Think going green means a costly salon overhaul or compromising on performance? Think again. Susannah Richardson, co-founder of award-winning Butchers salon group, is setting the record straight on five of the biggest sustainability misconceptions holding salons back.
Making your salon more sustainable should be high on every salon owner’s agenda, but knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. According to Susannah Richardson of Butchers, with salons across London, Leicester and Chester, a few persistent myths are making the process seem far more complicated than it needs to be.
Named Best Sustainable Aveda Salon in the World, Butchers has made sustainability part of its business DNA. Here, Richardson breaks down five misconceptions worth leaving behind.
1. Going green costs the earth. Not necessarily. Switching to LED lighting, installing low-flow shower heads and introducing recycling schemes can deliver meaningful environmental benefits without breaking the bank. Many changes can also recoup their costs through lower bills within a year.
2. You need to gut your salon. Absolutely not. Richardson says Butchers’ sustainability journey happened gradually, through supplier changes, waste partnerships and smarter energy choices. Small steps can add up to significant change.
3. Clients won’t pay more for sustainability. Clients are investing in the overall experience, from the atmosphere to the products and values woven into their visit. Sustainability can be part of that experience, rather than an added price tag.
4. Sustainable products don’t perform. Richardson points to Aveda as proof that performance and principles can go hand in hand, with colour, treatments and styling products delivering results.
5. It’s just a marketing angle. If sustainability exists only on Instagram, clients will see through it. Real commitment shows up in suppliers, waste management, energy choices and team training.
The takeaway? Forget the all-or-nothing approach. Start small, make meaningful changes and build sustainability into the way your salon operates.
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