COMPOSTING
Hair is fantastic for composting as it releases Nitrogen when it breaks down, giving plants a real nutritional boost. We compost hair anaerobically on a large scale, but it can be composted at home too.
WATERWAY CLEANUPS
Hair adsorbs oil and pollutants, even in water. We've used hair in this way to clean up oil spills and polluted rivers across the UK and Ireland. Through hair booms and hair mats. Hair booms are 'sausage' like tubes filled with waste human hair that adsorb oil and pollutants and can help to contain the spread of oil spills in waterways.
HAIR MATS
By felting hair with our unique machinery, we can create a hair mat that can be used to cover storm drains or clean up waterways
GARDENING
Hair is rich in Nitrogen, making it an ideal fertiliser for growing houseplants and flowers in your garden or at home!
PONYTAILS
From wig-making to donating to charities, your clients' ponytails can be put to good use.
TEXTILES
Working with dressmakers and designers, we can turn hair into dresses and clothes. In 2022, Green Salon Collective was featured in museums across the UK and Europe showcasing what can be done with hair.
WOOL ALTERNATIVES
We are collaborating with Natural Fibre Co., a British woollen mill in Cornwall, to develop a hair-wool fibre alternative to petroleum or cotton based yarns, ropes and twines. Our current blend is 40:60 hair and wool blend using salon's waste hair and undervalued, destined-for-compost wool.
POTTING FELT
Our Head of R&D, Stephanie Hodgson, is conducting an experiment to test the ability of 'potting felt' a product for houseplants made from salon hair waste, to save water, deter pests, and release nitrogen into the soil.
FELTING MACHINE
Our GSC Felting Machine can be used in a multitude of ways! From making mats for cleaning up oil or using to grow plants, to pieces for art, sculpture and clothing.
CROCHET
We love finding new ways to reuse our hair twine, and it lends itself well to being crocheted! One salon is even using them as coasters, which is fantastic for involving clients.
GARMENTS
Would you wear a jumper made from hair? Learn more about Alix Bizet's hairy clothing, made using our GSC felting machine and waste salon hair.
REGENERATIVE BIO-MANUFACTURING
Working with Biohm, a London based regenerative biomanufacturer, your hair is being combined with their unique binding material 'orb', to create particleboard-like sheets as well as moulded 3D objects. They are also working with mycelium, the root structure of fungi, to grow around hair to create insulation panels.
ARCHITECTURE
Collaborating with architecture and research firm, Pareid, we explore the application of salon hair waste in architecture and building materials. Pareid are interested in visibly showcasing the presence of hair in final products and instalments as a way to compel people to consider the material not as waste but as a resource.
MULCH
In 2025, we sent over a tonne of salon hair to a farm in Norfolk as part of a long-term trial to see the impact of hair, pet fur and wool as mulch in an agricultural environment
MYCELIUM
From our regenerative biomanufacturing experiment resulting in a cube of mycelium grown using hair, to growing mycelium with our hair x wool twine, the possibilities are still being discovered...
HAIR ROPE
We have created a truly unique workshop with our research partner, Sanne Visser, Design Researcher in Residence at The Design Museum. Our workshops invite people to explore hair rope making while inspiring them to rethink the concept of waste.
KNITTING
We have worked with various artists to knit and crochet hair twine into coasters, garments and swatches!
LIVING TEXTILES
Beth Williams is an incredible textile artist who has created living garments, jewellery and textiles out of waste human hair, growing plants with a base of hair!
MUSHROOMS
That's right, Oyster Mushrooms have been grown using hair as a substrate! Would you eat mushrooms grown in hair?
WIGS
We can use even the shortest of hair in the Green Salon Collective hair recycling projects, however, when the hair is long enough to create a wig, that is what we will do.
INNOVATION
We are always looking for new ways to recycle hair, and people to collaborate with...
About Green Salon Collective
Green Salon Collective is the UK's leading salon sustainability movement, helping hair professionals reduce waste, recycle more and create measurable environmental impact. Through specialist recycling programmes, sustainability education, original industry research and innovative products, we empower salons to build greener businesses while supporting people, planet and profit.
Our Impact
We're proud to be helping transform the environmental impact of the hair and beauty industry.
- Thousands of stylists, supported across the UK and Ireland
- 250+ tonnes of salon waste diverted from landfill, of hair recycled through innovative circular economy projects
- Established in 2020, supporting salon sustainability for over 6 years
- B Corp Certified, meeting high standards of social and environmental performance
- Original research helping shape the future of sustainable hair and beauty
- Thousands of salon professionals engaged in environmental action every year
What We Do
Build Greener Salons
Creating a more sustainable salon starts with understanding where you are today and taking practical steps towards reducing your environmental impact. Our Green Salon Guide helps salon owners improve sustainability across every part of their business, from resource management to client communication.
