Net Zero Now, the climate action platform, has won the coveted Marie Claire Sustainability Award 2023 in the Technology category for The Net Zero Salons Programme in partnership with L’Oreal. The programme, in its inaugural year, has been recognised by esteemed judges for its immediate impact and potential to make sustainability accessible to people across the country and beyond. The judging panel comprised of over 50 of the leading experts in the sustainability sphere, alongside the Marie Claire UK Editors, plant-based chefs, B Corp business owners and eco-charity CEOs.
The Marie Claire Sustainability Awards is designed to celebrate brands, organisations, and products with purpose. The awards aim to commend businesses that are going above and beyond to prioritise both people and planet, companies showing sustainable innovation in their products and services, and brands holding themselves accountable in their business operations.
The Net Zero Salons Programme guides salons through the process of calculating, tracking and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through tailored carbon reduction plans, with the ultimate ambition of certifying as a “Net Zero Salon”. Developed by Net Zero Now in partnership with L’Oréal, as well as involving peer reviews and input from across the industry, the programme is based on a salon-specific roadmap and tool for measuring, tracking, reporting and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
With approximately 31,000 hair salons up and down UK high streets, salons play a significant role in the beauty economy. Data from the initial Net Zero Salons Programme pilot estimates that the average salon appointment produces 3.1kg of greenhouse gas emissions. In line with Science Based Targets, the programme aims to empower salons and clients alike to play their role in taking carbon reduction action and recommends that salons on the programme work towards a benchmark of 2kg per salon appointment. If all salons in the UK achieved this 2kg benchmark, the industry could remove approximately a third (33 per cent) of its greenhouse gas emissions.
A number of salons have started their Net Zero journey with the Net Zero Salons Programme already, including the award winning hairdresser Adam Reed who said that the Programme was ‘invaluable for our sector’. The tool helped him to calculate and track emissions and “helped to accelerate it with a personalised reduction plan and making my salon business more resilient for the future.”
Emily Tradd, Head of Partnership and Customer Success, Net Zero Now:
“We are so pleased to have won the Marie Claire Sustainability Awards 2023! We were up against some amazing finalists that all play key roles in driving sustainability, but to have ours chosen by an esteemed judging panel further reaffirms all of the hard work we have put into the programme. The programme is open to all salons, empowering the whole industry to play its part in tackling the climate crisis and meet the growing expectations of consumers and employees. We know it can help salons reduce their overall carbon footprint and identify key areas where further sustainability interventions are needed, driving more business resilience for the future! Net Zero Now is committed to helping businesses- sector by sector- get on their sustainable journeys as fast as possible and as easy as possible!”
This award keenly underlines the need for more initiatives to help companies understand how they can be more eco conscious and also be economical also. If you are interested in starting your own journey go to www.netzeronow.org.