The Beginner’s Salon Guide To Going Green & Reducing Waste

8 Simple Ways To Go Green In The Salon

When it comes to sustainability efforts in the salon, remember: If there’s one new thing that you start doing today, you’re already doing better than what you were doing yesterday. Starting small is actually a good thing and simple swaps, efforts and positive change will create not only a more sustainable environment, but salon culture.

Because every month is “Earth Month,” we’ve tapped real salon owners who are just like you and are making steps every day to prioritize the planet in their salons. Dive into our comprehensive guide, curated by seasoned salon leaders, and get clear insights, actionable strategies and easy ways to better your own salon. 

Meet The Experts: Davines Salon Owners & Sustainability Leaders 

• James Alba, The B Hive Organic Salon Co-Owner and Co-Founder of The Salon Movement of Sustainable Salons
• Heidi Epp, Owner of Refinery House, the first B Corp Certified Salon in Canada 
• Angie Hofelich, Davines Sustainable Business Coach
• Patty Martín and Josh Scheidel, Owners of LOVE AND MERCY Salon in Boston
• Sal Misseri, Owner of Reverie Salon in Chicago and Founder of Kaizen Education

Going Green: How Does It Work & Why Does It Matter?

“The statistics show that your clients are more aware and interested in supporting businesses that are looking to do better for the planet and well-being of their staff,” says James. “Change is never easy, but there are so many resources to help you achieve your goal. If this is the path you choose, you need to plan like anything else,” he continues. “I think that salons need to look at the broad spectrum because health and mental wellness are just as much a part of being ‘sustainable.’” 

“We’re seeing more of the conscious consumer,” adds Patty and Josh. “Our clients are interested in how their money is being reinvested by the business. If we can make them feel good about the way they look but also feel good about the way they’re spending their money then that helps us [further] build our relationships.”

“Some statistics put salons as the third most waste producing industry, so taking sustainability seriously is a main focus for us at Davines; we want to make clients beautiful while keeping the planet beautiful.,” says Angie who says her focus within the brand is Peace, Love and Profits. “When one considers sustainability and sales; clients want sustainable products and services more than ever.”

“79% of Americans want to buy from brands that are environmentally friendly, 68% are willing to pay more for environmentally sustainable products, according to BOSI, PDI Technologies, 2023.” 

“If there is a choice between two great products and one is carbon-neutral; we continue to grow as a brand as informed salons make the choice to be sustainable,” says Angie. 

1. How To “Start Small” When Going Green

• Do inventory of the products used for ongoing operations such as laundry detergent, cleaners, paper towels, toilet paper, etc. and ask questions about the brands being used, says Heidi. By doing this we know that we’re being mindful about all the items used daily. Ask these questions: 
  • Who makes the goods?
  • Where do you get them?
  • How do they get to the store?

“To salon owners feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of going green, my advice is to start small and build momentum gradually,” says Sal. “Even simple actions like starting a recycling program or supporting companies that offset their environmental impact can pave the way for larger changes. Every small step counts towards a more sustainable future.”

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2. Make The Simple Swaps To Go Green 

• Waste is expensive. That’s why Patty and Josh have always looked for supplies that are durable. “We buy most of our shop supplies in bulk,” they shared. “We stick with a quality product that we know is going to do the job and last. We use refillable containers for most of our sanitizer sprays, soap dispensers and cleaning supplies.”

• Move communication online. “From managing staff to customer service, we’ve taken our communication online,” says Heidi.  “Whether it’s booking clients or filing employee records, we look for a secure way to do this online rather than on paper.” 

• Change your thermostat to a ‘smart’ one. Check with your utility company first because many have instant rebates that can cut the cost in half or more, says James.

• Install ECOHEADS on your sink basins. You will save 60 percent in water usage and energy immediately. It also gives the client a rain soft feel and speeds up rinsing out color and product, James adds.

• “Break Room garbage can tend to be a ‘catch all’ even if you have a recycling plan in place,” says James. Try greener options for everyday tools and necessities, and explore Green Circle Salons’ waste management and recycling systems. 

Real salon examples: “Using LED lights and smart thermostats reduced our electricity bill by hundreds of dollars,” adds Patty and Josh. “We have salon specific shower heads for the backwash stations that use less water but still put out plenty of pressure for rinsing out our clients. We provide washcloths in the restrooms rather than paper towels. It cuts down on waste and it feels more curated than single use paper towels.”

