What Recyling Means to the Aveda Mission
“It embodies environmental responsibility by leaving the world more beautiful than they found it.” -Katie (Massage Therapy Student)
The Institutes of Beauty and Wellness are committed to a code of values, the Aveda Mission, which guide us through culture on campus and in our business practices.
“Our mission at Aveda is to care for the world we live in, from the products we make to the ways in which we give back to society. At Aveda, we strive to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility, not just in the world of beauty but around the world.”
– Horst M. Rechelbacher, Aveda Founder
We uphold a higher standard for environmentally responsible practices at our schools and in our clinical salons through following Aveda’s recycling protocols. Aveda strives to share the best ways to recycle and dispose of all salon and spa waste environmentally friendly.
Did You Know?
The beauty industry generates a whopping 877 pounds of waste every minute. Salons in North America alone produce about 63,000 pounds of hair, 42,000 pounds of chemicals, and 235,000 pounds of paper and plastics each day. The consequences of this waste span from mummified hair giving off methane gas in a landfill to excess chemicals from hair coloring, bleaching, perming, and ammonia rinsing down the drain and into our water supply.
How We Recycle
Our faculty and students embody the Aveda Mission and eco-consciousness into their day to day at the Institutes. The Institutes recycle all salon and spa waste that can be repurposed, including foils, hair clippings, hair dye tubes, excess hair dye, aerosol cans, plastic packaging, single use items, and plastic gloves. Our recycling process starts on the clinic lab. Instructors and students deposit waste into separate recycling containers to avoid recyclable waste from going into a landfill. In 2021, our campuses diverted 9,269 pounds of solid waste and 644 pounds of liquid waste from landfills and waterways.
Additionally, recycling helps to alleviate the demand for extracting raw materials in the manufacturing of new products. This means less new plastic in our world. Plastic recycling is critical for the beauty industry, because plastic in landfills can take up to 1,000 years to decompose.
“Allows us to practice environmental responsibility with each service we perform.” -Megan (Cosmetology Student)
The Institute of Wellness’s Green Team
The Institute of Beauty & Wellness also has a club called, “Green Team”. This is a group of is an eco-conscious group of students who meet monthly to advance the Aveda Mission. The Green Team ensures that our Institutes are environmentally responsible/conscious when disposing of waste.
Green Team Activities Include:
- promoting environmental responsibility and green living
- sharing actionable ways our community can protect the earth, with an emphasis on leading a school-wide philanthropic project during Earth Month
- tending to our rooftop garden during summer months
- maintaining our Green Circle salon recycling program, measuring and communicating impact results
- organizing nationally recognized guest speakers to visit the school and educate on environmental initiatives
With the help from our students and faculty recycling as well as our Green Team, we are able to dispose of waste properly.
60% of consumers say they would consider changing salons if they knew it was environmentally conscious.
As the demand for green business and services rises, our students learn the value and economics of running a green business. Do you value environmental stewardship and share our love for beauty? Schedule a tour today and learn more about our programs and our impact!
