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 a number of easy recycling solutions that can help salons reduce waste and make a positive impact.”
Pay attention – these steps are easy for everyone to adopt
Recycling Hair
Each year, 6,700 tonnes of human hair waste is produced in hairdressing in the UK. Hair is actually biodegradable and very versatile. Melenie partners with the Green Salon Collective, who not only collect hair waste but recycle it in a number of inventive ways, such as cleaning oil spills, bio-manufacturing, and as a wool alternative.
Melenie also explains how she works with her local allotment, which makes use of our hair for composting, as it provides lots of nutrients for the soil.
WIN WIN: 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
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.
Melenie suggests that working with suppliers that support your sustainability goals also helps. At En Route, 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
Consider a REUSE – RECYCLE – REFILL station to help the salon team and clients to reduce plastic waste. Melenie says that 75% of her customers bring their bottles back for refill, and she offers 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.”
So how about it?
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 or your private servcie 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.