A new initiative at UMD, Cut to a Healthier Planet aims to repurpose human hair fibers to clean polluted water. Annually, oil spills play a significant role in contaminating our waters and harming wildlife. To combat this, Cut to a Healthier Planet partnered with Matter of Trust, a San Francisco based organization that creates mats out of hair, fur, wool, and fleece. Donated hair from UMD students is sent to Matter of Trust to become hair mats, used to soak up petrochemicals from our oceans, beaches and storm drains.