In the salon industry, sustainability is something often talked about. But often, the responsibility seems to lie with the product brands, packaging, and within the individual salon owner’s choices. But Phorest Salon Software believes that if everyone can do their bit, we can make a difference. As we approach Earth Month in April, Luke Doolin, Country Manager, Phorest UK & Ireland shares about Phorest’s green initiatives.
Earth Month is a timely reminder that sustainability isn’t a seasonal campaign for our industry, it’s a long-term commitment. Across the hair, beauty and aesthetics sectors, we’re seeing businesses take meaningful steps to reduce their environmental footprint, and at Phorest, we’re focused on playing our part in a way that’s both practical and purposeful.
One of the initiatives I’m most proud of is our Phorest Forest. In partnership with forestry organisations, we continue to restore native Irish woodland, planting thousands of trees and investing in biodiversity for the future. What makes this particularly special is that it’s not just a concept, it’s something our team actively participates in.
For example, our team came together at Dunsany Nature Reserve to physically plant trees, expanding the Phorest Forest with our own hands. There’s something incredibly powerful about stepping away from your desk, picking up a shovel and contributing directly to rewilding and habitat restoration. It reinforces that sustainability isn’t just strategy, it’s action.
The same mindset drives our wider environmental initiatives. As part of Plastic Free July, our team partners with Clean Coasts for a beach clean at Bull Island in Dublin, removing plastic and debris from the shoreline. We also invited our salon customers to attend, and it was a simple but impactful reminder that collective effort matters. When our team comes together around a shared purpose, the difference can be tangible.
Internally, we’ve green energy solutions and solar panels at our headquarters, and we continue to promote hybrid working models to reduce commuter emissions. Accountability starts with us.
Within salons, we recognise the challenges are different but equally pressing. Our industry generates significant waste, from colour tubes and foils to excess product and chemical waste. For busy salon owners, balancing sustainability with profitability can feel complex.
That’s why our approach focuses on solutions that support both. Our integration with Vish helps salons measure colour accurately, reducing unnecessary waste while protecting margins. Our collaboration with Green Salon Collective enables salons to recycle materials that would otherwise go to landfill, ensuring waste is repurposed, composted or recovered into energy.
We’re also helping salons go paperless through digital consultation forms, e-receipts and tools like the PhorestGo app, reducing unnecessary printing and streamlining operations at the same time.
Importantly, clients are more environmentally aware than ever. Many salons have introduced a small ‘Green Fee’ of £1 or £2, seamlessly added through our system, to support their sustainability efforts. Not only does these offset costs, but it also communicates values clearly to customers who want to support responsible businesses.
Earth Month gives us a moment to reflect, but it also reinforces that sustainability must be ongoing – not just for that one month. Whether it’s planting trees, cleaning coastlines, reducing waste in-salon or investing in greener operations, real impact comes from consistent action.
At Phorest, our Sustainability Promise continues to evolve, because building greener businesses and a healthier planet is a responsibility we all share.
To request Phorest for your salon, visit www.phorest.com