Hannah Craik, Recyclops, Trash Panda, or the CEO of Salonvironment

Hey Hannah! I will refer interested readers to your website for detailed information on Salonvironment, but let's begin with the elevator pitch for those itching to know: what is Salonvironment?!

Salonvironment's business is (in blanket terms) to help empower beauty professionals and make an impact in the world, environmentally speaking. It's a great industry, but it is unfortunately very dirty. Our primary focus is environmental education for stylists and salons; but we also provide alternative beauty options, lobbying for federal regulations in cosmetics and other pro-climate-related bills, opportunities for hairstylists to recycle in areas where there aren't options, and R&D possibilities in manufacturing with post-consumer waste from salons.

In your opinion, what is/are the biggest source(s) of waste from salons?

According to Green Circle Salons, the beauty industry creates 877 pounds of waste a minute. From personal experience with collecting waste from salons, the biggest issue is plastic. Whether it's from the bottles, the packaging, or the tools... plastic is everywhere. It's not the heaviest material, but it does take up the most space and it is NOT easily disposable or recyclable.

I'm sure you learn something new every day from your interactions with the community...has anything you learned really stood out, possibly to a point where you've adjusted your business goals?

I didn't think public health was a huge part of all of this - but it's actually the center of all of this. The reason climate change and quality assurance is huge in conversation is because it has to do with the health of our communities. A huge portion of cosmetologist's education is sanitation, disinfection, and why it's important. Soil, water, and air quality is affected by climate change. Your health becomes affected by climate change. When you go all the way down the line it eventually comes down to that you can't give your clients the best service possible if they are not healthy.

Have you approached any challenges or frustrations, whether it be a lack of support, apprehensions, denials, etc. in the way of your mission?

National legislation needs to focus on effective recycling infrastructures and standards. Standards for waste disposal for salons are a grey area (even though there is so much created waste that usually can't be avoided) as well as lack of support for it. Manufacturers should be paying for the disposal of at least the packaging because hairstylists 9 times out of 10 do not have the option to reduce (whether it's the nature of the service or because of the brands). Also the lack of federal regulation on cosmetics. We need to make sure that all cosmetics that are made or come into the US (anything from Dollar Store products to salon quality products) are not going to give you long-term illnesses.

It's time to lather, rinse, and repeat...do you have anything you'd like to clarify, flush-out, or echo to our readers? It's your time to shine!

Any conscious changes you make (whether it's in your day-to-day or your salon) makes an impact. You don't have to start a company based on being pro-environment to make a difference. Sometimes it's just switching plastic straws for a reusable one, maybe it's using a reusable bag, or even buying products that align with your values. Your actions matter, no matter how big or small.

We don’t have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in change.

Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.

– Howard Zinn