Improve Salon Waste Management
Hair and beauty businesses produce unique waste streams that often cannot be handled through traditional commercial waste services. We help salons manage everything from hair and foils to colour tubes and chemical waste through specialist recycling and waste management programmes.
Learn about Salon Waste Management →
Recycle More, Send Less to Landfill
Our specialist Salon Recycling programmes help businesses recycle materials that would otherwise end up in landfill. By recovering valuable resources and supporting circular economy initiatives, members can dramatically reduce their environmental footprint while demonstrating their commitment to sustainability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Green Salon Collective?
Green Salon Collective is a sustainability organisation supporting hair and beauty businesses through specialist recycling programmes, environmental education, research and practical solutions that reduce waste and improve sustainability.
Who can join Green Salon Collective?
Membership is open to hair salons, barbers, beauty salons, spas, colleges and other businesses working within the professional hair industry that want to reduce their environmental impact.
What does Green Salon Collective recycle?
We support the recycling and responsible management of hair, aluminium foils, colour tubes, chemicals, plastics, aerosols, paper, cardboard and other salon-specific waste streams through specialist recycling programmes.
How does Green Salon Collective help salons become more sustainable?
We provide recycling services, sustainability education, original research, Green Fee support, environmental reporting, practical resources and ongoing guidance to help salons make measurable improvements.
What is a Green Fee?
A Green Fee is a small environmental contribution added to salon services that helps fund recycling programmes and sustainability initiatives. It allows salons and their clients to invest together in positive environmental action.
Can salons really recycle hair?
Yes. Hair can be collected and repurposed for a variety of innovative applications including environmental clean-up projects, horticulture, agriculture and other circular economy initiatives.
Is Green Salon Collective a certified B Corporation?
Yes. Green Salon Collective is proud to be a Certified B Corporation, demonstrating our commitment to meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
Why is salon sustainability becoming more important?
Consumers increasingly choose businesses that align with their values. Sustainable salons can reduce waste, strengthen their reputation, improve operational efficiency and contribute positively to their communities while preparing for a more environmentally conscious future.
Why Trust Green Salon Collective?
Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Unlike organisations that simply talk about environmental responsibility, Green Salon Collective combines practical action with industry-leading expertise to help salons make measurable improvements.
Industry-Leading Research
Our original research explores the environmental impact of the hair and beauty industry, from chemical waste and hair recycling to towels, plastics and circular economy solutions. These insights help shape better decisions for salons, suppliers and the wider industry.
Certified B Corporation
As a Certified B Corporation, we meet rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. This reflects our commitment to balancing purpose with business and creating positive impact for people and the planet.
Practical Industry Expertise
Our programmes have been developed specifically for the unique challenges faced by hair and beauty professionals. We understand salon operations because we work alongside the industry every day, helping businesses implement practical sustainability solutions that work in the real world.
Proven Environmental Impact
Our members are collectively diverting significant amounts of salon waste from landfill through specialist recycling programmes, helping reduce environmental impact while supporting a more circular economy.
Trusted by the Industry
Green Salon Collective works alongside salon owners, educators, manufacturers, distributors and industry partners to drive meaningful environmental change. Our collaborative approach has helped establish us as one of the leading voices in sustainable hair and beauty.
Driving the Future of Sustainable Salons
Our mission extends beyond recycling. Through education, innovation, collaboration and continuous research, we're helping shape a future where every salon has the tools, knowledge and support needed to become more sustainable.
Discover more about our hair recycling...
View all-
5 things artists have made out of hair
At Green Salon Collective, we’ve been leading the way in research and development around how waste hair from salons can be recycled, repurposed, and reimagined. To date, we’ve explored over...
5 things artists have made out of hair
At Green Salon Collective, we’ve been leading the way in research and development around how waste hair from salons can be recycled, repurposed, and reimagined. To date, we’ve explored over...
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5 ways you can grow something with hair
At Green Salon Collective, we’re always fascinated by the quirky, the green, and the game-changing. One particularly 'hair-raising idea' is repurposing human hair to grow things. We collect hair from...
5 ways you can grow something with hair
At Green Salon Collective, we’re always fascinated by the quirky, the green, and the game-changing. One particularly 'hair-raising idea' is repurposing human hair to grow things. We collect hair from...
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3 Ways to Use Hair in Your Garden
We often think of hair as waste – something swept off the floor and binned without a second thought. But did you know that human hair is surprisingly useful in...
3 Ways to Use Hair in Your Garden
We often think of hair as waste – something swept off the floor and binned without a second thought. But did you know that human hair is surprisingly useful in...
