The salon industry is one of the more difficult businesses to convert to an eco-friendly model. Currently there are no green-star rated traditional equipment. There are however several ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and make your salon more environmentally friendly. The salon industry is all about beauty, it’s important that we don’t sacrifice the health of the earth in order to obtain that. Converting to a more green business model not only reduces the impact you have on the environment, it can also be a way to increase salon revenue. There are droves of environmentally conscience people who may rarely go to the salon or have stopped going completely. Being able to advertise your salon as a green business can bring some of them back, and at the same time, reduce attrition of your current customers.
Use Recyclable Materials
There are over 14 billion pounds of plastic that get dumped into the ocean on a yearly basis. This causes severe damage to the ecosystem. Essential plant and animal life suffer as a result. The issue comes with what the plastics are made of. Plastic is either recyclable or not. Making informed and educated decisions to purchase recycled products and then recycle them again can take additional time but is worth the effort.
No Animal Testing
It’s actually more expensive for beauty product manufacturers to test on animals and that cost is passed on to the consumer. This is a sad fact and one that is not necessary. Avoiding products that are tested on animals will not only make you feel good, it’s an important step to take in going green.
Design and Decoration
The décor of your salon is very important and you need to create an atmosphere that makes your clients feel comfortable and welcome. There are many choices you can make to ensure your décor is environmentally friendly. You’ll want to purchase art that is recyclable and made using environmentally safe materials and practices. You can also use VOC-free paint which is a far healthier option than traditional interior paint. This means they are free of volatile organic compounds which have been shown to cause throat and lung issues.
Equipment
There are many simple ways your salon can cut down on energy consumption. You can start with energy efficient lighting. You’ll want to make sure you check your pipes and faucets to make sure you’re not wasting any unused water. Installing a water recycling system that allows you to reuse rinse water is a trend that is already catching on at salons across the country.
Organic Hair Color
Choosing a brand that predominantly uses organic ingredients is one of the best ways to make your salon environmentally safe. Many hair dyes contain ammonia which is not only harmful to the environment, it can cause breathing issues and contaminate your salon’s air quality. These products are not only better for the earth, they are also better for hair and have longer lasting colors.
Negative Carbon Footprint Products
These types of products are still in the works but part of salon industry trends for the future. These are items that are manufactured in facilities that utilize solar and wind power to drive their equipment. They also use containers that are recyclable. They also use recyclable materials to ship their products and some go as far as making smaller deliveries using hybrid vehicles.
Environmental Company Outings
Everyone loves a company outing as a break from everyday work life. As the owner of the company, why not schedule an outing that helps the earth? Scheduling an excursion to help clean parks is great for the team building and the environment. You can even invite clients to participate, which will help to drive business and retain customers.
How Quikstone Capital Solutions Can Help you Save the Earth
Converting your salon to a green business can involve some significant up-front costs but the benefits are numerous. Not only will you be helping the environment, you’ll be gaining customers that have similar views. Utilizing energy efficient equipment also help you save on electric costs. Consider a merchant cash advance from Quikstone Capital Solutions, you can go green and increase salon revenue.
