may not be recycled is mostly for the lack of recycling centers operating today. The process of recycling requires a significant amount of energy to be able to break down synthetic materials that are for the most part non biodegradable. Complex recycling machines involve complex steps in order to break down the product and make it into a new material in order to create something else. Making these machines therefore is a high investment to fund as well.
Humans are involved in all parts of the lifecycle of wigs working with machines to make the process easier and faster. In the process there are also different types of energy forms such as chemical when making the raw materials, mechanical through the manufacturing and distribution system, and chemical from animate prime movers such as humans needing food and the biodegradability of them.
Bibliography
Bradley Ross, Charlie. “What Synthetic Materials are Doing to Our Environment.” The Sustainable Fashion Collective, 11 April 2017 Synthetic-materials-environment
“Carbon Pollution from Transportation.” United States Environmental Protection
Agency
https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/carbon-pollution-transportation
“How Do Humans Get Energy.” Reference h ttps://www.reference.com/health/humans-energy-14ea640dbf74095c Lee, Kevin. “What are the Effects of Non-Biodegradable Waste?” Sciencing, 23 April 2018 https://sciencing.com/effects-nonbiodegradable-waste-8452084.html
Marion, Gary. “How Transportation Pollution Impacts the Environment” The Balance
Small Business, 2 5 June. 2019 https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-transportation-pollution-impacts-the-environment-
415854
Orlova, Tamara A. “Let’s Talk Synthetic Wigs, and Prevailing Ignorance Within the Industry.” Ikon London Magazine, 1 6 July, 2018 https://www.ikonlondonmagazine.com/lets-talk-synthetic-wigs-and-prevailing-ignorance-within-the-industry/
“Polyester.” How Products Are Made , www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Polyester.html . Ray, Linda. “What is Synthetic Hair Made Of?” Our Everyday Life, 31 Oct. 2018 https://oureverydaylife.com/what-is-synthetic-hair-made-of-12174249.html
Ricklin, Beda. “WIGS: Wig Production Information.” SWICOFIL , 2012 www.swicofil.com/consult/industrial-applications/other-applications/wigs
Wilson, Nicky. et al. “Capturing the Life Cycle of False Hair Products to Identify Opportunities for Remanufacture.” SpringerLink, Springer Netherlands, 11 Feb. 2019 link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13243-019-0067-0.
Synthetic Wigs: Waste and Pollution
Gabriela Avalos
Group: Marisa Quiros, Mayra León García
DES 40A
Professor Cogdell
Wigs are very popular amongst many cultures around the world along with people affected by illnesses that cause hair loss. There are two types of wigs including real human hair, and synthetic. The topic of this paper is synthetic wigs because they are more manufactured than real human hair wigs. The main differences between the two types of wigs, are material and price. Synthetic wigs are much cheaper to produce and easier to sell. Synthetic wigs do not require as much maintenance and commitment that real human hair wigs require. This makes the synthetic wigs much more accessible due to their low prices, and low maintenance cost. Synthetic wigs are an important topic to research because they are so popular but are contributing to such detrimental effects on the environment.
Many users of synthetic wigs are influenced by popular culture and purchase these wigs without knowing about the production process which leads to little awareness to the afterlife of a wig when thrown out. Many consumers of synthetic wigs start to experiment with the cheaper alternative to real human hair. On average, a synthetic wig has a life span of 4-6 months of daily use with maintenance. Often times beginning users do not invest time or money on synthetic wigs because they are seen as something so easily replaceable. An example of this being during the Halloween season where many people purchase synthetic wigs for the sole purpose of using it a single time with their costume. When wigs are purchased with this mindset, it leads to more wigs in landfills where they will remain for centuries.
The process of creating these synthetic wigs involves processing plastic fibers such as: polyester, acrylic and polyvinyl. These 3 main materials are made to replicate the look and feel of human hair. The first material, polyester, is made from petroleum byproducts, alcohol and carboxyl acid. The petroleum by product used in the process releases greenhouse gasses during production. Polyester is not biodegradable, meaning once it is thrown out, will not decompose. Polyester also contains carcinogens that can affect workers making these wigs as well as the users. If the polyester fibers are released into the environment, the fibers will break apart into tiny particles that are nearly impossible to filter out of the water. As the tiny particles make there way into the water, many aquatic animals ingest them. As the animals continue to ingest the particles, they begin to fill the stomach of these creatures with plastic that is not digestible. This leads to starvation and ultimately death of these animals. The next material used is Acrylic. Acrylic is made from natural gas and petroleum. Acrylic releases very toxic fumes during manufacturing which affects the workers as well as further pollute the planet.
