An Inverurie business, which can claim to be the UK’s most eco-friendly hair salon, has signed up to the Buy North East campaign.
Élan Hair Design, which has won 25 business awards in the past four years, has pledged to support the campaign launched by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber and The Press and Journal and says the support of local firms has been key to its success.
Lorna Milton, director of Élan Hair Design, said: “We’re delighted to have joined the Buy North East campaign. It’s a terrific idea to encourage firms across Aberdeen City and Shire to consider shopping closer to home and help to support our local economy through challenging times.
“Since 2012 we have made tremendous strides environmentally, which have boosted our business commercially, and without doubt we could not have achieved our targets without the help and advice of our valued local partners.”
Keenan Recycling, a food waste and garden recycling business based in New Deer, Aberdeenshire, recycles Élan’s food waste and composts its customers’ shorn hair clippings and single-use compostable towels across local farmers’ fields.
Additionally, One Stop Waste Solutions, an Aberdeen-based waste management and recycling company, recycles Élan’s plastics, glass, cardboard, paper, batteries, and WEEE goods, as well as advising on working practices which can help the salon further reduce its total waste sent to landfill.
And now Élan is open to genuine approaches from companies in the North-east who provide items the salon still currently sources from suppliers further afield.
Lorna added: “Due to the eco-friendly ethos of our business and our drive to be as carbon neutral as possible there are a number of products that we cannot source locally.
“We’re particular about the cosmetic products we stock due to their natural and organic qualities and as a result we have sourced these from UK-wide suppliers since the start of our environmental project.
“The business is committed to our region and to that end we’d be delighted to engage with others who can help us ensure we purchase as much of our stock as possible from the North-east.”
Élan began its eco-friendly initiative in 2012 with a £250,000 refurbishment of its premises. 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 since continued to carry out innovative methods of reducing its carbon footprint, including trading its company car for a plug-in hybrid vehicle and switching electricity suppliers ensuring it only purchases 100% renewable energy.
Élan’s commitment to the environment has seen the salon cut its carbon emissions by 95%, reduce the amount of waste it sends to landfill by 94% and cut water consumption by 68%.
For further information about Élan Hair Design visit www.elanhair.co.uk or visit the salons Facebook page www.facebook.com/elanhairdesign.