Each year, around 99% of hair cuttings and 98% of salon metals, including salon foil and colour tubes, end up in landfill.
This Recycling Week, Melenie Tudor, owner of En Route Hair & Beauty, the current Sustainable Salon of the Year, shares three simple steps salons can take to improve their recycling.
Melenie says: “The hair and beauty industry generates a significant amount of waste - plastic bottles, foils, hair cuttings and more. It can be challenging for busy salon owners to implement eco-friendly practices without disrupting the workflow. However, with increasing awareness of sustainability, many clients now expect salons to be environmentally conscious. Fortunately, there are several easy recycling solutions that can help salons reduce waste and make a positive impact.”
Recycling Hair
Each year, 6,700 tonnes of human hair waste is produced in hairdressing in the UK. It might seem strange to recycle clippings, but hair is biodegradable and very versatile. We partner with the Green Salon Collective, who not only collect our hair waste but recycle it in several inventive ways, such as cleaning oil spills, bio-manufacturing, and as a wool alternative. We also work with our local allotment, which makes use of our hair for composting, as it provides lots of nutrients for the soil. Clients also love hearing that their haircut is doing something good for the environment, offering a fantastic opportunity to boost your salon’s eco-friendly reputation.
Foil and Colour Tube Recycling
Hair colouring is a significant part of our salon services, but it can also produce a considerable amount of waste. Think before you throw foils and colour tubes in the bin. Why not set up a dedicated recycling station with separate bins for hair, metals, plastics, soft plastics, general waste, paper and chemicals? This is a really simple way to make sure everything gets recycled properly and can even be collected and turned into sustainable energy. Working with suppliers that support your sustainability goals also helps. All our colour products from Schwarzkopf Professional are made from 100% recycled aluminium and plastic, helping to reduce our salon’s carbon footprint.
Plastic Bottles and Packaging Reduction
We introduced a REUSE - RECYCLE - REFILL station to help our salon and clients reduce plastic waste. 75% of our customers bring their bottles back for refill, and we offer a 20% discount on the RRP. Five years on, we have sold 266 individual units of refilled shampoo and conditioners. I recommend working with suppliers that prioritise sustainable packaging. We love AUTHENTIC BEAUTY CONCEPT as its packaging is 80% post-consumer (PCR) plastic and fully recyclable.
Recycling in a busy hair salon may seem like an added task, but with the right systems and partnerships in place, it’s entirely manageable. By recycling hair, foils and plastics, your salon can take significant steps toward sustainability while impressing your clients. The key is to incorporate these recycling wins seamlessly into your salon’s operations so you can focus on what you do best.