Eco-Friendly Chennai Salon Uses Hemp Towels, Reuses Greywater & Harvests the Sun

Would you believe me if I told you that a hair wash could help you save water and reduce your carbon footprint?

Probably not.

Your first instinct would be to dismiss my sentence and point out that water is the primary factor to wash hair. So how is it being saved?

Well, in an effort to turn this seemingly impossible task into reality, Bounce Spalon, a spa and salon chain has reportedly opened what is claimed to be India’s first-ever eco-friendly salon in Chennai.

Water saved from every hair wash will be diverted to a water treatment system, which will ensure that the treated water can be reused in the toilets of the salon.

In addition to that, all the taps will be fitted with water-saving nozzles that can save up to 50,000 gallons of water per year.

The unisex salon was launched in April end after the Vikram Mohan, founder and CEO of the Bounce Salon was inspired by an overseas salon that is environmentally conscious.

“I was inspired to attempt this when I attended a convention at the Davines village in Italy. The haircare brand believes in sustainable beauty to the extent that even the printing ink used was from vegetable dyes,” Vikram tells The Better India.

“It’s our social responsibility to educate and create awareness to take green practices into our clients’ lives. We are trying to achieve more with less,” he adds.

Vikram got Chennai-based Saran Associates to design the salon. From deciding the right material and sourcing it to ensuring the look and feel of a salon is kept intact, it took six months to build the salon in 2,500 square foot place.

“Vikram Mohan has a strong belief in a sustainable way of living and wanted to bring the same concept to the salon. The idea was also to bring nature into it,” Ashateet Saran, Design Head of Saran Associates, told Retail4Growth.

Except for terracotta, all the sustainable materials for construction were sourced locally, and the concept of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ is integrated into the interiors of the salon.

For example, the tiles in the reception table are recycled from railway track wood and furniture is carved out from composite chipboard, a material that is formed using plastic and wood fibre.

Further two solar panels have been installed on the roof that powers 70 per cent of the salon’s operations.

All the towels are made of hemp, which is a strain of the Cannabis sativa plant species, and they degrade within six weeks.

The salon has done away with plastic bags and bottles. RO filters have been installed, and cups made from hemp are made available for the customers.

“We have incorporated the use of biodegradable cups and eliminated the use of plastic water bottles across most of our salons,” says Vikram.

There is also a green wall that is covered with air-purifying plants like the heart-shaped philodendron, rubber (Ficus elastic) and the peace lily.

This one-of-its-kind initiative taken by Vikram and his team is a significant step for their customers and the environment. We hope that it will not only inspire upcoming salons to consider this line of thought but also gives a chance to the customers to make their green contribution.

All the images are sourced from Bounce Salon and Spa

Also Read: 8 Organic Home Spa Treatments for Dandruff, Hair Fall, Split-Ends and More!

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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