Samantha Cusick, owner of ST Studios and the winner of Professional Sustainable Salon of the Year at the Pro Hair Awards 2025
In 2026, sustainability cannot just be a line on your website; it has to live in your space. We’ve registered every Samantha Cusick London salon and Stā Studios as official drop-off points for The Great British Beauty Clean Up and installed collection boxes in each location. It opens up conversations at reception, it brings new people through the door and it shows we are not just talking about waste, we are actively helping reduce it. That shift matters.
If you are going to run an incentive, make it meaningful. Think loyalty points or maybe a complimentary treatment add-on for clients who bring in empties. It should feel like a thank you, not a discount bin. When you reward sustainable behaviour, you create long-term habits, and that is far more powerful than a flash sale.
Most salons focus on what is visible – colour tubes, foils, packaging, etc. – but the real shift is happening behind the scenes. Over-ordering stock, over-pumping at the backwash and products expiring on the shelves.
Tighten your systems, track what you actually use and train your team to be conscious. It is amazing how sustainability and profitability often sit side-by-side.
There is still this old narrative that sustainable equals rustic and not luxury… it categorically does not. At Stā Studios, we have rooftop beehives producing honey for our coffee shop, we use renewable energy and we have refill systems in place. Clients walk into a luxury space and then discover it is deeply sustainable – that element of surprise is powerful. You can be high-end and high-impact at the same time.
Sustainability should never feel like a lecture; it should feel like part your culture. Train your team to explain why you are collecting empties, for example. We talk about how most beauty packaging ends up in landfill and how salons generate huge amounts of waste.
When clients understand that their old shampoo bottle is not just rubbish but a resource, they get involved. When it is woven into everyday conversation, it becomes the standard rather than a statement.
Zo. Rees, Owner of Bliss Hair Therapy and Green Libertine for the Green Salon Collective
As an eco-conscious salon owner of over 18 years, I want to share my realistic, simple sustainability pledges that stylists can make to create a real impact. No big overhauls, just better habits done consistently. These are five small daily pledges that all add up to make a big difference:
Swap disposable for reusable – think reusable gloves, metal clips and offering shampoo and conditioner refills. One small switch like this can drastically reduce salon waste and expenditure, improving profits as a result.
It sounds simple, but turning off shower heads between rinses, fixing dripping taps and swapping to a water-saving shower head like Ecoheads can save thousands of litres of water annually for a busy salon.
Simple changes like recycling cut hair and used colour tubes can significantly reduce landfill waste whilst also empowering your team to feel part of the solution. Green Salon Collective offers great support to stylists who want to make positive changes like this.
Small buying decisions make a huge collective impact. Supporting brands who offer refills, have recyclable packaging and use vegan formulas will seriously elevate your eco-conscious business.
Use Earth Month as a conversation starter to kickstart this sustainable journey and teach your team to understand the ‘why’ behind these changes. Shout about it and be proud of your pledges!
“When doing up your salon, be sure to have a good look around first – you will be surprised how much someone else’s trash can be your treasure! We renovated so much of the salon with junk – corrugated sheets and old pallet wood for the walls, left over tiles for the reception flooring, even down to old railway lighting. I always feel so much better when I have found something second-hand and given it a new lease of life…” – Brooke Evans, Professional Freelance Hairdresser of the Year at the Pro Hair Awards 2025
Jade Hayter, founder of Jade Hayter Clothing
As part of the professional hair industry, we have a responsibility to try and break the cycle of fast fashion. I find that so much ‘bleach-proof’ clothing on the market can feel like a compromise – the same predictable, polyester, tunic-style pieces designed purely for function, with little thought for style, longevity or sustainability. At the same time, I saw the wider fashion pattern repeating itself: Collections being churned out season after season, only to be discounted shortly after. That constant production-and-disposal loop is fast fashion, and I wanted to challenge it head-on.
Yes, my goal was to create pieces that are seasonless, timeless and built to last, but I also believe the conversation needs to go further than fashion. The textile industry is responsible for over 10% of global emissions, and as hairdressers, we contribute to that waste through our disposable approach to workwear. I created Jade Hayter to help shift the industry mindset, and to educate professionals on why we need to change the way we buy and wear clothing.
Because real change doesn’t come from buying more; it comes from buying with intention. And for our industry, that change needs to start now.
Billy Ryan, co-founder of Tribe Salons
As a salon that uses significant resources, we have a responsibility to reduce our environmental impact. By minimising waste, lowering energy consumption and partnering with suppliers who share our values, we boost efficiency, reduce overheads and attract clients who appreciate ethical business practices. It’s a win-win – for the earth and for us. Here are my top four tips for salons looking for better sustainability:
Sustainability is a journey. Start small, focus on steady progress and develop practical habits that are easy to maintain.
The most sustainable choice isn’t always clear. For example, choosing between single-use, biodegradable towels and reusable cotton towels requires balancing environmental impact, practicality and cost.
While there may be initial costs, the long-term savings and efficiency are well worth it. There’s no need to implement everything at once.
Empower your team. It’s your responsibility to encourage your team to make thoughtful, everyday decisions that align with your long-term sustainability goals.
“For sustainability to be a success, it has to be collaborative. During Earth Month, we gift our clients wildflower seeds to plant at home, encouraging biodiversity beyond the salon walls. These simple gestures open conversations, build awareness and allow clients to feel part of something positive. When sustainability is shared, it becomes more than a policy; it becomes a culture.” – Rachel-Jenner Clarke, Operations Manager at Hare & Bone
