HJ Feature

How Sustainable are your Hairstyling Essentials?

Being sustainable isn’t just about having an eco-statement on your website – it’s about incorporating sustainable practices into every stage of the salon journey

If you’re looking to maximise your salon’s sustainability, the brands you partner with are a powerful place to start. From the products you use behind the chair to the tools, consumables and styling essentials that support your daily services, every choice plays a role. By aligning with brands that prioritise responsible sourcing, innovative packaging and eco-conscious production, salons can take meaningful steps towards reducing their environmental impact – while helping shape a more sustainable future for the industry.

1 COLOUR

With hair colour continuing to dominate the professional haircare sector, sustainability has become an increasingly important conversation within colour services. Traditional chemical-based dyes can be harmful to both the environment and salon professionals, often containing harsh ingredients such as ammonia and PPD that may contribute to environmental damage. In response, many brands are exploring ways to reduce the impact of colour treatments, investing in more responsible formulations and developing alternative solutions including plant-based, biodegradable and organic options.

Aveda

Aveda has introduced a new demi-permanent colour system powered by its patent-pending TRIS ColorIntegrity Technology, designed to target colour molecules while avoiding keratin to deliver effective results with a gentler approach to the hair fibre. Full Spectrum Demi-Permanent Vegan Treatment Hair Color is 100% vegan, made with a high percentage of naturally derived ingredients and developed in Aveda’s in-house colour lab. Production uses renewable energy, including solar and wind power, while packaging comes in tubes made from recycled aluminium.

Wella Professionals

Wella Professionals has been working to reduce the environmental impact of its colour portfolio through more sustainable packaging and formulations. Tubes across ranges including Color Touch, Koleston Perfect ME+ and Illumina Color are now recyclable and made from 100% recycled aluminium, helping avoid around 700 tonnes of virgin aluminium each year. The brand has also increased the use of recycled cardboard to 85%, saving an estimated 950 tonnes of virgin material annually. In addition, Koleston Perfect ME+ and Illumina Color have been free from animal-derived ingredients since 2018.

INNERSENSE

Innersense continues to prioritise climate solutions by reducing its carbon footprint across the business. Its natural ingredients are sustainably sourced, seasonally harvested and ethically selected for high purity. The brand’s Colour Purity range offers 40 intermixable shades plus white for custom colour creation, using a 2MD colour molecule to reduce the risk of allergic reactions. Formulas are vegan and free from ammonia, PPD and PTD, while packaging uses eco-friendly, recycled materials – reflecting the brand’s strong commitment to environmental responsibility.

2 HAIRCARE AND STYLING

Haircare and styling products are often placed under the microscope when it comes to sustainability, largely because they make up such a significant share of the professional hair industry. As everyday essentials used regularly in salons and at home, their environmental impact is hard to ignore. Many brands have recognised their responsibility and are working to drive change through more robust and thoughtful sustainability strategies.

LABEL.M

In 2022, LABEL.M underwent a revamp of its product line, aiming to enhance sustainability, which has led to the brand being awarded eight Global Green Beauty Awards in recognition of its leadership in eco-conscious beauty. Sustainable solutions include eco-friendly formulations, responsibly sourced ingredients, 100% cruelty-free formulations and 100% recyclable pumps.

Electric London

Electric London works with South Downs National Park and Sussex University on a comprehensive sustainability and biodiversity plan for the land, with a commitment to plant more than 200 trees, install dew ponds and natural drainage solutions.

Schwarzkopf Professional

Schwarzkopf Professional’s vegan product range, Bonacure Clean Performance, places sustainability front and centre; it offers cruelty-free formulations, is 100% vegan, and uses recycled packaging made from 97% plastic. The range doesn’t compromise on quality either, offering long-lasting colour, strength, and shine. Bonacure Conditioners require 50% less water for rinsing, proving to be environmentally sound.

EVO

Australian-born haircare brand evo is committed to driving sustainable change within the industry. Its bottles are made from PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic, reducing reliance on virgin materials, and the brand partners with Plastic Bank to help prevent plastic pollution. evo also offsets operational greenhouse gas emissions through certified carbon credits and uses solar energy in manufacturing. The brand has further pledged to cut emissions by 20% by 2030.

