How to Keep Your Salon Sustainable and Profitable

Our columnist, Gina Conway, is an environmental advocate and founder of Gina Conway Wimbledon is known for pioneering sustainability in the beauty industry. As Aveda UK’s Trade Sustainability Ambassador, she educates and inspires salon owners to adopt eco-friendly practices through initiatives like carbon footprint reduction, water conservation, and responsible sourcing of materials. Her salons are committed to minimising environmental impact by using green energy, reducing waste, and eliminating single-use plastics, positioning Gina as a leader in driving sustainable transformations within the beauty sector​.

Having lived through the excesses of the '80s and '90s, seeing first-hand the damage that misusing natural resources has done across the globe, and now serving as a sustainability champion for the hairdressing industry, I want to share why it’s crucial we act to keep our beautiful world green and clean—and how you can help us reach that goal.

Plastic is accumulating in our oceans at such a rapid pace that it’s predicted by 2050 the mass of oceanic plastic will exceed that of all the fish combined. If consumption levels remain the same, by 2050, 12 billion tons of plastic will be in landfills—equivalent to 35,000 Empire State Buildings. SCARY!

This is not the world I want my children to inherit, so I plan to do something about it now! Or as Greta Thunberg says, “I want you to act as if the house is on fire.”

Let’s explore how we can make impactful changes in our industry and on our planet.

1. Calculate the carbon footprint of your business and your team.
   Start somewhere. Knowing your baseline makes it easier to stay vigilant and make smarter choices. If you’re already implementing sustainable practices, well done! You can celebrate and share your journey with others who are just starting. An easy tool to check your footprint is WWF's calculator. Share it with your team, set quarterly goals, and strive for continuous improvement.

2. Reduce your water consumption.
   The average Briton uses up to 142 liters of water a day. Water used with products in baths, showers, or sinks—as well as in manufacturing—flows into rivers and oceans, often carrying pollutants. AVEDA found that cutting shower time by 3 minutes can save 6 gallons of water, and encouraging clients to skip washing their hair an extra day can halve water use.

3. Make organic a priority.
   Biodiversity is essential for a healthy planet. If soil becomes sterile, ecosystems collapse. Insist on organic ingredients, but be cautious: some products only need 1% organic material to label themselves "organic."

4. Say no to single-use plastic.
   Plastic is everywhere—and useful—but it’s harmful if left to decompose in landfills, breaking down into microplastics that end up in soil, rivers, and drinking water. Opt for plastics that don’t end up in landfills.

5. Request products from suppliers without packaging.
   Packaging is 70% of the beauty industry’s waste, contributing to forest loss and plastic waste. Challenge suppliers to adopt sustainable practices, and you might even save money!

6. Refuse, reuse, renew.
   Before you purchase, ask: Do I really need this? Can I use something similar or repurpose an item? My local council’s “Repair Shop” café offers a great example—people repurpose everything from clothes to toasters to jewellery. Look for similar options in your area.

7. Minimize waste and aim for “zero to landfill.”
   You can recycle hair and metal to prevent them from going to landfills, even using hair for oil spill cleanup. Many UK companies can help you recycle foil (which has an infinite life cycle) and other waste. Try Green Salon Collective or First Mile to begin your journey to net zero.

   “The best time to go Net Zero was 20 years ago; the next best time is now.” – Net Zero Now

8. Switch to LED lights and install low-flow water fixtures.
   Replacing light fixtures with energy-efficient LEDs saves money over time. Low-flow showerheads reduce water and energy bills by 65% while still providing strong water pressure.

9. Minimize color waste.
   Measure and weigh color precisely to reduce waste. For example, saving 25–40% of color used can save a salon £250–£400 monthly—up to £4800 a year—while also keeping hazardous chemicals out of water systems.

10. Consider carbon offsetting.
    Carbon offsetting involves reducing or compensating for emissions by funding projects that remove greenhouse gases, like tree planting. Embrace offsetting as part of your commitment to being a genuine green champion.

By reducing waste, limiting unnecessary purchases, conserving water and energy, and proudly communicating these efforts to clients, you’re building a sustainable business—and clients are increasingly drawn to companies with responsible values.