In this Guide
As you know, sustainability is at the core of my business. When I first started out, I wanted to do things differently. While the glamorous side of hairdressing is what you see, there’s a lot of waste created behind the scenes, especially with colour services. I wanted to tackle this head-on.
The Problem with Salon Waste
Most people think of plastic bottles and hair when they think of salon waste. However, the reality is much bigger. There are colour tubes, highlighting foils, developer bottles, and single-use protective items. On top of that, there’s chemical waste and the huge amount of water a typical salon uses.
A common mistake is assuming that local recycling services can handle all of this. Unfortunately, they’re not equipped to deal with the unique mix of materials from a salon, and most of it ends up in landfill. Did you know that a UK study by Eco Hair & Beauty found that hairdressers only recycle around 1% of their foils? It’s clear we need to do better.
My Solution: Prevention and Conscious Choices
For me, the best solution is to prevent waste in the first place, rather than just dealing with it afterwards. This is why I’ve made sustainability a core value of my business.
This is how I work to make a difference:
- I’ve eliminated single-use plastics wherever possible.
- I use Scrummi biodegradable towels, which decompose in months. They save a significant amount of water and energy compared to washing traditional cotton towels.
- My plastic wraps are made from corn starch, making them 100% biodegradable.
- I’ve partnered with a specialist recycling service that handles everything from the hair I cut to the foils and empty product tubes. This ensures nothing goes to landfill.
- The brands I work with, like Kevin Murphy, use recycled ocean plastic for their packaging.
Is Recycling Enough?
While recycling is an important part of the solution, it’s not the whole picture. True sustainability means moving away from materials that can’t be endlessly recycled or reused. This is where the concept of a circular economy comes in, where products are designed from the start to be reused and remade, not thrown away.
This is a big conversation that requires commitment from businesses and governments alike. However, I believe that every small step we take, and every conscious decision we make, pushes us closer to a greener future. It’s something I’m truly passionate about and I’m proud to share my journey with you.
