An Inverurie business has been shortlisted for a prestigious national business award in recognition of its environmental achievements.
Élan Hair Design, which is believed to be the UK’s most green-thinking salon has been chosen as a finalist at this year’s Chamber Awards hosted by the British Chambers of Commerce in London on Thursday, November 26.
The salon will compete in the Business in the Community Category having won the regional prize at the Scottish Chamber Awards earlier this year.
Lauren Milton of Élan Hair Design is attending the awards and said, “We’re delighted to be finalists in such a prestigious event. Even to have won in our region is incredible and is testament to the hard work put in by all our team.
“The salon 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.”
Élan completed a major ‘green’ refurbishment of its Inverurie premises three years ago. The £250,000 renovation of the salon looked at almost every element of the business with the aim of making it more sustainable.
Features of the renovation included the installation of PV (photovoltaic) panels which generate electricity, solar-thermal panels to provide energy for hot water, an air-source heat pump which cuts heating costs by 80% heating and LED lighting that uses 80% less electricity.
Since the refurbishment was completed, Élan has continued to develop innovative ways to reduce 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 successfully manage to divert 95% of its waste from landfill.
The business also introduced a carbon trust endorsed management plan, which has successfully led to the salon recuing its emissions by a staggering 94%.
Élan’s green credentials have won it previous awards success, having won 19 awards in the past three years, from more than 60 nominations.
Earlier this month the salon was a finalist in both the National Business Awards and the Scottish Business Awards.