Whether you’re trying to be more environmentally friendly or looking to shave a few zeros off your bills, taking your business green can have a number of positive short-term and long-term impacts.
Some steps you take may require an investment upfront in order to save money over time, while other steps will require your staff to hold each other accountable to the new green rules. Ultimately, making a conscious effort to become more environmentally friendly will save you money, increase staff productivity and improve overall relationships with customers and communities.
If you’ve felt inspired to do some spring cleaning around your salon, you can take it to the next level by using eco-friendly cleaning supplies. Exchange traditional chemicals and cleaning tools in favor of reusable and DIY options.
Swap your pricey, single-use Swiffer wipes for reusable microfiber cloths, or invest in an old school mop whose heads can be cleaned in your washing machine and hung to dry. On a similar note, ditch the endlessly wasteful paper towels and repurpose old towels, sheets, pillowcases, etc., to use as cleaning rags. Simply cut the fabric into squares and then toss them in the washing machine to clean for later use.
When it comes to atmosphere, you don’t need to purchase expensive air purifiers or humidifiers to create a clean environment in your salon. Houseplants are incredibly effective filters that purify the air by removing toxins, pollutants and carbon dioxide.
For example, the low-maintenance areca palm has a high removal rating for formaldehyde and is incredibly effective during winter months for its ability to humidify the air. English ivy is great for allergy or asthma sufferers, as it has been shown to wipe out lingering air-based mold. Looking for something beautiful, but not a green thumb? Try peace lilies or orchids for maximum decor appeal with very little hands-on maintenance.
The easiest and most effective changes you can make involve reviewing your daily operations. When you leave the salon at night, do you make a point to power down? The majority of wasted power is consumed by electrical devices that are off, but remain plugged into a live outlet. Go beyond turning off the lights and powering off computers and other devices and make a point to unplug the power source from the wall.
Speaking of lights, trade your incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs, which use 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer. If the word “fluorescent” triggers images of harsh, unflattering overhead lighting, don’t worry — modern fluorescent bulbs come in a variety of sizes, wattages and sheens so that you can tailor them to your ideal appearance.
DIY Cleaning Supplies
Glass: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray on glass and wipe clean with old newspaper or a lint-free cloth.
Countertops/bathroom tile: Mix 2 parts vinegar and 1 part baking soda with 4 parts water. Apply with a sponge, scour and wipe away.
Floors: Mix 4 cups of white distilled vinegar with about a gallon of hot water. If desired, add a few drops of pure peppermint or lemon oil for a pleasant scent. After damp mopping the floors, the smell of vinegar will dissipate quickly, leaving behind only the scent of the oil.
Wood furniture: Mix equal parts lemon juice and olive oil. Apply a small amount to a cloth and rub onto the furniture in long, even strokes.
Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle a toilet brush with baking soda and scrub away! Occasionally disinfect your toilet by scrubbing with borax instead. Wipe the outside of the toilet with straight vinegar.
Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar, 3 cups hot water and 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use a spray bottle. Wipe clean.
Mold and mildew: Wipe with vinegar.
Air freshener: Sprinkle essential oil on a cotton ball and stash it in a corner of the room. Lavender is a relaxing scent, while cinnamon, clove and citrus oils are great energizing scents. Try peppermint if you need help to stay alert.
Switch to cold water in your washing machine and only run it when you have a full load. Every wash cycle consumes a whopping 32 to 59 gallons of water. By switching and limiting you not only save water, but also reduce carbon emissions. On the subject of water, eliminate the practice of supplying courtesy bottles of water and install a water dispensing system instead. You’ll not only benefit the environment by reducing waste, but you’ll also save an incredible amount of money.
Areca Palm
English Ivy
Orchid
Peace Lily
Recycling, of course, is the most obvious way to become more eco-friendly. Place recycling trashcans next to regular ones to encourage the practice. Invest in 100-percent post-consumer product business cards, stationary and retail bags, and instead of supplying new bags every time a guest makes a purchase, encourage clients to bring their own reusable totes in exchange for a discount on product.
