How to know if your hair salon is trimming chemical waste
Next time you or a loved one get foils done, there’s less need to feel guilty that 1 million kilograms of foil goes to landfill in Australia every year.
Sustainable Salons co-founder and director Paul Frasca says hundreds of Australian salons are addressing the massive drain they place on the environment.
“Today, if you’re not a sustainable business, customers are likely not to choose you,” Frasca says. “And we encourage everyone to ask their salon if they’re sustainable or go through our directory, along with the 6000 new consumers we get there every month. It lists the hair and beauty salons, barbers, dermal clinics and dog groomers that are sustainable.”
Hairdressers are among the most toxic small businesses in Australia because they’re so heavily reliant on chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide, which go into our waterways and plastic in products such as shampoo bottles. Frasca says a humble 2500W hairdryer has the power usage equivalent to leaving the fridge door open all day.
Sustainable practices now are seeing many recycle human hair, which is stuffed into stockings and made into hair booms that help mop up oil spills. Ponytails go to charitable organisations to create wigs for cancer and alopecia sufferers.
Chemicals are collected, pooled and sent to recycling plants where they’re neutralised and turned into recycled waters. All salon metals, including foil, and paper, are sold for recycling and the proceeds are donated to OzHarvest and KiwiHarvest to provide meals for hungry people. “Hairdressers have learnt how to protect themselves but their salons are a big problem for the environment which is why we want conscious consumers to help drive their awareness,” he says.
Salon Mace owner Felicity Mace joined Sustainable Salons six months ago and says none of her clients has complained about the $3 price increase.
“I still don’t think people are widely aware of the impact of salon waste but as soon as I explain it, they think it’s amazing and are proud to contribute,” Mace says.
“The clients are totally on board. It’s an added tick for them … we needed to be part of this and help.”