Sustainable Beauty and Partnering With Green Circle Salons

Jan 22 2020

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the term “sustainable beauty?” Perhaps a product that is eco-friendly or biodegradable? Maybe you think of recycling? Or maybe, the first thing that springs to mind is the decision to become a more environmentally-conscious consumer? If you’re like us, then you know sustainable beauty can hold many definitions. And all of them are equally important!

At Artemis Salon, we’re proud to partner with Green Circle Salons, leaders in creating the world’s first (and North America’s only) sustainable salon solution.

Their initiative allows salons to recycle their waste. These waste products include everything from leftover hair color, aerosol cans, paper and plastic products, and even left over hair. You may be wondering: how can old hair be repurposed to help the environment? And how is that possible? Hair can absorb oil deposits in the ocean by serving as a water repellant. At Artemis Salon, the hair we recycle helps to clean up oil spills in the ocean. This is in addition to the 85% of waste we recycle, thanks to Green Circle Salon's progressive and eco-friendly initiative.

This process is just one of the many ways that salons can create sustainable beauty. Sustainability is much more than creating vegan products or cutting back on plastic; it’s about looking at the way we do things as a whole and thinking about how the process can be updated to become more ecologically friendly. Sustainability requires thinking about the long-term repercussions of our actions and how we can achieve a harmonious balance moving forward. One way this can be done is by looking at innovative ways to repurpose salon waste that can be otherwise harmful on the environment, like aerosal cans and plastic.

As a hair salon, we care about beauty, however, we recognize that beauty comes in many different forms.

We are passionate about cultivating an environment that allows us to act beautifully in terms of giving back to the environment. The truth is that there are probably tons of people who WANT to do their part to help the environment but don't know how they can get started. Or, people may not be aware of how their salon waste could be repurposed. Decades ago, repurposing hair to clean oil spills was an abstract concept; now it's a reality.

There's a common phrase that says, "change starts with a single step," and sometimes that step involves looking at the way we do things and realizing that maybe we can do better. The world has generously supplied us with an abundance of natural resources we can utilize in our products. It is our ethical responsibility to not be harmful to the environment or deplete it of its natural resources. As a result, we achieve a long-term ecological balance. When we re-examine the way we do things and push for an initiative to recycle what was once considered waste, we take the first steps in creating sustainable beauty.

If you're eager to see sustainable beauty in progress, schedule an appointment. All of our hair care products are vegan and animal-cruelty free, and 85% of our salon waste is recycled. You'll leave our salon not only looking good but feeling good about the positive impact you left on the environment.

The Importance of Animal Cruelty-Free, Vegan Products

The world is changing. And with it, a more revolutionary realization that the world needs our help. At Artemis Salon, we’re pushing forward an initiative to do just that. That’s why we proudly partner with progressive, environmentally friendly companies like Oway and Original Mineral, pioneers in the organic hair care industry.

So how exactly is the world changing?

Vegan lifestyles have soared in popularity as a result of consumers wanting to know where their products are sourced and how they impact animals and the environment. As a result, the vegan cosmetic industry has an expected growth forecast of 7.1% from the year 2018 through 2023, according to Grand View Research. Vegan and animal cruelty-free products are no longer just a trend; they're a way of life.

The importance of animal cruelty-free products can be found in the form of animal testing.

Animal testing affects approximately 115 million animals worldwide, according to a report from Cruelty Free International. These animals - who are not protected by law due to their laboratory status - are subjected to cruel and inhumane conditions which include being confined to small cages, mutilation and blindness. While the Animal Welfare Act doesn’t protect animals from being used for research, it regulates what scientists can and cannot do with the animals in the lab. As a result, scientists are allowed to put animals through pain and duress as it is approved under the guidelines. While this information is upsetting, perhaps the worst part about animal testing is that it’s not necessary. The Food, Drug and Comsmetic Act does not require the use of animal testing.

Aside from the reasons listed above, there are additional environmental drawbacks to animal testing. Products that are used in testing are ultimately thrown away with little to no concern of their environmental impact. When you switch to a vegan, animal cruelty-free product, you’re not only saying “NO” to animal cruelty, you’re helping to minimize harzardous waste on the environment.

There’s a lot of truth in the assumption that if a chemical is bad for an animal, what makes it any better (or safer) for a human? Ammonia and phenylenediamine for example (chemicals commonly found in hair dye) have been linked to many negative health effects such as allergic reactions, birth defects and skin irritation. These are just a few of the reasons why more and more people are turning to organic products and an alternative, vegan lifestyle. People want to know what is in their products and how they are obtained.

That’s why we exclusively use Oway and Original Mineral products. The risk is just too large for us not to do our part to help the environment. While it’s only human nature to be upset at the realization of what some brands do behind closed laboratory doors, it’s also empowering to know that there is something we can do to promote positive change in the hair care industry.

If you're interested in an organic alternative, contact us for an appointment. We’d love to see you!

Jan 24 2020