Уровень Upper-Intermediate/Advanced

The family- run salon has seen a 14% increase in turnover since launching a £250,000 project to make the business environmentally friendly. A major green refurbishment transformed Élan Hair Design, in Aberdeenshire, into the UK's most eco-friendly hair salon – and increased the business's turnover at the same time. In 2009 the owners launched a £250,000 project to make the salon as environmentally friendly as possible and develop a template of environmental and commercial benefits that other businesses, in particular hair salons, could follow. Every aspect of the refurbishment had to meet green standards, using materials made from either sustainable or recycled sources. At the same time the owners started reviewing all aspects of the salon's everyday working environment with a simple mantra – can we make it green? Indeed they could. Élan is the first British hair salon to compost hair waste, recycle aluminium foils and install carbon-neutral furniture. Recycling aluminium foils and empty colour tubes is important because they are particularly harmful to the environment. All biodegradable waste is sent to be used as compost on local farmers' fields, meaning even less waste sent to landfill. The business makes sure the products it buys are recyclable, such as bottles and packaging made from post-consumer recycled materials. It responsibly disposes of all paper, plastic, glass, cardboard, batteries and WEEE goods. On top of that, Élan has fitted self-cleaning bacteria-resistant floor tiles made from 40% re- constituted materials, and is using compostable cleaning towels and capes. The owners stock the most eco-friendly products. They also brought in energy-efficient measures and they are trying to minimize waste wherever possible. Currently working towards recycling 100% of its disposable materials, the company is not far off reaching its long-held objective of zero waste to landfill. It is also well on the way to meeting its target to cut carbon emissions by 90% by 2014. A range of eco-friendly measures, including a product refill service, encourages customers to follow the example. And the salon team are all enthused by the owners' passion for making a genuine, day-by-day contribution to the environment. The firm is also sharing best environmental practices in the community, and helping other businesses source products from sustainable suppliers. Further afield it has linked with a number of UK-wide brands that share the same environmental ethos