You may be surprised to learn that the salon industry sends more than 1,500 tons of recyclable aluminium back to landfill each year in Australia and New Zealand alone. That’s 1.5 million kilos, about 715 cars, or four jumbo jets!

Unfortunately, aluminium doesn’t degrade easily; it actually contaminates the soil for 500 years. Add to this the waste of plastics, colour tubes, cut hair and more, and you soon see that beauty at any price is no longer an option. After joining Sustainable Salons, local salon Amanda Baker Hair & Makeup are helping to address this problem.

Amanda Baker Hair & Makeup now recycle 95% of their waste by using the comprehensive resource recovery programme offered by Sustainable Salons. “We are committed to sustainable growth that encourages social responsibility and respect for the planet. This simple initiative can make all the difference to what was once landfill waste become a future resource,” says Amanda Baker, owner of Amanda Baker Hair & Makeup.

Rather than contaminating the waterways, excess chemical waste now goes to a chemical recycler to be neutralised into recycled water used in construction and roadworks.

Plastics are also recycled into outdoor furniture and underground sheeting to protect the NBN. What’s more, Amanda Baker Hair & Makeup staff love that all proceeds from recycling are donated to OzHarvest and KiwiHarest to fund meals for disadvantaged people. In fact, Sustainable Salons donates more than 2,000 meals every month! Collected ponytails are redirected to charitable wig-making services and organisations to provide wigs for those suffering from alopecia or cancer, while cut hair is made into hair booms used in oil-spill clean-up operations. As clients become more aware of the impact products have on the environment, they have also welcomed the opportunity to make a difference.

“The salon industry needs to take action now, and take care of the environment as much as we take care of clients,” says Paul Frasca, co-founder and managing director of Sustainable Salons. “Amanda Baker really cares about making their salon as eco-friendly as possible. When they looked at what they could do to become more sustainable ecologically and economically, Sustainable Salons was the obvious choice.”

By joining Sustainable Salons, Amanda Baker are happy they can support charities and benefit the community, while also taking care of a huge waste problem.

(First published and permission to post by ShoreLines Magazine)