Sustainability at Hair Art & Beauty
At H&B, sustainability is one of our core values – it drives everything we do.
From the brands we work with, to the way we use (and dispose of) resources, the wellbeing of our planet is always at the forefront of our decision making. In order to embrace as many sustainability initiatives as possible, each appointment has a $3 ‘Green Fee’, which is funnelled towards all of the great things we do to protect our planet and our communities.
Why Sustainability Matters
We believe sustainability is about more than recycling — it's about making thoughtful, long-term choices that benefit people, the environment, and our local community.
Our Sustainability Pillars:
Sustainable Salons Member
We’ve recycled 1,647 product bottles through our in-salon Recycling Station — and we’re just getting started!
As proud members of the Sustainable Salons programme, we’re part of a movement that diverts up to 95% of salon waste from landfill. That means your haircut, colour, or facial doesn’t just make you feel good — it does good too.
Here's where our waste goes:
- Hair clippings are collected to help clean up ocean oil spills and support garden composting trials.
- Plastics are recycled and repurposed into outdoor furniture, glasses frames, and new salon tools.
- Metals like foils, colour tubes, and cans are sold for recycling, with all proceeds donated to KiwiHarvest to help provide meals for those in need.
- Ponytails are used to create wigs for people with medically induced hair loss.
- E-waste, razors, and tools are ethically dismantled and recycled.
- Old magazines are replaced with sustainable, digital options — reducing paper waste.
Here in Ōtautahi Christchurch, our sorted waste is processed by Kilmarnock Enterprises, a local social enterprise that provides meaningful employment for people with intellectual disabilities. It’s sustainability with real social impact — and we’re proud to be a part of it.
Colour with Care
At H&B, we’re proud to support La Biosthetique’s Colour with Care programme, which blends professional hair colour with global impact. For every tube of colour we use, La Biosthetique donates to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), helping provide essential medical aid in areas that need it most. Each service contributes directly to life-saving resources like malaria diagnostic kits and emergency food packs.
By simply booking your usual colour appointment with us, you’re helping make a difference. Through this initiative, thousands of meals and vital supplies are delivered to vulnerable communities around the world. It’s a small act during your visit that contributes to something much bigger.
Eco-Friendly Expansion
Our recent salon and spa expansion was designed with sustainability at its heart — every detail, from the floors to the foliage, was chosen to reduce our footprint and enhance our impact.
Here’s what we’ve built into the space:
- Reclaimed timber, low-VOC paints, and eco-conscious materials throughout
- LED lighting, low-flow taps and toilets, and natural ventilation to lower energy and water use
- EV charging and bike racks to encourage low-emission travel
- A thriving native garden and climate-positive landscaping to support biodiversity
This beautiful outdoor area didn’t go unnoticed — in 2025, our refitted garden space was awarded the L. Smith Trophy for Best Commercial Garden by the Christchurch Beautifying Association’s Summer Garden Competition!
We’re also proud to be Climate Positive certified through EKOS, meaning we offset more than 100% of our carbon emissions — and we’re constantly working to do more.
Always Improving
For us, sustainability literally starts with the building. Our space has been purpose built to be eco-friendly, including eco-heads on our taps, energy efficient lighting, and recycled insulation in the walls. In the garden we have installed an EV charging station.
While we do our best to reduce the waste we produce, we have also committed to offsetting our carbon emissions each year, to further minimise the impact we have on our planet. This helps us to think more critically about our emissions, and where we can reduce them (and having an independent body assessing these emissions keeps us on track!). Via the Sustainable Salons program, we can recycle over 95% of our waste, including chemicals, foil, and cut hair. Even food waste from our staff break room gets disposed of thoughtfully, with one of our team taking it home to feed to her pigs!
We firmly believe that true sustainability isn’t just about being environmentally-friendly, but community-conscious too. By building connections, we can ensure that our efforts have a lasting, positive impact. We actively engage with local organisations like St Albans Primary School, Avon Hockey Club, and Dress for Success, providing practical support such as school supplies, sports team sponsorship, and professional services for women entering the workforce. On a global scale, we sponsor the Retiti Elephant Sanctuary in Kenya, and are part of La Biosthetique’s Colour With Care programme supporting Doctors Without Borders.
We invite you to be part of our sustainability journey. Whether it’s taking part in a food drive, using our in-salon recycling station, or simply choosing conscious beauty and haircare, every small action adds up.
Together, we can create a ripple effect of positive change (and look good doing it!).
Everyday Actions That Make a Difference
Small changes add up — and we build sustainability into the everyday:
Recognised for Leading Change
We're honoured to be the Sustainable Salon of the Year (2022 winner, 2023 finalist) - and recognised with the David Awards for Social Impact for our efforts in championing environmental and community care.
