Sustainability Solutions

This month, Green Libertines Zoë Rees and Jen Gaia share specific certifications to look out for when stocking and using sustainable brands within your salon.

By Zoë Rees, Bliss Hair Therapy. @bliss_sustainablesalon

A really important step towards being a sustainable salon or stylist is to choose to collaborate with like-minded brands. This will not only boost your credibility with your clients but also contribute positively to the environment. Here’s how…

There are so many sustainable brands out there, and it’s good to research the ones that are right for you. A simple way to do your research is to check the certifications and accreditations the brand has. This will reassure you that the brand is taking genuine steps to be sustainable.

Here are a few certifications I look out for because by choosing brands with these certifications, I know I can trust their claims, so all the hard work is done for me!

• Vegan Accreditation—A Vegan Trademark needs to meet standards of no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
• Rainforest Alliance—They meet rigorous environmental, social, and economic standards to support sustainability and biodiversity.
• Cruelty Free—The Leaping Bunny Certification The only way to be 100% sure a company is cruelty-free.

Jen Gaia, The Curl Specialist Bournemouth

Coming into hairdressing later in life meant I could see the industry with fresh eyes. It didn’t take long to realise how wasteful and polluting it can be. From day one, I knew I wanted to do things differently. Here’s how I use product labelling to make better choices for people and the planet:

Palm Oil—Palm oil farming clears land, destroys habitats, and often exploits workers in already struggling countries. There is the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certification that ensures no new land is deforested to make way for new palm plantations when creating beauty products.

100% PCR Plastic—Post-consumer recycled plastic means the bottle has already had a life before. Using it helps reduce new plastic production and supports a circular economy. Most cosmetics are made using this and can be anywhere from 10% to 100% PCR.

Soil Association Certified—It’s not just about veggies and allotments! This UK certification guarantees organic ingredients, ethical sourcing, and sustainable packaging through a vigorous process.

B-Corp— These brands commit to transparency, fairness, and sustainability across every area of their business from people to planet. Certified B Corporations are leaders in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.

These logos help me run a salon that genuinely cares and where every choice reflects the world I want to live in.