It is important now, more than ever, to aim to be “green.” To me, going green means saving our precious environment. And as a wise business owner, it can translate to saving on expenses.
There are a few easy ways to work towards becoming a “greener” salon, and these strategies require more of a change in your mindset than anything…and a change in your mindset won’t cost you a penny!
Here are a few easy ways to become more consciously “green:”
- Saving Energy & Water
By assessing how you are using energy in your salon, a few simple shifts can help to save, not only the environment, but your overall expenses. Take time to turn off the lights in your salon that are not needed. You can easily work this change in seasonally. In the summer, when the sun is strongest, opt to use natural lighting if possible. Overhead lights contribute to an increase in heat, and an increase in your energy bill. Natural light is also the most flattering for your clients. Also, become more conscious of how much water you a using daily. Water is a limited resource, and everyone helping to save a little, will add up to saving a lot! In California, we experience very extreme drought conditions, so it is even more imperative to conserve whenever we can.
- Sell & Use Only Eco-Friendly Products that do Not Test on Animals
Many products used in the beauty industry contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment. Once applied, these chemicals are often washed straight down the drain. There are plenty of environmentally conscious products that perform well, so there is no excuse to be using products that are harmful for the environment.
Animal testing is also harmful to the environment. Millions of animals die each year from animal testing, and millions more are captured and caged for this sole purpose. Not only is this cruel to animals, but this could also pose sustainability concerns in areas where animals are captured. It is risky, and certainly more expensive to disrupt the balance of nature in the name of animal testing.
Again, with so many viable options available, there is no excuse for not doing the right thing.
(Selfless plug… Our signature Marco Collagen Color Guard HairCare has never (and will never) test on animals!)
- Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!
Educate yourself on what happens to your salon trash. West Hollywood sends salon trash to a facility that sorts and recycles it. If your city doesn’t provide this service, you can separate the recyclables yourself with a recycle bin. Recycling is a crucial effort in today’s world; and not a responsibility to be taken lightly. Look into it and do your part!
“Leaning green” is not that difficult. Not only will these efforts make your soul – and your bank account – feel good, it will make your clients feel good, too. More and more people are looking to support businesses that participate in recycling and other sustainability efforts. Take a few minutes and look up “sustainability.” Learn more about the global efforts that are being taken in this direction and see how you can contribute. The world is a classroom, never stop learning!
