Seven small steps to sustainability
Becoming green is not a trend to follow in the moment – it’s a responsibility to commit to for the long- term. Want to know how to make the change?
Let’s be honest, the hair and beauty industry are not widely acclaimed for their positive influence on environmental issues – in fact the reputation is quite the opposite, as an industry that has historically created an inordinate amount of waste…(the UK hairdressing industry currently recycles only 20% of the plastic it uses and 99% of salon foil currently ends up in landfill!). But, as the steps to being sustainable in salons are becoming easier and more achievable than ever before, there has been a notable shift in attitudes and practices across the industry.
The increasing importance of going green is indisputable and it doesn’t take much searching to come across an excess of articles and essays discussing the critical necessity for a move towards sustainability. However, it’s easy to feel out-of-depth and overwhelmed when it comes to implementing sustainable practices, particularly in business where profit is involved…
However, it may be surprising to hear that profit can actually be one of the driving forces behind making the change. Through reducing inefficient practices and making the switch to reusable products, there can be evident rewards, both in monetary terms but also more importantly with people – clientele.
MAKE THE CHANGE FOR…
The green ‘trend’ in recent years throughout the hairdressing industry is very clear, with some salons completely overhauling their brands and others making smaller, more subtle alterations. And now, with the mounting use of disposal PPE throughout salons due to government regulations, it has become relevant for ALL hairdressing businesses to review current practices and behaviours.
BUT, with no official guidance on how to make a business sustainable, knowing WHERE to start is a daunting challenge. So, we have collated a list of seven steps (of varying degrees) to help you make that shift to being more sustainable!
First and foremost, one of the most important ways to start your sustainable salon journey is to join the initiatives that are clued up on how to make a difference! Here are a few to get you going…
Green Salon Collective – an organisation founded by environmental experts, hairdressers and eco campaigners to raise the standard of the industry by providing unique recycling, education and accreditation programmes for salon owners.
Salon Sustainability – a comprehensive waste recovery programme which is designed to allow you to easily recycle up to 95% of salon waste. We’re talking everything from aluminium foils, colour tubes, chemicals, hair, plastic and paper.
Finally, the newest initiative to mention is Re:Source, an exciting sustainable salon toolkit created by salon owners, Anne and Keith Veck which includes practical tips and advice for salons starting the journey towards a more sustainable and ethical business.
In an industry that requires a considerable amount of resources from the planet – why not look to give back where possible. Not sure how to do this? Take inspiration from Amalfi Salons who have been planting trees for every client that visits their salons – starting only this year, they are already aiming to plant a forest of 20,000 trees by the end of 2021! Or, take note from BLACC+BLOND, a hair salon that now has a Climate Positive Workforce by pledging to offset the carbon emissions of all the staff.
There’s no denying hairdressing is heavily reliant on the use of water, and a lot of it! Given this is the case it makes sense to consider alternative approaches to ensure water waste is limited as much as possible. Cue, products like ECOHEADS. Eco shower heads can use 65% less water than a regular shower head through doubling the water pressure and creating powerful streams to cut rinsing times in half. Products such as these not only benefit the environment but your financials too – genius!
Updating the salon interiors? Building a new salon entirely? Why not think about upcycling furniture wherever possible! From tables repurposed from wooden crates to window displays created from old hairdryers, there’s always something that’s just waiting for a new lease of life. Just take notes from the likes of H By Gareth Bromell and Jack and the Wolfe – who have achieved amazing results through upcycling interiors. Remember, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure!
Choosing the right products to use in-salon is a big and important decision. It can also be a choice that has a serious impact on your sustainable reputation…Vegan, plastic-free, recyclable, biodegradable and refillable products are more available than ever before and the excuses for why you wouldn’t make the switch are wearing thin. The little things, such as the towels you dry with or the scissors you cut with can make a huge impact – so why not play your part. Here are a few of our favourite green brands and products…
Leaf Scissors offers the world’s first sustainable scissor. These high-quality tools are designed for eco-conscious hairdressers, where every scissor sold equates to 10 trees being planted.
L’Oréal Professionnel Paris is always working towards creating more sustainable product lines – as seen with their iconic Series Expert line-up which has been newly revamped to include packaging made with 100% recycled plastic, all produced in a carbon-neutral factory!
Scrummi towels are the first disposable towel brand to be certified as compostable! These biodegradable hairdressing towels are all vegan, made with sustainable materials to help save time, increase hygiene levels and reduce your carbon output and water waste. Scrummi claims that by making the switch salons can save more than 1,400kg of CO2 emissions each year by ditching usual laundry habits!
Have you heard about WetBrush’s latest green collection? A whole line of brushes made from plant-based materials that naturally break down when thrown into landfill. With 65% less energy used and 68% less greenhouse gas emitted to produce these brushes, they are the ultimate sustainable essential.
Perhaps unsurprisingly recycling is one of the main ways salons can make a significant impact. With so much waste being produced daily and a growing culture of throwing items away after little use, it is important to look at where things may be recycled or reused. Fortunately, there are organisations and schemes that make the whole process a lot easier…
Such as, Cloud Nine’s hair styling tool recycling scheme which recycles old straightening irons, curling wands and hairdryers, whatever the brand or condition and free of charge. This incredible scheme has already seen more than 50,000 irons being recycled to-date and they are committed to recycling 1.5m tools by 2022 to counteract the 2m tonnes of electrical waste each.
And, as mentioned previously, Salon Sustainability has specific recycling programmes designed to make salon recycling as simple and easy as possible! Whether a freelancer, small salon or a nationwide chain, Salon Sustainability offers bespoke packages to help with your recycling process. From hair, paper, colour tubes, foils and PPE all able to be recycled at ease, it’s a great first place to start to on your green journey!
The smaller changes are significant too! By shopping local wherever possible you can not only minimise your carbon footprint but also help support your own community. As an industry that knows better than most that local businesses are the backbone of our economy, it seems nonsensical to not look closer to home when shopping for certain items. Why not start by switching out those big brand refreshment options for your clients and instead offer a locally sourced drink or food make…
There you have it! Seven (somewhat) small steps to sustainability – now it’s over to you… 