Green Dreamer
Dear Barb, I really want to make my grooming salon more eco-friendly, but the thought overwhelms me because I don’t know where to start. Help!
Dear Green Dreamer,
A good eco makeover gives both sustainability and style, just like my favourite white capri pants that I’m SO glad I held on to! It certainly can be daunting knowing where to start, but if you can manage the stench of an anal gland expression without wincing, you can definitely turn your salon into a clean, green, grooming machine!
Now unlike my blouse and earring combos, let’s not pretend it’s about perfection. No one’s expecting you to bathe dogs in rainwater collected inside the skin of your favourite stone-fruit and dry them with the breeze from a passing car. We’re talking a pinch of smart swaps, a dollop of simple tweaks, and a dash of forward thinking.
So pop on your apron and let’s get cooking!
Shampoo Without the Side of Chemical Soup
Your current products might make a pongy pooch smell like a Peony in seconds flat, but if they’re full of nasties and wrapped like a honeymoon gift at a plastics factory, it’s time for a change.
Look for natural, biodegradable products, and big bonus points if they’re Aussie-made. That way you’re helping the planet and keeping local businesses booming. It’s no secret my go-to is ProGroom: their products are environmentally friendly, made from biodegradable ingredients, and free from phosphates… need I say more?
Towels – The Never Ending Laundry Saga
Ah, towels. The unsung, and sometimes unhung, heroes of the grooming world. But the washing? The drying? The never being dry when you need them?
Try chamois. They dry faster, clean better, and don’t chew through the electricity bill like trying to wash and dry a towel that's soaked after one use. The Groomers Store has chamois available here!
And please, for the love of dogs everywhere, switch to an eco-friendly detergent. If it’s gentle on the planet, poodle paws, and your delicates, that’s a win.
Let’s Talk Water (Because You Use a Lot of It)
You don’t need to be a water wizard, just a bit water-wise. Use sprayers that don’t act like they’re trying to put out a fire next door, turn taps off when you're not rinsing, and don’t run a bath like it’s your last before the next Aussie drought. You’re not washing an elephant, my love, you’re rinsing a Terrier.
Break Up With Single-Use Plastics
This is one relationship where it’s definitely them, not you. Disposable gloves, plastic bottles, cling wrap in the staff kitchen—give them the flick. You don’t need mountains of landfill to keep your salon slick.
Try compostable poo bags, biodegradable bin liners, reusable gloves, and refillable spray bottles for your favourite cologne. Anything multi-use is cheaper in the long run, and let’s be real for a minute, the ecosystem isn’t the only gal on a tight budget right now.
Toilet Paper That Gives a Crap (Literally)
If your salon’s toilet paper still comes wrapped tighter than a Christmas ham and made from trees older than my first perm, it’s time for an upgrade.
Who Gives A Crap makes toilet paper that’s plastic-free, comes in bamboo (yes, bamboo, darling), and actually looks cute on a shelf. Strong, sustainable, and surprisingly soft - it’s like wiping with a conscience.
Even better? You can set and forget with a subscription. It turns up in bulk, right to your door. No more last-minute dashes to the shops or awkward carpark walks juggling a jumbo pack of loo rolls like you’ve just robbed a public toilet.
And 50% of their profits go toward building toilets and improving sanitation in places that need it most. That’s a feel-good flush if I’ve ever heard one.
Check them out here and give your salon throne the royal treatment it deserves.
Get the Clients Involved!
Let people know about the changes you’re making or have already made. Boast about it on your socials, pop a sign up, promote environmentally-friendly products. Word of mouth is a powerful thing, and more and more people are shaping their daily choices around their own carbon footprint. You should be proud of the steps you’re taking and you should be rewarded for it!
You don’t need to be the Greta Thunberg of the grooming world overnight. You can also go paperless, bulk order, change some light globes, compost your dog hair. Start small and keep building. You’ll save some dollars, earn some brownie points, and maybe, just maybe, save the planet a little while you’re at it.
Green dreams, lovely,
Barb-bye!
