Nadine Dilong Sustainable Salons Australia (SSA) is the first comprehensive resource recovery service designed for the salon environment that rewards salons and gives back to the community.
Founded by Paul Frasca and Ewelina Soroko in 2015, SSA specialises in collecting up to 95% of the salon waste bin and redirecting all material for reuse, recycling and repurposing solutions.
The SSA program began in the hairdressing industry and now spans across beauty salons, dermal clinics and pet-groomers in QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC and SA.
Each fortnight, SSA collects valuable resources from its salon members, saving thousands of tonnes of landfill every year.
Not only is aluminium infinitely recyclable, it also takes 95% less energy to recycle than to produce it from its raw materials. SSA collects all of a salon’s metals including foil, aluminium colour tubes, canisters and product packaging for recycling.
All excess chemicals are now being turned back into clean water used for manufacturing and construction, rather than going down the drain and contaminating our oceans.
SSA also collects all paper from salons (i.e. cardboard, magazines, copy paper, packaging etc.), and sends it to be graded and recycled into new paper products, saving 13 trees and almost 31,780 litres of water per tonne.
Even plastic bags have a story. Along with all other plastic waste, soft plastics including bags are sent to an award-winning company called Plastic Forests – they turn them into outdoor furniture and heavy-duty plastic sheeting that goes underground to protect our NBN.
The best part is that 100% of the profits from all of these recycled materials goes back into the community via OzHarvest to help feed hungry Australians. For every $1 donated by Sustainable Salons, 2 meals are provided to the most vulnerable in our community (currently averaging 2,000 meals per month).
You know that old saying, “first, do no harm”? Well, we believe sustainable solutions are the beginning of a greener future. Not only do we reward salons for their extra efforts, SSA gives you access to sustainably-minded products, tools and services that benefit your business bottom line, the planet and the community all via our members-only Rewards Shop. Each week, you can shop for items such as biodegradable gloves, towels and wipes, environmentally-friendly cleaning products, sustainably-produced tools, business coaching services, fun gift ideas and staff incentives.
It’s so easy to be part of the journey to zero waste. SSA provides all in-salon separation bins and outside collection bins to suit your needs (we have the sexiest purple recycling bins in town!) and they come directly to your salon door each fortnight.
Plus, SSA provides a whole range of marketing tools that can be used within the salon and across social media to build awareness with your client. The aim is to help blow their minds on how great your salon is to be implementing such an ambitious repurposing program.
Be part of the sustainability movement and let’s create a ripple effect! Register your salons details at www.sustainablesalons.com.au to find out more!
THE SUSTAINABLE SALONS AUSTRALIA FOOTPRINT
Here’s what SSA has achieved so far on their journey to zero waste:
- 70,800kg of paper recycled
- 52,000kg of plastic kept in circulation and out of landfill
- Diverted 81,700kg of metals from landfill
- Provided 48,000 meals for the homeless via OzHarvest
- Recycled 7,500 litres of excess chemicals back into water
- Saved enough water to fill 248,620 baths
- Recovered enough energy to power a TV for 213,141 days
- Saved the same amount of Co2 as 180 flights from Sydney to London
- Recycled 800kg of e-waste reducing the amount of raw materials mined and preventing toxins from leaching into the environment
This information reflects SSA’s activities from Feb 2015 – Nov 2017.
