9 Simple Ways to Become More Sustainable

Making your hair business more sustainable doesn’t need to be complicated. HJ in UK speaks to salons to find out the simple steps they have taken that you could adopt to kick-start your own sustainable journey for both your team and your clients.

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1Use art and music to spark conversation  “We don’t have mirrors in front of our clients at our salon – we have artwork instead. This means clients aren’t distracted by what’s going on around them so we can use the time to have deeper conversations about the environment and sustainability best practises. We don’t play commercial music either – we play calming music that leads to feelings of relaxation and encourages clients to be completely open with us. Sustainability is incredibly important to our business and we’re in the process of applying for our B Corp status which is a big achievement that will recognise our commitment in this area. We’ve run themed exhibitions within the salon on the environment and we like to see ourselves as educators when we speak to clients. Our team receives sustainable training so all of us can talk to clients’ with confidence about sustainable issues within the salon and also within client’s wider lives.” 

Daniel Kelly, DKUK, L’Oréal Salon Partner

2 Introduce refillable options “As a salon promoting a sustainable and mindful lifestyle, we’ve installed the Authentic Beauty Concept refill bar. The refill station is a visible marker in demonstrating our commitment to becoming a more environmentally-friendly salon. We’re in a great position to make a difference, not just in terms of changing our own habits but as a trusted source of information. We are in the best place to turn our client’s awareness into action. Now more than ever, consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of the goods they are buying. Highlighting the benefits of the refill station to our clients and refilling their bottles is another step towards a more sustainable future. Why not look into setting up your own refill station in a highly visible part of your salon? This will not only benefit your business sales-wise but more importantly it also allows you to become a more sustainable and eco-friendly salon. Offering a discount or reward is a proven way to entice clients into participating in your refill initiative.”

Dan Mewies, Mewies & Co and Authentic Beauty Concept ambassador

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3 Switch to a green energy supplier “Green energy supplier prices are competitive and you will achieve a huge reduction in your carbon footprint. There are several green energy suppliers in the market such as Ecotricity, Good Energy and Green Energy. Ecotricity generates 20% of its electricity from its own renewable sources (they own their own wind farms) and buys the rest from independent renewable generators. Climate change is the biggest threat that we all face and hair salons use a huge amount of energy, especially when we use lots of hot water. Switching energy provider means you can make a huge difference. Even more importantly, today’s clients love the sustainable salon vibe, in fact they demand it. Our client numbers and sales have increased 10% year-on-year since 2013, so going sustainable is also good for your salon business!”

Anne Veck & Keith Mellen, Anne Veck Limited Oxford

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4 Recycle everything “We recycle hair, metal, plastic, paper, PPE and chemical  waste in separate recyclable bags. We’re also using FFØR’s sustainable products with recyclable packaging which are popular with our clients and support our sustainable ethos.” 

Karoliina Saunders, Karoliina Hair Design

5 Upcycle your furniture “It was very important to us when the salon opened that we were not wasteful and we wanted to be aware of what we used and how we could work with the local community. All our display shelves, storage and even where we keep our pins and grips (inside empty candle holders) are recycled. We source from eBay and Vinterior. Clients also bring us pieces, which is in tune with our community spirit.”

Adam Reed, Adam Reed London

6 Use outside space to ofFset carbon emissions “We use our outside front garden to replant trees and help offset our carbon footprint. We hope to continue with larger incentives within the wider community. We also use local plants and flowers to attract nature and we have loads of fresh herbs that clients and neighbours can take.”

Mark McCarthy, MARKDAVID

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7 Make simple swaps “We’ve made a number of simple swaps that really make a difference. We serve ground coffee in cafetieres from a local organic and fair trade roastery to avoid unnecessary packaging and the carbon footprints that come with pods and other traditional coffee machines. Our team all use their own refillable coffee cups and water bottles which we keep in the salon to avoid unnecessary washing up or single use plastic. We use Simplydry towels that are made in the UK as when researching we found these bamboo towels had the lowest carbon footprint because they are not made and shipped from China. We share our space with our community and put on regular yoga classes and workshops to support local artists. We also have an ‘Outfit Exchange’ event so people can swap items they no longer love with others.”

Jo Dyer, Yoke The Salon

8 Change your showerheads “Installing ECOHEADS into all salon basins reduces our water usage by 80% so it’s a no-brainer. Blue Tit reduces 1,350,000 litres of water wastage a year using ECOHEADS and it also increases the water pressure to make the performance even better too.”

Andi Hinteregger, Blue Tit London

9 Join Green Salon Collective “Hair salons produce a huge amount of waste that is not recycled correctly. We joined Green Salon Collective who run a recycling system for salons as well as an education and accreditation programme. It has inspired myself and my team. Plus, we have gained new clients that are impressed by our leap forward in sustainability and protecting our environment.”

Syd Hayes, Q Cut