GREEN SALON METHODOLGY
When we were thinking about how to define a truly sustainable company in the 2020s, we determined that we needed to look at companies holistically. Many other directories look at aspects of a company’s sustainability, but with the ecological crisis deepening, we believe this can be misleading. It can lead us consumers to believe that companies are sustainable, when, in fact, one aspect of them is, but the totality may not be.
We, therefore, look at sustainable companies in the round. To do this, we research the companies in 4 different areas: planet, people, animals and business. We do this by spending thousands of hours reading the sustainability pages on their websites, looking at their impact reports where they have them, and at any certifications they may have.
In 2023 the methodology for our analyses had an overhaul, expanding from 30 criteria to 70+. Alongside other sustainability experts, we used the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to determine which areas of sustainability matter most to protecting and regenerating our planet, basing our criteria questions on these. We look at brands holistically, tracking their sustainable policies alongside their harmful/misrepresentative ones, to get an accurate view of how closely a company holds the environment to their heart.
For a detailed look at our methodology and rating system, please see Our Ratings Guide, or for a brief overview see below.
From the very beginning of the Green Salon Directory, we’ve prioritised four themes when analysing brands, each of which is connected to the other, and each of which needs to be addressed by sustainable businesses if we are to turn the tide on the ecological crisis.
Planet: We check if companies are net zero or have a credible plan to get there soon, that they have a green supply chain, and that they prioritise the health of the ecosystem in their business practices, i.e., through water stewardship/organic agriculture etc.
People: We search for companies that focus on maker well being, giving back to the community and empowering women. With the climate crisis disproportionately affecting marginalised communities, we need to prioritise social liberty and equality.
Animals: We look for companies that put animal wellbeing at the heart of their business.
Business: We champion companies that focus on circular business models, that are change makers and that believe in total transparency.
Here are subcategories that we focus on:
We recognise that many sustainable companies are on a journey and that they may not yet have all aspects of sustainability in place. We believe that properly thought through plans, progress and awareness are important metrics and look for evidence of these in their publicly available information.
Our updated methodology is consumer-centric, only considering publicly available sources such as:
The sustainability pages on their websites
Their impact reports where they have them
Third party verification
Any certifications and accreditations they have
A brand's ranking is accessible via the Green Salon Directory (which can be filtered by price or ranking) and on each brands’ specific brand blog, as we hold ourselves to the level of transparency we expect from our brands. Head to our Journal to read some reflections on our new ranking system and plans for the future.
DISCLAIMER:
It is important to note that we are not a certification body, nor are we auditors, so, like consumers, we rely on companies to tell the truth about their sustainability policies, practices and goals in their publicly available claims