This man created a filter to block cigarettes in gutters and prevent them from ending up in the sea (using cut hair)

Sébastien Vraca French man living in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, has created an innovative system for combat marine pollution And prevent cigarette butts from ending up in the sea through urban gutters. The idea was born from his awareness of the serious environmental impact of waste, accumulated during his 22 years in the French Navy, where he specialized in the fight against marine pollution.

Although Vrac is not an engineer by profession, his determination led him to create a simple and effective solution to protect the environment. In 2012, Vrac had already developed a first filtering system for water in portswhich earned him numerous awards, including the gold medal at the Lépine competition.

However it was in 2022 that he had the intuition to use your haira material known for its extraordinary absorption capacity, for create ecological filters to be installed in the gutters. These filters, encased in a fabric structure, are designed to block cigarette butts and other waste before they reach the sea, offering an ecological and sustainable solution.

Vrac personally dedicates himself to filter maintenance

The project was adopted by the city of Cherbourg, where 11 filters were initially installed, later increased to 36, with plans to soon reach 50. Over the course of a year, these filters have collected 7.5 kg of wastea quantity destined to grow thanks to the expansion of the system.

The peculiarity of the filters is theirs entirely biodegradable compositionbased on natural materials such as hair, supplied by local hair salons. Vrac currently collaborates with 25 hairdressers who they donate their cut hair regularly for the production of filters.

Every weekend, Sébastien Vrac on his bike personally dedicates himself to the maintenance of the filters, emptying and replacing them once a month. This activity has become a family commitment: his daughters Audrey and Léa support him in managing communication and developing the company.”Dépollu’mer”, which aims to expand the installation of filters to other cities and municipalities.

In the future Vrac aims to use recycled materials, such as cigarette butts themselves, to create the structures that house the filtersthus closing the circle in an ecological and sustainable way. This advanced version of the filter is currently being tested in the center of Cherbourg, and if the results are positive, it could mark a further step towards greater sustainability.