Kao Salon Division has amplified its focus on sustainability, in a new global effort to enact real change. The organisation is looking to reduce its collective impact on the environment in all their brands and salons, with a new holistic sustainability strategy, titled the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, which will build on its constant care for the planet.
As part of this strategy, the life-cycle of each product in the Goldwell, KMS, Oribe and Varis collections will be systematically examined and improved to ensure its
environmental footprint is as minimal as possible. This will include sourcing raw materials, creating packaging designs that minimise waste and streamlining production, logistics, sales, use and disposal.
“With a clear set of concrete activities and goals, we are wholly committed to taking a step-by-step approach to reducing the environmental footprint of our products and services,” said Dr. Elmar Mussenbrock, Director Sustainability at Kao Salon Division. “Further, with our increased sustainability efforts and awareness plans, we will empower our partners to run their salons as sustainably as they possibly can.”
More specifically, efforts will include water reduction, sustainable sourcing, energy conservation, lessening CO2-emissions and elevating recycled and recyclable packaging materials. The company will also lessen propellants (VOCs) and aerosol products whenever possible by reworking existing formulations and exploring other spray technologies. It will utilise eco-conscious raw materials when possible and aim to sustainably source all palm oil from certified sources (RSPO).
Beyond these measures, Kao Salon Division will improve the biodegradability of all formulas and reduce product weight to lessen transportation-related CO2-emissions, ensured through the introductions of products with solid forms and less water weight.
The brand’s 4R packaging program – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Replace – will introduce new solutions to minimise waste and support a circular material flow while ensuring all paper, cardboard and other wood-fiber materials originate from certified sustainable sources. Tangential to this, the organisation will minimise the use plastics wherever possible, with innovative strategies such as pouch delivery solutions, which use 70 per cent less plastic than a traditional plastic bottle. Kao Salon Division will also increase in the usage of recycled and recyclable plastics to result in a circular economy, further integrating bio-based materials. In marketing, they’ll replace printed materials when possible with digital offerings.
More broadly, the company’s main production site has already been running on 100 per cent renewable electric energy since 2014, and it will now introduce net-zero carbon solutions as alternatives to oil and gas, in the aim of becoming carbon neutral.
For partnering salons, Kao Salon Division will offer education and training in ways of working with products for the environmental good, while presenting a network of expert consultants to suggest products, services, tools and appliances that work to each salon’s individual needs and make a positive planetary impact. Salons will be part of an interactive learn and support platform containing expert in-salon and at-home sustainability improvement tips for salon owners and professionals, including step-by-step, how-to guides for making salons sustainable.
All Kao Salon Division academies will showcase minimal energy use, proper water consumption and optimal CO2 and waste generation, while product and ingredient information will be delivered digitally for all brands.
This is a comprehensive list of specific steps that show Kao Salon Division is highly committed to the environment, and consistent communication of these endeavours to salons and partners will invigorate the whole Kao family to put sustainability first. Congratulations to this haircare company for walking the walk when it comes to environmentalism.
For more information visit www.kaosalondivision.com
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