MY.ORGANICS

MY.ORGANICS champions sustainability through certified organic ingredients and responsible sourcing, with formulas approved by organisations including ECOCERT and ICEA (Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification). Most packaging uses recyclable materials and I’m Green™ polyethylene derived from sugarcane, helping reduce environmental impact while supporting a more sustainable professional haircare industry.

3 HOT TOOLS

The challenges faced by manufacturers of hot styling tools like straighteners and hairdryers are multifaceted; from constructing energy-efficient tools, adopting eco-friendly materials and durable designs, and promoting recycling, it’s an issue that remains front and centre for brand manufacturers.

GHD

To prolong the lifespan of products, ghd ensures tools undergo rigorous durability testing (including simulated heating/cooling cycles and drop tests) to minimise regular replacements. There’s also a focus on energy efficiency through features like automatic sleep mode and engineering that optimises power use.

4 BRUSHES

While functional tools like hairbrushes have a longer shelf life in comparison to wet products, manufacturers are still working towards maintaining sustainable practices when it comes to the production of such tools.

Denman

Denman continues to implement its long-term strategy to remove single-use plastics from its packaging, replacing them with recyclable cardboard. At its Northern Ireland factories, strict waste management policies ensure all plastic waste generated during manufacturing is recycled. Denman brushes are also designed with longevity in mind, made from quality materials and supported by replacement pins for original styles to extend product life.

Kent Brushes

For Kent Brushes, longevity and craftsmanship sit at the heart of its sustainability approach. The company focuses on creating timeless, functional brushes designed to last for decades, rather than disposable tools that require frequent replacement. By prioritising responsible material choices and traditional manufacturing techniques, the brand views durability as a key part of reducing environmental impact.

OLIVIA GARDEN

Olivia Garden has made sustainability a priority, achieving B Corp certification, which revealed that the brand had already had many responsible practices in place, particularly where operations and culture were concerned. However, the assessment highlighted that plastic usage still remains a challenge, so the brand is now focused on reducing virgin plastic and increasing the usage of recycled materials.

5 EXTENSIONS

Sustainable practices, when it comes to hair extensions, focus on hair being ethically sourced, along with eco-friendly synthetics and materials that are biodegradable.

Great Lengths

Great Lengths became the first hair extensions brand to achieve B Corp certification in 2022, recognising its commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices. Its hair is ethically sourced through voluntary donation during the traditional Hindu practice of tonsuring, with full donor consent, while the brand continues working to improve supply chain transparency and reduce environmental impact. Great Lengths also partners with The Little Princess Trust, allowing removed extensions to be repurposed into wigs for children experiencing hair loss.

ADDITIONAL LENGTHS

Additional Lengths Ltd, the parent company behind professional extensions brand Remi Cachet, has also achieved B Corp certification. The accreditation recognises businesses that meet independently verified standards across social responsibility, environmental performance and transparency, providing salons and clients with reassurance that sustainability claims are externally assessed.

6 CONSUMABLES

While colour, products and tools often dominate sustainability discussions, everyday consumables used in salons can also have a significant environmental impact. Towels, capes, gloves and cleaning products are used constantly and replaced regularly, which makes responsible alternatives particularly valuable.

Disicide Concentrate Disinfection

Disicide has been awarded with the Vegan Certificate and Green Salon Awards, in recognition of the fact that its products are free from substances that are harmful to humans or the environment.

Easydry

For 20 years, Easydry has supported salons with the original single-use, 100% compostable towel system. Now used in 25 countries, the towels are three times more absorbent than cotton, which means it dries hair quicker, reducing the need for daily washing, folding and drying. Plus, if a six-chair salon makes the switch, it can save over 144,000 litres of water a year.

7 SCHEMES

Industry-wide sustainability schemes are also playing an increasingly important role in helping salons reduce waste and improve their environmental practices. From recycling programmes to responsible disposal initiatives, these schemes provide practical solutions that make it easier for salon professionals to manage materials more sustainably and minimise their environmental footprint.

RECYCLE MY SALON

Backed by the Hair & Beauty Suppliers Association, Recycle My Salon is a non-profit organisation which offers recycling initiatives for salons, whereby salon owners can recycle items like aluminium products and human hair extensions to minimise the waste produced.