Salons Strut April Style

Aveda stores, salons and spas throughout the region celebrated this April—“Earth Month”—by spreading a positive message of simple, achievable climate solutions to their guests. For the second consecutive year, Clean Air-Cool Planet was the nonprofit organization chosen to team up with plant-based personal care product manufacturer’s sales and service teams here in the Northeast; the goal, to raise both awareness and funds that will contribute to a decrease of our region’s contribution to climate change.

Throughout April, Clean Air-Cool Planet visited Aveda salons and stores from Burlington, Vermont to New York City, talking to both staff and guests about the science, the impacts and the solutions to climate change. Fund-raising events hosted by Aveda in the region included a family Earth Walk at a local Audobon center in New Hampshire; a silent auction in Massachusetts, where items ranging from spa services to baseball tickets where snapped up by visitors who came to bid and stayed to mingle and chat; several day-long, high energy “cut-a-thons,” where guests were treated to haircuts, massages and makeovers all for a small donation; and others.

A day-long cut-a-thon at Carston's Institute in NY City kept volunteers and clients smiling

Along with these specific events, participating Aveda venues offered services for donations—including stress-relieving treatments, make-up “finishing touches,” and others—nearly all month. Most importantly, team members made a point of talking to all guests, throughout Earth Month, about the urgency of climate change and the simple ways everyone can contribute to the solution. Each Aveda guest was offered the opportunity to sign a pledge of individual action equivalent to one ton of carbon dioxide emissions reduction annually—for example, changing two light bulbs from incandescent to compact fluorescent, planting a native tree species, or carpooling once a month. Guests were also urged to get informed about their options for switching to renewable energy sources; “green energy” was the specific focus of this year’s climate change campaign.

Earth Walk participants at the Lake Massabesic Audubon Center in New Hampshire enjoy the spring landscape while taking part in this creative Aveda fundraiser

The Aveda partnership epitomizes the kinds of creative community-building and dynamic outreach efforts that Clean Air-Cool Planet is all about, showcasing the benefits of a profitable, sustainability-minded business model. For Aveda customers, this year’s Earth Month was just another example of the extra value the company offers its clientele, connecting them with ways to act on environmental issues they find important. And for many Aveda team members, Earth Month was a way to translate their own passion for the earth and its care into action, providing an opportunity to learn more about an issue and then pass that knowledge on to others. A sentiment echoed by many of these dedicated folks in their work with Clean Air-Cool Planet was “It’s all about giving back to the Earth.”

With materials like these, Aveda worked throughout April to spread a positive message of action to clients

Clean Air-Cool Planet will be looking for ways to continue the partnership throughout the year—and we’re already looking forward to next year’s Earth Month, which is again slated to center on the issue of climate change. In the meantime, MANY THANKS to the Aveda teams in our region, whose enthusiasm and hard work throughout April were truly inspiring!

--Jennifer Andrews