DARREN PICK, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ISALON SOFTWARE TALKS SUSTAINABILITY WITH US. 

‘In 2021, it’s most definitely time for us as an industry to stand up and take action before it is too late. Our mission to become more sustainable comes from our passion for innovation along with defining new and better functions and systems. It also comes from our passion and gratitude for our planet, which we all have a responsibility to protect. Becoming greener as an industry is non-negotiable if we are to ensure sustainability.

First Step

The first step in this journey is to become more aware, at iSalon we looked at changes we could make to become more sustainable and started there. The key is to start now, don’t wait until you can make lots of changes at once, start with what you can change now and move forward.

Paper Waste

To reduce paper waste, we have introduced a few different features and functionalities to allow our salons to be greener. Most recently the addition of email receipts which reduces paper waste from salons. Clients tend to put these straight into a rubbish bin, so ensuring salons have the option to eliminate that paper trail was a must. For salons both large and small, there is no longer a need to have a paper appointment book. Not only is digital kinder to the planet and sustainable, it keeps all information neat and tidy and all in one place for more efficient working. In fact, client record cards, stock levels, reporting and so much more can be stored digitally within your salon software. No need for a huge paper trail!

Plastic

Recently the impact of plastic has been under the microscope and the ‘every little helps’ attitude is required to make progress here. Online gift cards can now be purchased to remove that plastic from the salon floor. You can email this directly to the recipient and avoid the need to physically stock plastic and to post it out to the person. QR codes can be used to download the gift card or use it at the salon.

Colour Waste

Hairdressing salons in particular face many challenges when it comes to being more sustainable and colour waste is one of the main obstacles to overcome. As we understand this, we are looking into integrating Vish with our software. They are a company who work with you to calculate the exact amount of colour required for each client and the system helps you to reduce the amount of colour you have to dispose of down the sink, ensuring the salon is being more sustainable and cost effective.

Of course, as an industry we have a long way to go in terms of becoming completely sustainable. We are continually working on this to ensure we are doing our bit. Are you?’ – Darren Pick. 

For more info about the brand, visit iSalon here.