A local business which can lay claim to being the UK’s most eco-friendly hair salon has won its 21st award.
Élan Hair Design, of Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, has picked up the Social Responsibility Award at the Employee Engagement Awards held in London on Thursday, January 28.
Lorna Milton, director of Élan Hair Design, said: “We are thrilled to have won another award – it’s a credit to everyone involved at the salon.
“Élan has come such a long way in recent times and going forward we will look to keep building on our environmental achievements in years to come.”
Previous award wins for Élan include the Scottish Business in the Community Environmental Leader Award and the Scottish Chamber Award for Sustainability in 2015. The salon was also a finalist in the National Business Awards and Scottish Business Awards last year.
Élan’s green journey to success began with a £250,000 refurbishment of its premises four years ago aimed at reducing its carbon footprint. Features of the revamp included the installation of PV (photovoltaic) panels which generate electricity and solar-thermal panels to provide energy for hot water.
The salon has continued to develop innovative methods of reducing its carbon footprint, including designing a system to send hair clippings and other biodegradable waste to be spread as compost on local farmers’ fields. Unique measures such as these have allowed the salon to divert 95% of its waste from landfill.
The business has since introduced a carbon management plan, which has successfully led to the salon reducing its emissions by 94%.
The most notable success for the Aberdeenshire business was scooping the Chamber Award for Sustainability, organised by the British Chambers of Commerce in 2012. The salon has been nominated for more than 70 awards in the past four years.
For further information about Élan Hair Design visit www.elanhair.co.uk