A new report reveals that the hairdressing industry is one of the highest producers of waste across Australia and New Zealand.
A Eurobodalla hair salon is leading the way in improving sustainability in the hairdressing industry and on the South Coast.
Hair on Q in Moruya is working with Australian brand Sustainable Salons to reduce their impact on the environment.
The salon’s owner, Vicki Mason, said researching the program helped her realise how much waste was being produced in her store, stressing that the sustainability of her salon needs to improve.
“I knew first hand that the bin was taken out every single day and it all just goes to landfill. Especially these days we are more aware of the environment and sustainability, it was a no brainer,” Mrs Mason said.
Mrs Mason said the process of sorting waste has had only positive impacts on their work space.
“It’s really easy and seamless. We have four bins: paper, metal, hair, and plastic. We just put the right material in the matching bin,” she said.
Sustainable Salons was established in Sydney in 2005. In their 2024 Impact Report, it was found that three million kilograms of salon waste ends up in Australian and New Zealand landfills every year, and since 2015, the company has diverted almost two million kilograms of industry waste from landfill.
Company Founders, Paul Frasca and Ewelina Soroko are focused on decreasing the industry’s impact and re-educating businesses on sustainable practices.
“We are no longer just working to eliminate salon waste; we are creating an ecosystem that fosters positive environmental impact,’ Mr Frasca said.
“We are committed to creating a circular economy where waste is transformed into valuable resources through our closed-loop cycle of salon plastics,” the 2024 Impact Report said.
This year, Sustainable Salons began broadening their impact by turning the plastic from product bottles into hair combs, plant pots, and coasters. The company continues to increase their reach working with over 1,500 salons across Australia and New Zealand.
