A:
"We recycle all plastic and paper waste, including
plastic caps of product bottles," say James
and Janelle Goking, co-owners, Entourage Salon
and Spa in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
"Entourage clients are encouraged to save product caps
and return them to the salon [an Aveda program]. For
every bag of caps
a
client returns,
they are entered
into a drawing for
a
free service. It
is
our goal to
collect and
deliver a full
truckload of caps
to Aveda by year's
end.
"Every April,
we join Aveda in
its efforts to raise
awareness and
money to support
clean water
projects and
environmental
initiatives. Entourage, along with local businesses,
donate products and services for bid via a silent
auction at our salon. The money is donated to a
local organization that promotes conservation.
"As part of our continuing efforts of being an
eco-friendly business, this year we are transitioning
from halogen lighting to LED technology.
Although the initial investment in the LED bulbs
seemed cost prohibitive ($40 per LED bulb versus
$5 per halogen bulb), further research proved
otherwise. Not only is LED technology good for the
environment, it also makes sense from a business
standpoint:
⢠Reduces energy consumption for salon
lighting by 90 percent. The energy
consumed by the 50-watt halogen lights
use more than 500 watts per hour per
bulb. Comparatively, the LEDs replacing
them use only five watts per hour
per bulb.
⢠Reduces landfill refuse. Conversion to the LEDs means
we will replace and dispose of zero bulbs over a 13.5-year
period as compared to approximately 1,000 halogen
bulbs over the same period.
"Our heating and cooling systems at our salon are
controlled by âseven-day thermostats.' This allows us to
maintain set heating and cooling temperatures during
periods of occupancy. To conserve energy, set points are
reduced by five degrees and cooling set points are increased
by 10 degrees during non-occupancy periods."
: "Each staff member is committed to the
company's environmental sustainability mission
and is responsible for their own environmental
footprint," says Andrea Eaton, general manager, Paris Parker
Aveda Salons and Spas in Hammond, Louisiana.
"We have recycling stations throughout
each salon, and we collect plastic bottle caps
in our locations, as part of Aveda's global
bottle cap recycling initiative. Our colorists
also use the Headmapping hair color
system which helps to measure amounts of
hair color needed for each service, therefore
eliminating waste.
"For our consumers, we now use e-mail
as our main marketing tool, eliminating the
use of paper and waste. Anything we
print is done so on recycled
paper with soy ink. The
salons are very passionate
about Earth Month-
Aveda's annual global
fundraising initiative-
and conduct a number
of events throughout
April to raise money for our Earth Month partners, engaging customers where
appropriate.
"In April 2009, Paris Parker Salons and Spas conducted
cut-a-thons, fashion shows and numerous âWalks for Water.'
"In New Orleans, we partnered with a local fair trade
boutique: In Exchange (on Tulane University's campus). The
last two years we have put on green fashion shows to raise
money toward the funds. In 2009, we also partnered with
the "The Green Project" as a sponsor (also did hair and
make-up) for their Recycle for the Arts Fashion Show."
A: "Tru Salon has
implemented green
practices that help
both our staff and clients be
more Earth-friendly," says Cheryl
Duignan, co-owner of Tru Salon
in St. James, New York.
"Our Buy Back Program offers
clients who purchase any of our
Earth-friendly products to bring them back after use and get
money toward their next product purchase. Then we recycle
them. We have implemented the same technique with color
bottles and cans. All of the used cans and bottles are given
back to us so they are not wasted.
"We used to have paper bags-now we use eco-friendly,
reusable bags. They are all natural and non-toxic and
distributed to clients who buy any of our products.
"We also provide our guests with glasses and mugs instead of
disposable cups to keep us from using paper or foam. Guests can
then fill their glasses with filtered water, rather than bottled water.
"Tru Salon is currently in the process of refurbishing all of
our chairs. Instead of throwing them away we are going to
recycle them, keeping our salon âgreen.' Our salon does 99
percent of its advertising via e-mail instead of sending out
paper announcements and we only use non-toxic cleaners
and office supplies."
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