3. Specific Salon Areas To Start Reducing Waste

• Backbar: “All our backbar comes in bulk,” says Patty and Josh. “Most of [Davines} shampoos and conditioners come in liter sizes, and a couple of our most used products come in a gallon size.” 
• Kitchen: “Adopting reusable lunchware along with composting are effective strategies in minimizing waste and plastic usage,” says Sal. 
• Breakroom: Heidi sets up small staff areas for the teams to make and eat their packed lunches (fridge, microwave or toaster oven, kettles, silverware, plates and cups). The bonus is that having thoughtful places for the staff to gather helps build team culture.
• Parking Lot: Encourage carpooling, Sal suggests. “We encourage taking public transportation and we have bike racks in front of the salon,” add Patty and Josh. 
• Partners: “Partnering with Davines has been a vital part of being able to do what we do best, hair and team building, knowing that they are supporting us with products that are doing good in the world,” says Heidi. “Beyond just great products formulated with sustainability in mind, we have found that Davines is a company that strives to make a positive impact at every turn.”

4. Immediate Changes You Can Make Tomorrow

• Get organized: Waste management starts with each person. Keep waste systems in order by clearly labeling bins and providing directions for separation.
• Providing tools and suggestions for stylists to embrace eco-friendly practices is crucial: Here’s how Sal is using encouraging habits to foster a culture of sustainability:
  • Reusable lunchware
  • Provide easier composting systems
  • Promote carpooling
  • Use refillable water bottles 
  • Maintaining professional hair tools for longevity
  • Maximizing product usage
  • Offer support and guidance to empowers stylists to make environmentally conscious choices

• Ask for help: Shortly after opening, we invested in becoming a Green Circle Salon, says Heidi. This waste management system is pay per use, so it’s accessible for both large and small operations. Our clients help neutralize the cost by having a small “eco fee” added to their tickets. 

• Make it fun: Challenge yourself or teams to keep getting better. “We periodically run a ‘chemical waste’ challenge where our shops weigh their color waste at the end of the week. The shop with the least amount of waste gets a prize,” says Heidi.

5. Try an “Earth Month” Initiative 

For April, Sal’s Chicago-located Reverie Salon is fostering eco-conscious habits among clients and staff. Here’s how: 

• Incentivize recycling by offering discounts on products for every container returned.
• The stylists have created a herb garden using compost from their lunches, allowing clients to take home a piece of greenery. “It was a fun and natural way for us to not only utilize our staff’s existing compost system, but a sweet project that both stylists and clients have enjoyed,” said Sal. 
•  Each seedling that the staff plants is in an easy-to-plant biodegradable container that lives among product shelves, making it a simple way for the client to take notice and an easy way to grow something alongside them.
• “It’s a holistic approach that not only reduces waste but also promotes sustainability in our community,” says Sal. 

Tap through Reverie’s Earth Month initiatives below:

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by REVERIE a Sal Misseri Salon (@reverie_salon)

6. How To Overcome Intimidation Through Resources & Accountability 

• Laundry is complicated. It isn’t just the water waste and soap, it is also a staffing issue, says James. “For salon specific waste, Green Circle Salons is the go-to and is as user-friendly as you can get. If you use them, [it’s] as an opportunity to let your clients know it is an added layer of marketing,” he says. “The wasted time doing laundry has a far bigger impact on your bottom line than anything else. We use biodegradable towels to not only eliminate washing towels, but also to eliminate the task of doing them.”

• [Recycling] salon waste is particularly difficult. Here’s what James suggests: Many towns in the US use a free service called Recycle Coach which helps you identify what they take locally, as well as the little “numbers” under your glass and plastic.

• Choose a thing, and start tracking! “It’s inspiring to see progress,” says Heidi. “When we track things like water consumption and energy usage, the waste we ship via Green Circle, and our carbon footprint, we can analyze our improvement. 

7. Partner With Brands & Suppliers That Support Your Efforts

• Davines has sustainability at their core. “Just by choosing to carry their products, we know that we’re softening our environmental impact,” says Patty and Josh. “Davines does most of the heavy lifting for us because we know at the international level they are designing and delivering their products, their packaging, and sourcing their ingredients to do it in a way that’s better for the environment.”

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• Look local. “We search for local suppliers who can provide us with as many things as possible. Our Davines supplier, West Coast Beauty ships to all our locations from under 100km away,” says Heidi. “By ordering from one place we can reduce our impact by getting 10 boxes shipped from one place rather than through multiple orders.” 

• Evolve together: “We have grown in our message, and methods since we opened over 10 years ago, almost perfectly aligned with Davines,” adds James. As a leading salon in the ‘green’ space we have high demands. They are always looking forward to doing their best, and know that they can work towards being better. The message they project is always layered with optimism in environmentalism as much as it is in performance.”

8. New Salon Owners: Advice To Start Strong

Set yourself up for sustainable success. “When we launch a new salon, we make choices about the sinks and lighting to build sustainability into our spaces by choosing water-reducing faucets and energy-efficient lighting,” says Heidi. 

For example: “We have ECOHEADS on each of our hair sinks to reduce water usage, energy-efficient lighting and look for the energy star symbol on appliance purchases,” says Heidi. “When we get this right from the start, we reduce our impact every day without even thinking about it.”

Take the next steps: Learn about how Davines is taking climate action now!