If you want to be extremely proactive about reducing your waste, partner with a business like Green Circle Salons, a Canadian-based company that collects hair, metal waste and chemical residue and disposes of it in an environmentally friendly manner. Even leftover hair can be recycled to make hair mats used for oil spills and contaminated storm drains. Since its inception, Green Circle has collected millions of pounds of salon and spa waste, with a mission to make the salon industry in North America sustainable going forward.
Finally, go paperless! Eliminating paper waste is easier than ever in the modern era. Apps like Evernote allow users to use their phones to scan documents, business cards, photos and more, and upload them to any device via the cloud system. Use smart credit card processing gadgets (like the Clover devices offered by STX Payments) that allow you to text or email receipts to your guests, instead of printing.
And it’s incredibly easy in this day and age to move your marketing online! Utilize social media platforms to get the word out about your business and take advantage of email marketing. Programs like STX Cloud offer full email marketing features that allow you to customize templates, schedule campaigns and monitor each message’s success rate so you know what works best for your clientele.
It may take time to adjust to going green, and maybe your change will be gradual rather than all at once, but ultimately the impact you make on your health, the environment and your wallet will be an incredibly satisfying reward in the end.
FAQs about Going Green
Q: What is meant by making a salon ‘sustainable and green’?
Making a salon sustainable and green refers to the efforts taken to minimize the salon’s environmental footprint through eco-friendly practices. It includes measures such as using eco-friendly cleaning supplies, reducing energy consumption, recycling, reducing waste, and partnering with sustainable businesses.
Q: Why should I consider transitioning my salon to become more sustainable and eco-friendly?
There are several benefits to transitioning your salon into a greener business. Firstly, it can help save money in the long run by reducing energy consumption and waste. Secondly, it increases staff productivity and customer satisfaction due to a cleaner and healthier workplace environment. Lastly, it aligns with global efforts to protect the environment, positioning your salon as a responsible business.
Q: How can houseplants contribute to a cleaner environment in my salon?
Houseplants function as natural air purifiers. They remove toxins, pollutants, and carbon dioxide from the air, contributing to a healthier and cleaner indoor environment. Some examples include areca palm, English ivy, peace lilies, and orchids.
Q: How can I reduce energy consumption in my salon?
Energy consumption can be reduced by powering down and unplugging electrical devices when not in use. Switching from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs also helps as they use 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer.
Q: What are some DIY cleaning supplies I could use in my salon?
Several everyday household items can be used to make DIY eco-friendly cleaning supplies, including vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and olive oil. These can be mixed in different combinations to clean glass, countertops, floors, wood furniture, and more.
Q: How can recycling help my salon become more eco-friendly?
Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and conserves natural resources. In a salon, you can easily implement recycling practices by setting up recycling bins, using post-consumer product business materials, and encouraging clients to bring their own reusable bags for purchases.
Q: What is Green Circle Salons and how can they help my salon go green?
Green Circle Salons is a company that helps salons recycle and dispose of waste, including hair, metal, and chemicals, in an environmentally friendly manner. Partnering with such a company can greatly contribute to your salon’s green initiatives as they provide hair recycling services and help make the salon industry more sustainable.
Q: How can going green impact my salon’s profitability?
Going green can lead to cost savings in the long term due to reduced energy use and waste generation. Also, it’s a good marketing point that can attract environment-conscious customers, ultimately improving your salon’s profitability.
Q: How can I reduce paper waste in my salon?
Paper waste can be reduced by utilizing digital technologies such as mobile apps for receipt handling and document scanning. Also, you can switch to online marketing strategies instead of traditional paper-based ones.
Q: What does it mean to switch to cold water in my washing machine and why should I do this?
Switching to cold water in your washing machine means doing your wash cycles in cold water instead of hot. This saves energy by eliminating the need to heat the water and also helps reduce carbon emissions. This practice, along with only running the machine when there is a full load, leads to significant water and energy savings.