5 mins

Wellness for people and the planet

Three experts share their vision, policy, and eco-friendly methods when it comes to preserving the planet at world-class spas with Tasneem Hatimbhai.

O

ur planet is rare and beautiful but in this age of Anthropocene, it is bearing the brunt of the demands of a growing human population. However, in the past decades, we have seen a shift in the thinking and actions of several wellness establishments that are working to go ‘green’. At Professional Beauty and Hairdressers Journal, we take sustainability seriously and connected with experts – Reena Sheth, Director Of Spa & Salon, The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai; Vinaya Jadhav, Spa Manager, Spa By JW, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar; and Aniket Sarkar, General Manager, Ananda in the Himalayas – to share what sustainability means to spas in India and if there is a green certification ranking that spas are measured against in the country.

Sustainability in the wellness industry has become a hot topic due to a rise in environmental awareness, new global standards, its profitability and consumer demand. Climate change is at critical mass. To reverse course, we must take swift action to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Failure to stop both production and consumption will cause untold human suffering and condemn polar bears, coral, and other species to extinction.

Green is good for business: It is not just about our shared responsibility. However, going green can also be great for business and have long-term cost benefits. It is a common perception that sustainable practices are expensive or will bring less to bottomline income, but the reality is that unsustainable practices can cost more in the long run and actively live up to their name by being just that: unsustainable.

Younger consumers have big buying power and high expectations. In general, consumers are more aware of the impact of their purchasing decisions now than we have been in the past. Consumers are showing increased interest in not only product features, but in business operations and company values as well. More and more, people want to buy from businesses they trust. Most prominently, millennials have the highest expectations for environmental and social responsibility in businesses, they also are reported to be becoming the heaviest buyers in beauty and skincare industries. There was a time when people would blindly apply items to their skin without turning the label to scrutinise its contents and ingredients.

Reena Sheth, Director Of Spa & Salon - The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

However, consumers and spa goers are now making more informed and conscientious decisions, about what they should be using on their body and skin as much as they are concerned about what goes into their body. Created with conscientious spa goers in mind, Jiva’s products have been hand-picked to ensure that the complete collection of chemical-free products have been entirely developed using natural ingredients that promote wellness not only to the user, but to the environment too.

Being socially responsible is not only the right thing to do as consumers want to know that you as the business owner really care about the environment and that this care translates over to truly caring for them. Unfortunately, the spa industry in India is not so organised and no set standards exist for green certification as yet.”

Sustainability is the process of living within the limits of available physical,  natural and social resources in which everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly on our natural environment. Fundamentally, sustainability and wellness have quite a strong connection. One cannot be concerned about their own wellness if they are not concerned about the planet’s wellness. The spas in India are blessed to maintain sustainability by adding the richness and authenticity of yoga and Ayurveda to their practices. Ayurveda is all about Dharana and Dharma, both Sanskrit words indicate a sustainable complex of life and living. Ayurveda practices ensures healthy living and promotes well-being.  Yoga provides us with a set of guidelines to help us deal soon be one of the major requirements to run a Spa. with ourselves and with the world around us. It

and global change.

Consumers are becoming savvier about green products and want to choose their daily skin and beauty regimen wisely. According to the Environmental Working Group, women use an average of 12 products a day, containing 168 different chemicals. Men use fewer products, but still put 85 chemicals on their bodies. Even people who do not use make-up still use skin and body care products such as shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, hand soap, sunscreen, lip balm, and hand lotion. It is important to use eco-friendly products that will contribute to their health and not compromise it. As of now, spas in India  do not require green certification, however, this will 

Many spas have started implementing ways to provides a structure for managing our inner needs become eco-friendly such as conserve water, rethink and desires, and when applied to communities and the energy consumption, and usage of natural and societies, can be an instrument for sustainable living organic products.”

Vinaya Jadhav, Spa Manager, Spa By JW,JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar

The primary approach that we have with respect to sustainability is to be able to reuse our resources, aimed at wastage reduction. We reuse wastewater to water plants, bottle our own water served in glass bottles to reduce plastic consumption, and use electricity coming from a water dam.

For any spa, a clear direction is required with respect to sustainable measures. It is good to start small and scale up the measures with time. This approach takes the dedication of the entire team, not just a single individual. It is good to have a team leading these efforts, as it needs consistent action and a vision for future activities.

Sustainable practices are now much needed across the world, and it is a great responsibility that needs to be shared by everyone. For example, we encourage guests to reuse bed linen to save water. This shared approach is more conducive in ensuring that the adopted measures are adhered to, and scaled up as and when possible.

More and more travellers are also becoming conscious and appreciate brands that have environment and socially responsible policies in place. We look forward to improving and scaling our own practices in the coming years.”

Aniket Sarkar, General Manager, Ananda in the Himalayas

Here some of Ananda’s sustainability practices till date:

• Garbage segregation to facilitate proper disposal and recycling

•A zero wastewater policy

• Food waste management

• Water management including an on-site water bottling plant and hence 99 per cent reduction of plastic waste created from single use bottles, water leakage upcycling, drip irrigation, linen re-use programme, use of grass turf for golf.

• Power consumption management including heat pumps, LED lighting, micro switches for doors, master keys for rooms electricity, energy meters

These practices are defined, executed, and measured accurately and consistently.

• Employment of residents where possible and purchase of local and sustainable products.

• Create and execute programmes to support local communities.

This article appears in the Apr-May 2021 Issue of Professional Beauty/ Hairdressers Journal India

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This article appears in the Apr-May 2021 Issue of Professional Beauty/ Hairdressers Journal India