Gateshead hair salon goes carbon neutral within a year of opening
A couple opened their new Whickham business following a redundancy in the first lockdown.
In 2020 Adam and Lauren Hornsby decided to turn the unfortunate news of Lauren's redundancy into a new challenge and opportunity. With Adam still in full-time employment as a plumbing and heating engineer, the pair felt the timing was right to realise a long-time dream of opening their own salon. Taking inspiration from a course that award-winning hairdresser Lauren had completed, their business adopted the name 'Evergreen Salon' with a mission to look after clients' hair all year round.
The ambitious couple were not finished however, they expanded their 'Evergreen' theme beyond the salon décor and client care to become a fully carbon neutral after recognising the sizeable carbon footprint hair businesses can produce. From recycled wood washing stations to paper foils and eco-friendly products, Evergreen Salon embraced environmentally conscious measures in as many areas in the business as possible.
Adam and Lauren commented:
We have come a long way in one year, achieved so much, and produced amazing hairstyles all whilst working towards net zero. We couldn't have done it without the help of the girls within our salon, whether it be sorting the waste into each bin or drying the "paper not foil" to reuse again or just implementing our values into their everyday life - for that we thank them! Hopefully, in the very near future, we will open more carbon neutral salons to continue helping the planet and our amazing clients!
The couple also offered words of encouragement for other salons:
The best thing to do is research and use the companies out there that are doing amazing things to help the planet. Don't worry if you get it wrong or don't feel as if you are doing enough to help, every little thing we do to make a change is a massive help in the long run.
Evergreen Salon continues to search for additional methods to reduce their carbon footprint, such as a recent application for plant pot bike racks to install at the front of the salon and discounts for clients who walk or ride to appointments.