We all love the salon industry, and we know that there are an endless number of wonderful things about it – from incredible creativity and talent to a sense of community and strength that salon pros should most definitely be proud of. However, we also know that there’s a not-so-pretty side, too (and no, we’re not talking about those bad perm-jobs of the 80s).
We’re talking salon waste. From used foils and colour tubes to tonnes of paper and plastic – even toxic chemicals and hair cuttings – salons produce waste that can be extremely harmful to the planet (and lots of it). What’s more, because salon waste is so specialised, it almost all ends up in landfill. Yep, this side of the hairdressing industry is pretty ugly – which is why it’s more important than ever for us to do something about it.
And, in a world where we’re (thankfully) becoming more eco-conscious, sustainable practices don’t just benefit the planet – they’re important for your business, too. Increasingly, clients are actively seeking out those businesses that prioritise sustainability. A study carried out by SmartestEnergy revealed that 4 out of 5 people describe themselves as likely to choose a brand with a positive approach to environmental sustainability.* That means that choosing a more eco-friendly approach isn’t just responsible – it’s also a smart business move.
“With this collaboration, we can take more responsibility and raise awareness on key topics of interest in the beauty industry, whether that’s sustainability, diversity or inclusion. We want to give our partners the ability to make a difference, with tools to make better-informed decisions when it comes to their impact on the planet. With the green movement needing more attention in the beauty world, we believe that a long-standing collaboration with Green Salon Collective will bring it to the forefront” – Rober Taracido Ruiz, Country Manager for UKIE at Treatwell.
Enter: Green Salon Collective – an extraordinary organisation making moves to change the way the salon industry gets rid of its waste (and much more). At Treatwell, we’re dedicated to taking steps towards creating a more sustainable industry – for people, our partners, and the planet. Green Salon Collective is there to help all of us do just that. So, to coincide with World Environment Day, we’re incredibly excited to announce our partnership with Green Salon Collective. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know. It’s pretty exciting stuff – trust us.
Who are Green Salon Collective?
Founded by environmental experts, hairdressers, and eco campaigners, Green Salon Collective are the hair industry’s sustainability superheroes. Their mission is to transform the hairdressing industry, with innovative and eco-conscious ways of dealing with salon waste (that go far beyond the capabilities of the average recycling bin). From composting your salon’s towels and recycling all salon metal waste (yes, including contaminated foil, hairspray cans and colour tubes); to using chemicals to generate energy and using discarded hair in 10 (10!) different ways – even using it to clean up oil spills. Yep, Green Salon Collective’s goal is to recycle the unrecyclable and reduce salon waste in any way they can. And we think that’s pretty incredible.
How it works: Going eco-friendly is easier than ever
This is the good part – your salon’s journey to becoming a Green Salon Collective member couldn’t be easier.
- Step 1: You start by purchasing one of their ‘Starter Kits’ that best fits your needs.
- Step 2: You’ll receive the bins you need to start separating your waste, as well as marketing materials, bin bags, and a ‘Returns Box’ (depending on which Starter Kit you opt for).
- Then, once you’ve filled your bins with all that salon waste, (each one holds around 350 clients’ worth of waste), just pop it into the returns box, and schedule a collection.
- Green Salon Collective takes care of everything else.
With their range of products and services, Green Salon Collective can collect 100% of your salon’s waste. It’s super simple (and incredibly effective).
Save when your salon is smart & sustainable
Oh, and did we mention the best bit? As part of our partnership with Green Salon Collective, Treatwell partners can get 15% off Green Salon Collective kits and add-ons, meaning that transforming your salon’s eco-practices is easier than ever.
What’s more, we’ll be offering Green Salon Collective members exclusive discounts on Treatwell packages, so that they can become part of our community for less.
Better for people, partners & the planet
Clients can book consciously and with confidence
This is what we like to call a ‘win-win-win’ situation. With the help of marketing materials from Green Salon Collective, (and with your brand new bins in pride of place in your salon), you can show your clients and anyone passing by that you care about sustainability. Knowing that you’re a part of Green Salon Collective, your clients can feel good about their decision to continue choosing you as their go-to pamper spot. It’s an opportunity to align their personal values with their beauty choices, creating a sense of fulfilment and positive impact. So, your clients can feel rest assured that their favourite salons are doing their bit for the planet can – which can make all the difference, and can help make their ‘me-time’ moment even more blissful.
Eco-friendly salons stand out
We’ve already mentioned some of the (many) ways that your salon business can benefit from focusing on sustainability and becoming part of Green Salon Collective. Your eco-credentials can go a long way to influencing potential and current clients in their booking habits. Members of Green Salon Collective are also featured on their Member Locator – which alone gains them an average of 3 new clients in the first 3 months.
And, when you purchase your Green Salon Collective Starter Kit, you’ll also receive marketing materials such as window stickers and mirror stickers. This makes it easier than ever to show clients that you care about sustainability, and helps you get noticed (and booked) for all the right reasons.
What’s more, with Green Salon Collective managing up to 100% of your salon waste – you’ve got one less thing to worry about, streamlined operations, and a more organised business.
If you know Treatwell, you know that we’re all about helping salons work smarter. Our aim is to empower our partner salons to get noticed by new clients, get booked like never before, get organised in their salons, and get repeat business booming. We truly believe that our partnership with Green Salon Collective can help with each and every one of these aims.
Our planet, protected
And, the biggest winner, of course, is our beloved planet. Landfills cause a whole host of environmental issues, including releasing toxic greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which contribute to climate change. So, recycling, repurposing, and redirecting that waste can only be a good thing.
Together, we can transform salons
We’ve already mentioned that existing Treatwell salons can get 15% off Starter Kits to become part of Green Salon Collective. If you’re a Treatwell partner salon, make sure to keep an eye on your inbox for your discount code. And, if you’re not yet a Treatwell salon, head here to find out more and sign up for your free demo of Treatwell Pro.
Our community of salons is constantly growing and evolving, and we can’t wait to have even more Green Salon Collective members on board. We know that smart and sustainable salons make sense. Together with Green Salon Collective, we’re providing salons with the solutions to becoming just that.
*SmartestEnergy Sustainability Matters Report