Most of the materials used to create synthetic wigs are produced in Asian countries. Greenhouse gas emissions from the production process fill the factories that the workers spend most of their day in. Synthetic wigs are made from harsh chemicals that over time may affect the workers and surrounding areas of the factories. Many of the factories have shut down due to very poor working environments posing as a serious health hazard to the workers. The materials are produced and processed in these same countries before being exported as final products. The product is then distributed to hair companies that will build and style synthetic wigs. The transportation method depends on where the company is located. For example, if the company is based in the U.S. countries such as China will have to ship out the product across the world. Exporting goods through plane adds tremendous amounts of CO2 into the air, where as exporting by ship produces a significantly less amount of CO2. Wigs and hair extensions are expected to bring in a $10 Billion revenue by 2023. The amount of wigs being produced in the coming years will only contribute to more waste.
All wigs including real human hair and synthetic require maintenance. Maintenance of the wigs depends on the material. For synthetic hair, the maintenance consists of washing the wigs with special shampoo and conditioner to keep the fibers from drying and looking dull. This should be done every two weeks. This requires time and patience due to the delicacy of the fibers when wet. Heat can not be used at all on synthetic wigs because the plastics that create the fibers will burn and will ruin the wig. In order to dry the wig after washing, it must be dried by patting with a towel. By patting it too rough will cause the fibers to come loose from the wig cap. After patting it dry, it should be hung up to fully dry on its own. Many synthetic wig users do keep up with the maintenance, making the wig last its full potential of life which is 4-6 months. On the other hand, there are users who do not commit to the maintenance of synthetic wigs which causes the wigs to deteriorate at a quicker pace meaning it will be thrown out before reaching its full life expectancy. Wigs also require an adhesive so that it stays in place. There are many different types of adhesives used by wig users. Some adhesives are meant for long periods of use while others are intended for short periods of use. The production of adhesives contributes to the impact that synthetic wigs have on the environment as well.
Synthetic wigs can be easily thrown out without thinking about the effects it will have on the environment. There is an option of recycling synthetic wigs instead of throwing them away. There are companies such as TerraCycle that recycle synthetic hair, all you have to do is ship the hair in a box they provide. Once the company receives the hair, they separate the hair and put it in the composting area. Once the synthetic hair is composted, the plastics in the fibers are turned into plastic polymers. There are other methods of recycling synthetic wigs but it is very energy intensive and it releases greenhouse gases, as well as debris in the process. Recycling the materials used in synthetic wigs is a very expensive solution that leads to an even more expensive product from the recycled materials. Not very many companies will recycle synthetic wigs and similar products. Even more companies do not use the recycled material. Using the recycled material is very costly to companies and will be even more costly to the consumers.
When synthetic wigs are thrown out they make their way to landfills. Synthetic wigs are not biodegradable and it will take roughly 500 years for the chemicals to “decompose”. Once the wig decomposes, the chemicals used in the production will still be present in the soil. These chemicals will eventually make their way into waterways. The materials used to make the synthetic wigs affect more than aquatic ecosystems, they can also affect the air we breathe. Materials such as acrylic are highly flammable, and contain carcinogens. As the wig decomposes, these chemicals are released into the atmosphere further polluting the planet. Most of the synthetic wigs that are thrown away go into incinerators where the plastic fibers are burned. “Plastic is a petroleum-based material, and when burned it’s like any other fossil fuel: it releases climate pollution. This in turn leads to rising sea levels, increased ocean and air toxicity, and destruction of coral reefs and other marine life.” When the plastic fibers are burned they create ashes that make their way into the air that we breathe further polluting the atmosphere which in turn retains more heat than what is being released.
In all forms of waste, we can see that the materials used to create synthetic wigs are very harmful to the environment. Most of the materials are not biodegradable and are very difficult to recycle. Most of the waste produced from these wigs is due to the population’s ignorance of the consequences that come with purchasing these products. Based on the materials used to create synthetic wigs, we can understand that these materials are harmful to the environment in all forms of waste produced. There is a very significant amount of waste produced from synthetic wigs that is very harmful to the environment. The materials are made of different types of plastic fibers that are not biodegradable. While the materials used in the making of synthetic wigs are very cheap and easy to make, recycling them is very difficult and expensive. In order to reduce the amount of waste produced from synthetic wigs, the population needs to reduce the amount of synthetic wigs they purchase and throw out.
Bibliography
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Bolker, Henry I.. Natural and Synthetic Polymers. New York: Marcel Dekker Inc, 1974.
Brewer, Kirstie. “Untangling Where Your Hair Extensions Really Come From.” BBC News, BBC, 1 Nov. 2016, https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-37781147.
Chhabra, Esha. “Recycling Nylon Is Good for the Planet – so Why Don't More Companies Do It?” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 18 May 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/may/18/recycling-nylon-bureo-patagonia-sustainable-clothing.
Orlova, Tamara A, “Let’s Talk Synthethic Wigs, and Prevailing Ignorance Within the Industry.” Ikon London Magazine, 16 July, 2018
Ricklin, Beda. “WIGS: Wig Production Information.” SWICOFIL, 2012, www.swicofil.com/consult/industrial-applications/other-applications/wigs.
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