One of the industry’s most anticipated events of the year, Hair Expo 2018, has partnered with Sustainable Salons to embrace the sustainable salon movement and encourage attendees to do the same. The sustainability initiative Simply Cups will be offering its coffee cup recycling efforts to better eliminate the up-to 20,000 beverages that are discarded over the three-day event, writes McKenna Uhde.
“We are proud to take the first steps to ensuring a sustainable Hair Expo event in partnership with Sustainable Salons,” said Cory Watson, Event Director for Hair Expo Australia. “Ensuring thousands of coffee cups don’t end up in landfill is a hugely impactful way that we can move toward our goal of being a more environmentally friendly event by 2020.”
Sustainable Salons has found that discarded beverage containers are the main contributor to waste output at the expo and will be offering the visitors several ways to better discard of single-use cups. Simply Cups, of which has recently partnered with 7-Eleven and Qantas Business Rewards, will be collaborating with Hair Expo as Australia’s first coffee cup recycling program to eliminate unnecessary waste in landfills. This initiative falls in line with the hundreds of salons across Australia adapting sustainable methods in the workplace. Its reach at the expo will ensure publicity for the issue and hopefully encourage others to join the efforts.
“We all know hairdressers are fuelled by coffee, but this is an issue that affects more than just the salon industry,” said Paul Frasca, Sustainable Salons Co-founder and MD. “While this step will eliminate unnecessary landfill, it will also be an important example of how one group of people can have an immediate impact when they decide to take a stand. We’re so excited to show the community that hairdressers care about their footprint even when they’re away from the salon… and that we’re doers!”
Upon entering Hair Expo 2018 in Melbourne, attendees will be able to easily recognize Simply Cups’ green collection tubes on the show floor where any paper cup can be placed for recycling. The Simply Cups team then takes the waste to storage facilities for responsible recycling.
“It’s very exciting to see Hair Expo Australia implement our Simply Cups coffee cup collection program at this year’s event because it helps generate awareness within the passionate and influential hair and beauty industry. Hair Expo along with Sustainable Salons are really leading the charge for events in this space, and their participation shows just how committed the expo is to building a more sustainable Australia,” said Rupert Plumridge, Account Manager at Closed Loop which runs the Simply Cups initiative.
Hair Expo 2018 will also be offering bulk materials separation bins for general waste as well as bins for the disposal of hair, spray cans, styling bottles and foil. The contents of the bins will then be repurposed following the expo with the proceeds donated to Australian charity, OzHarvest. Sustainable Salons will also be available to offer tips for being conscious at the event and back at the salon.
As salons across Australia make moves to support sustainability, Sustainable Salons and Hair Expo have made plans to keep the trend moving forward. The partnership will outline a three-year plan to benefit three tiers of sustainability – people, planet, and the future of the salon industry. Hair Expo’s step to sustainability will hopefully inspire those who attend the event and make changes in the industry.
For more information visit www.hairexpoaustralia.com
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