Sustainability in the salon is far more than a trend by now. More and more clients pay close attention to how a salon handles resources, waste and products, and choose accordingly.
This article builds on the article Legal Requirements in the Salon. That article covers the Cosmetics Regulation and disposal duties from a legal angle. Here, the focus instead is on practical measures and the right certifications.
Why sustainability in the salon is becoming a competitive factor
Before booking an appointment, clients increasingly look into a salon’s values first. Sustainability no longer appeals only to environmentally minded clients, but to a broad audience instead.
At the same time, many measures cut operating costs directly. Salons that use water, electricity and supplies more consciously often save noticeably in the first year alone.
Saving resources: water, electricity and supplies day to day
Wash stations use a lot of water in daily salon work, especially when rinsing out colour and treatments. Water-saving mixer taps with flow limiters cut consumption noticeably without limiting comfort for clients.
When it comes to electricity, lighting is worth a look first. LED technology uses much less energy than classic halogen spotlights and lasts considerably longer too.
Hair dryers, hood dryers and styling tools matter just as much. Timer switches and consciously turning devices off between uses prevent unnecessary standby consumption throughout the day.
Separating and reducing waste in the salon correctly
Salons produce several different waste streams in daily operations that must be separated. Empty plastic and aluminium packaging generally belongs in the yellow recycling bin.
Partially filled colour tubes, spray cans and other chemical residues, however, count as hazardous waste. These belong exclusively at a municipal collection point, not in regular business waste.
Hair clippings, in turn, belong in the bio waste bin, since the volumes involved are usually too large for home composting. Paper, cardboard and flyers can go straight into the paper bin.
Putting hair clippings to good use: oil binding instead of landfill
One lesser-known option is reusing hair clippings for oil binding. Hair has naturally lipophilic properties, which makes it remarkably effective at absorbing oil.
One kilogram of hair can absorb up to eight kilograms of oil and can be rinsed out and reused several times. Collection programmes such as those described on wir-lieben-recycling.de process this waste into oil-binding mats for waterways, harbours and emergency spill response.
Salons that want to join such a programme are best off contacting a regional collection organisation directly. The effort involved stays manageable, since usually only one collection container needs to be kept in the salon.
Sustainable purchasing: what matters for products and packaging
Purchasing decisions offer another lever for sustainability. Bulk containers instead of individual bottles noticeably reduce packaging waste and often lower the price per litre too.
Refill systems for shampoo and treatments are also gaining ground, since they reuse the same container many times. Reusable towels instead of disposable ones save resources and costs in daily operations as well.
Salons looking for more environmentally friendly alternatives can also rely on recognised product labels. One example is the Blue Angel for cleaning and care products. This German ecolabel evaluates individual products only, not the whole business.
Certifications at a glance: ÖKOPROFIT, the Blue Angel and EMAS
Salons that want to go beyond product-level choices can find a practical entry point in the ÖKOPROFIT programme. Run by municipalities together with chambers of commerce, it guides businesses over several months as they build their own environmental management approach.
The effort involved stays manageable, since participation is often co-funded through municipal grants. At the end stands a formal recognition that works well in client communication too.
Salons aiming for a formal environmental management system should also consider EMAS. This EU-wide system requires a verified, publicly available environmental statement and is audited externally on a regular basis.
EMAS suits salons that want to document and continuously improve their environmental performance over the long term. The effort involved, however, clearly exceeds that of a simple entry-level programme.
Sustainability in the salon: B Corp certification in detail
The most comprehensive, and also the most demanding, option is B Corp certification. It evaluates not just environmental aspects, but the entire business across governance, workers, community, environment and customers.
Until the end of 2025, companies needed to score at least 80 out of 200 points in the B Impact Assessment. Since January 2026, a new model applies instead, built around seven impact areas that each carry their own minimum standards.
Newly certifying companies must meet foundational requirements right at the start, known as Year 0. Existing B Corps additionally demonstrate measurable progress at Year 3 and Year 5.
For many legal forms, B Corp also requires a change to the company’s articles of association that legally anchors the stakeholder approach. For a German GmbH, this usually affects the Gesellschaftsvertrag, with the corresponding notary costs.
Certification fees scale with annual revenue and range between 1,000 and 50,000 euros per year in Germany. For most smaller salons, B Corp is therefore more of a long-term goal than an immediate next step.
A structured start through ÖKOPROFIT or a targeted label like the Blue Angel already builds a solid foundation. Bigger steps later on can build on that foundation well.
Checklist: putting sustainability into practice day to day
- Install water-saving mixer taps at wash stations
- Use LED lighting and timer switches for equipment
- Separate waste consistently into recycling, bio waste and hazardous waste
- Register hair clippings with a collection organisation for oil binding
- Prefer bulk containers and refill systems over single packaging
- Choose the right programme: ÖKOPROFIT as an entry point, EMAS or B Corp for bigger ambitions
Sustainability in the salon: avoiding common pitfalls
A common mistake is treating sustainability purely as a marketing topic without real measures behind it. Clients notice gaps like this quickly, which damages trust more than saying nothing at all.
An overly ambitious start is just as risky, for instance jumping straight to B Corp certification without any prior experience. A step-by-step approach through simpler programmes usually leads to the goal more reliably.
Conclusion: sustainability in the salon as a long-term investment
Sustainability in the salon cannot be achieved in a single day, but it can be built up step by step. Salons that start with resources and waste lay the foundation for later certifications.
Salons that want to develop their sustainability strategy professionally can request a consultation with TerraNova at any time.
This article provides general information and does not replace individual legal, tax or financial advice.