Which hair business has become the first carbon neutral salon?

Anne Veck salons has become the first hairdressing business in the UK to be officially certified carbon neutral. The award-winning chain of hair salons is powered by renewable energy and a plethora of eco-friendly systems and has now received the prestigious Carbon Footprint Standard C02 Neutral certification. The Carbon Footprint Standard is globally acknowledged as an independent certification of the company’s energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions and demonstrates that the company not only has adopted best practice but has also shown real achievements in managing and reducing its carbon emissions and usage. Based in Oxfordshire, Anne Veck salons have been attracting attention for several years thanks to a unique sustainable approach, including the use of pioneering BlueGenCeramic fuel cell technology in Oxford to convert gas to electricity, which helps heat water and the building and reduces the salon’s energy consumption by more than 50%. In addition, the salons utilise infrared heaters made from recycled materials, which are designed to consume 60% less energy than standard convection heaters and produce no CO2, as well as supporting a tree planting project in Kenya. Keith Mellen, director at Anne Veck, said: “Sustainability lies at the core of our work and successfully achieving this standard is a huge testament to our team and the work that they have put into reducing our carbon footprint. “We are very proud to receive this certification but know that the work does not stop here. We will continue to reduce our environmental impact even further and help showcasethe positive difference the entire hairdressing industry can make to the environment.” In addition to being the UK’s first certified Carbon Footprint Standard C02 Neutral hairdresser, the Anne Veck salons were among the first hairdressers in the country to support the Living Wage campaign back in 2014.