Ensuring that your businesses become more eco-friendly should be one of the top aims as you move forward and grow your business. Yet many industries are struggling to uncover what this looks like, and how they can do it. While large businesses have extra cash and resource to dedicate to their green initiatives, small businesses often don’t have that option. Many of our customers come from the beauty sector, and while it may be difficult, there are great ways to become more eco-friendly. But why may your beauty salon want to go green?

A few Eco Stats on the Beauty Industry

While many other industries jump to mind when thinking of the environment, the beauty and cosmetics industry does have a lot to answer for. For example, there are approx. 120 billion units of packaging are produced every year alone for the cosmetics industry. That is just too much. But that’s not all. There’s more context.

A standard moisturiser pot created for the cosmetic industry can take almost 1,000 years to decompose. When you take into account how much is produced, you begin to realise the problems we face across the globe.

Reports suggest that 56% of British consumers (4.5 million people) do not recycle bathroom products because of the inconvenience. While we all understand that recycling can be a burden, it’s one of the most worthwhile things we can do to save the planet.

But this also goes for the products we use. Products containing microbeads, for example, are very dangerous. You will know microbeads as the exfoliating particles in body creams and body washes. These may feel like they’re doing a good job for your body, but in actual fact these beads get washed down the drain and are harming fish and water-based animals, causing them harm. It’s not only humans these products impact, but it is wildlife too.

When you use a product containing microbeads, you send countless microplastics down the drain into water bodies. There they attract toxins and are swallowed by fish and eventually humans.

How do you Change your Habits?

All is not lost. Changing habits can seriously impact the world we pass on to future generations. And here are a few tips on how to alter those habits to improve your beauty salon.

Utilise and Reuse Bottles

While plastic is recyclable, it is also harmful and can often be dumped in landfill by irresponsible businesses. Reusing bottles is a much more environmentally friendly way of operating. You could easily reuse cleaning or beauty packaging to reduce the levels of waste your salon has. Equally, ensure you buy products in larger quantity bottles, so you’re using less plastic.

Use Eco-Friendly Suppliers

There are so many businesses who are creating a niche for themselves in the eco market. If you can find one of these businesses – like Direct365 and their eco-friendly range – they can help ensure you are spending your money on consumables that are better for the planet.

Avoid Plastic PPE

PPE has been impossible to avoid for most industries, and the beauty sector are still relying on PPE to do their jobs. But buying plastic PPE, or one-use PPE is unhelpful for the environment. Where possible – like with masks and cleaning gloves, for example – try and use reusable safety gear. We understand that a lot of safety wear is one-use only, but where you can try and change your habits.

Create a Product Refill Service

Why not try and become that change we need to see. Offering customers a chance to pay for their products and refill old bottles can help you spread to word about your sustainable goals and encourage them to do the same too. Many beauty products come in new plastic bottles purely because of easy to transport. Yet you could easily set up a product replenishment service that is cheaper for your customer and better for the environment. And it will positively impact your reputation, too.

Recycle and Dispose of Waste Effectively

Finally, ensure you recycle and dispose of your waste properly. This means hiring the right business to deal with your waste. A business like Direct365. Our waste management experts have years of experience in disposing of waste legally, effectively and for a great price. Contact us if you are looking for a business that cares about where your waste goes.

It can be hard to forge an eco-agenda, but it is the way the world is going. As well as that, it is the right thing to do. Your customers will appreciate it and you will find that going green will improve your business image. Give it a try, it’s easier than you think.

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