SURPRISINGLY SUSTAINABLE

We are all aware of the need to turn off plug switches when not in use, to switch to an eco-friendly energy supplier and use biodegradable towels, but here are some more surprising sustainable switches…

1 Eco Balayage

It’s true what they say about small habits leading to big changes. Now you can create a more sustainable industry through daily practices with the new Revlon Professional Conscious Balayage technique. By placing colour or pre-lightener in a strategic way, you can create a typical balayage dimension without using foils.

Revlon Professional

2 Cleaner formulas

We’re all on the look out for cleaner colour formulas. Goldwell’s Topchic Zero is a drain safe formula that is up to 98% biodegradable and all Topchic Zero products are climate neutral. How? Kao Salon Division has reduced its carbon emissions from raw materials, packaging, production, transport and disposal and by compensating the unavoidable ones to zero through carbon offset projects in cooperation with ClimatePartner.

3 Bin It Better

The key goal of the Green Salon Collective is to recycle and reuse salon waste, focusing on specialist items like hair and metal. They use hair in over 10 different ways, including cleaning up oil spills, and donate all of their profits from recycling metals. They also compost salon towels and generate energy from chemical waste and PPE. Green Salon Collective allow you to book a free discovery call to assess what could be improved. You can also get a free copy of The Green Bible – a 40-page guide to support you on your journey to becoming sustainable.

Green Salon Collective

4 Refill and Recycle

Food shops with refill bars have become more commonplace in recent years, and it’s great to see the hair world joining in too. Authentic Beauty Concept introduced Refill Bars in 2020 – the refill bottles (which clients can buy) are made from 90% Post-Consumer Recyclable plastics and they can be reused at least five times, generating a saving of 83% less plastic. The Refill Bars use five litre bottles – made from 50% PCR – as the main container.

5 Start You Sustainable Journey with Support

If you ever feel like you need more support on your sustainability journey, Net Zero Now is a company that helps small-medium businesses to take climate action. L’Oréal Professional Products has partnered with the company to launch a Net Zero Salons Programme to help salons meet their client's sustainable expectations. The digital tool guides salons through the process of certifying as a “Net Zero Salon”.

6 Colour Check

It’s tricky to recycle hair colour or even get rid of it easily. Mostly, it’s rinsed into our water system or put in the bin and sent to landfill. One solution is to mix only the colour that you need rather than a set amount regardless of hair type or length. Tim Howard, Chief Innovation Officer at Vish explains: “More than 6 million kg – 15 million lbs – of colour is wasted by stylists each year. Cut that and you don’t just protect the planet, you are also protecting your profits as that colour has been paid for by you. Research shows that the average salon spends £15k on colour that ends up as waste.”

Vish

7 Recycle Smarter

National recycling scheme ‘Recycle My Salon’ aims to reduce the amount of aluminium colour tubes, foils, aerosols, and cans going to landfills. The scheme is run on a not-for-profit basis in association with the HBSA (Hairdressing and Beauty Suppliers Association). Used aluminium products are collected in the salon and are collected by their recycling partner First Mile (they will pick up a full bin of used products from any UK postcode!) Recycling packs of five bins, one lid and 25 recycled sacks are available from wholesalers or from the Recycle My Salon website.

8 Courses that Care

From the company behind Leaf Scissors (who plant at least 10 trees for every pair of scissors sold) comes Shift Academy. Offering courses that are about sustainability and personal growth as well as hair education, for every subscription that is bought 10 trees are planted. Will you help the company in their goal of planting 1 million trees by 2025?

Leaf Scissors

9 Furniture Focus

Unlike some interior products, Takara Belmont’s furniture and equipment is designed to last – both visually and functionally. National Sales Manager Katie Wrighton explains: “Every product is manufactured to best-in-class standards, plus salons choosing Takara Belmont have the added reassurance that parts, service and support will always be on hand.” When inferior equipment breaks down, salons not only suffer financial loss from breaks in service, they often need to replace equipment because parts and servicing aren’t accessible, but that’s not the case with Takara Belmont.

10 The Plastic Problem

A hundred tons of Ocean-Bound Plastic has already been collected thanks to social enterprise Plastic Bank. In 2022, Davines strengthened its commitment to the cause: for every Davines product sold, the same amount of plastic will be removed from the environment. Additionally, Davines will mark their 40th anniversary by doubling their contribution (€50,000) to the Rodale Institute, the pioneer of Regenerative Organic Agriculture. Plus don’t miss debuting Earth Month, the Grow Beautiful limited-edition tote bag made with Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) cotton.

Davines

11 Powder Power

Combining clever formulations and innovative packaging, L’ANZA T.R.U.E. Clean Shampoo & Pure Conditioner are packaged in bottles made from 96% OceanBound Waste Post-Consumer Resin (PCR). Clean Shampoo is a unique powder-to-lather formula, which helped significantly reduce L’ANZA's carbon footprint by reducing the dimensions and weight of cargo, just by removing water. In the Pure Conditioner, they use sustainably sourced upcycled ingredients for a zero-waste beauty experience.

L'ANZA

12 weDo/Care

The weDo/ pledge to retrieve eight plastic bottles for every product sold has now prevented over 20 million plastic bottles from entering the ocean, thanks to their ongoing partnership with Plastic Bank. Plus, the story continues for Wella Company's weDo/ and their Advocate for Positive Change actress Phoebe Dynevor, as they joined forces in March for a clean-up on the shores of France.

13 Smart Services

A new Clay Additive from FFØR has launched which, when blended with FFØR’s High:Lift Lightening Powder, changes the consistency to enable freehand colour techniques, without the need for foils. Professionals can balayage away with this new product safe in the knowledge that it's reducing waste, plus it’s vegan, cruelty free, PETA approved and made in the UK too.