With 120 billion units of packaging produced annually by the cosmetics industry alone, and 10 million tonnes of plastic dumped in the oceans every year, salons and spas must play their part to reduce plastic waste. Alongside the global shift to become more eco-friendly, it is important you reduce plastics to keep clients on your side. Here are five easy ways to do precisely that:
More natural materials for equipment
To reduce plastic, the first place to look is your own equipment. Gowns are often heavy in plastic material, which are then washed and shed plastic micro-fibres into the sea. Luckily, gowns can be easily switched for those with natural fibres such as cotton. It is worth looking around the salon or spa to see what other equipment can be swapped too, such as gloves and towels.
Use glass bottle products
One of the key areas to reduce plastic is by stocking environmentally friendly products. Many shampoos and conditioner suppliers now provide their products in glass bottles, which you can use both professionally and for retail. If you then setup a refill station, clients can even return to refill their bottles! We outline more details on refill stations and eco-friendly solutions here.
Remove single-use plastic for drinks
It is also worth replacing any single-use plastic cups and bottles for drinks. Paper cups make for a great alternative to serve clients hot or cold drinks. As for staff on the go, reusable water bottles are an excellent substitute that can be refilled whenever needed. We have plenty more alternatives to help attract eco-friendly clients, too.
Recycle PPE and plastic waste
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has become a staple in salons and spas. That means it is important to use face masks and shields that can be frequently cleaned and reused. Switching these to plastic-free variants will help where possible. When neither are doable, the Green Salon Collective is an initiative that helps recycle PPE and plastics, as well as other salon waste.
Use paper or canvas bags
Everyone’s reducing single-use plastic bags for retail items, so why don’t you? Paper bags are a great solution to hold lighter items, but you could also provide branded canvas bags. These bags not only reduce the plastic you are providing but help advertise your salon to others when it is in use.
For more advice, review the National Hair and Beauty Federation’s (NHBF) blog on how to help your salon become more sustainable and plastic-free.
Salon by Premier Software® also helps setup new recyclable stock, market your environmentally friendly stance and retail those items to clients. For more details on how Salon can help you, view our features video or book a free presentation today.