The festive season is one of the busiest, and most wasteful, times of the year. Between the tinsel, wrapping, extra clients, and endless cups of coffee, it’s easy for sustainability to slip down the priority list. But with a little planning and creativity, your salon can keep its sparkle and stay kind to the planet this Christmas! So as you're about to go into December and Christmas appointments, try to keep the planet in mind with these tops tips...

Recycle your Salon Waste

The run-up to Christmas often means extra colour services, blow-dries and parties...and with that comes more foil, product and packaging waste. A few simple steps can make a big difference:

• Recycle your foil, colour tubes and hair with Green Salon Collective instead of sending them to landfill. Aluminium is infinitely recyclable, and you might be surprised by how much you use in December alone! Plus, hair can be reused in 10+ different ways.

• Measure colour carefully to avoid leftover product. A double whammy that saves money and waste.

• Switch to eco-friendly alternatives (like plant based towels and reusable gloves) where possible - make sure they're certified compostable and actually get composted!

The key is to plan ahead. If you know your salon gets busier in December, make sure your waste stations are well labelled, your recycling bins are ready, and your team knows what goes where.

Decorate with the planet in mind

Salon decor can easily get a festive glow-up without adding to the planet’s plastic problem!

• Reuse and repurpose decorations year after year. Skip the plastic glitter and tinsel, and opt for natural touches like pinecones, foliage, or dried oranges.

• Choose LED fairy lights as they’re energy efficient and last longer.

• Support local: Source wreaths or ornaments from nearby makers and small businesses.

You can still create a magical, cosy atmosphere, just one that doesn’t cost the Earth.

Make your festive treats more sustainable

Clients love those little festive extras, but they don’t have to come wrapped in plastic.

• Serve hot chocolate or coffee in ceramic mugs instead of disposable cups.

• Offer plant-based milk alternatives, oat, almond, or soya, for a vegan-friendly touch.

• If you’re gifting biscuits or chocolates, choose Fairtrade or plastic-free packaging brands. Try to avoid those classic biscuits in plastic wrappers!

These small gestures go a long way in showing clients you care about them, and the planet.

Go Green with your Retail Offering

Christmas is a great time for retail sales and a perfect opportunity to steer clients towards more ethical options.

• Stock refillable or vegan products where possible.

• Offer sustainable gift wrapping (like paper bags or reusable fabric wraps).

• Encourage clients to buy less but better — focusing on quality products that last.

If your salon uses Green Salon Collective’s recycling scheme, why not tell clients about it at checkout to explain the Green Fee? It’s a brilliant way to start conversations about waste and sustainability.

Give Back to the Planet

Amid all the festive cheer, consider giving back, not just to clients and staff, but to the planet too.

• Offset your salon’s Christmas energy use by supporting a local environmental charity or planting trees.

• Collect hair donations for projects like hair booms that help clean up oil spills.

• Use your platform to post about your eco-friendly efforts to inspire others in your community.

It’s a lovely way to celebrate the season of giving while reinforcing your salon’s sustainable values. Let’s make this festive season a little less wasteful, a little more thoughtful, and a lot more green.

From all of us at Green Salon Collective, we wish you a merry, mindful Christmas and a truly sustainable New Year.