Sustainability Profile: SwizzleSticks SalonSpa

1. What is your company's brand promise, vision or statement of values, and how does it relate to sustainability?
SwizzleSticks SalonSpa brings its' clients the best in health, wellness and beauty… naturally. Together we can keep our city green and make Calgary an even better place to call home.
2. How are your products or services environmentally and socially sustainable?
SwizzleSticks SalonSpa uses Aveda products for all of its hair and body treatments. Aveda products are sustainable because they are made with renewable, certified organic, plant-based ingredients and non-petroleum mineral ingredients. Additionally, Aveda looks for opportunities to create unique, fair trade partnerships with the people that grow and harvest the ingredients.
3. How does your company give preference to suppliers who create positive social and environmental benefits either through their products and services or through their community partnerships?
Aveda follows a Green Ingredients Policy that considers the raw materials for its ingredients, the impact on the communities and ecosystems where these raw materials are sourced, the processing of raw materials, and the impact of the finished products on people and the environment. All product testing is strictly animal-free.

SwizzleSticks SalonSpa works with local companies wherever possible and looks for fair trade products. Suppliers are chosen with consideration for their published environmental and humanitarian missions. SwizzleSticks SalonSpa looks for commitments to grassroots organizations where both time and money are generously donated.
4. How does your business minimize the environmental impact of its operations?
SwizzleSticks SalonSpa recycles all of the packaging from the products it sells and encourages its clients to do the same. For example, clients receive a free SPF 15 lip saver for every six empty Aveda containers they bring in. Everything that can be recycled in the back office, Stor, salon and spa is, including employee cell phones. Gift certificates are packaged in reusable bags and recycled tins, which can also be reused.

Administration makes every effort to reduce paper usage through the use of electronic memos, online newsletters and eliminating conventional customer mailings. It is working on going paperless for 2009.

SwizzleSticks SalonSpa is an original member of the Greenmax program with ENMAX Energy Corporation. It uses 100% wind to power all of its operations. Energy reduction and efficiency initiatives are also in place to minimize ecological impact. For example, SwizzleSticks SalonSpa is raising awareness for phantom power and encouraging staff to unplug hairdryers and flat irons when they are not in use. Timed thermostats and a cyclone hot water heater, which burns some of its own waste also contribute to reduced energy consumption.

EcoSafe cleaning products are used to avoid hazardous chemicals and toxicity. Garbage is sorted manually and garbage bags are reused.
5. How does your business demonstrate ethical business conduct?
SwizzleSticks SalonSpa hires third party accountants to ensure ethical bookkeeping practices and transparency. Service improvement reports form the basis of a client satisfaction protocol that has been in place for a decade. Comments and complaints may also be submitted through the website at swizzlesticks.com. A published privacy policy has been in place since 2002.
6. What strategic community partnerships does your company have in place?
SwizzleSticks SalonSpa operates its own advanced academy and apprenticeship program. It also accepts interns from outside schools and community agencies. It is proud to be a Founding Member of REAP Business Association.

A member of the Calgary Parks and Recreation Adopt-A-Park program, SwizzleSticks SalonSpa employees clean the riverfront in Kensington each month during May to October. Additionally, SwizzleSticks SalonSpa maintains ongoing relationships with the following charitable organizations: Canadian Environmental Defense Fund, CUPS, Friends of the Earth, MS Society, and WaterCan. $100,000 worth of in-kind donations are made to grassroots organizations each year.
7. What policy or guidelines exist to support charitable contributions?
• Organizations that are "grass roots" in nature
• Who have low or no government support or funding
• Who can not afford a highly visible, organized fund raising strategy
• Activities that reward or recognize volunteers and other "hero's" of our community.
• Activities where we can distribute gift certificates, coupons, or corporate collateral to each and every participant, where those participant's demographics generally fall within our target customer profile.
• Some forms of "live auctions."
• The Arts, humanities and localized community action
8. How many people do you employ locally?
60
9. In what ways does your business demonstrate its commitment to employee health and safety?
St. John's Ambulance training is provided and qualifications renewed every three years. Safety is taught to every employee as part of SalonSpa procedures, including a fire escape plan. A strictly enforced "no junk food" policy is in place, complemented by a lunch room with a proper kitchen so that employees may prepare nutritious meals.
10. In what ways does your business demonstrate its commitment to employee development and job satisfaction?
SwizzleSticks SalonSpa provides a health care plan for all full-time and part-time employees and interns. The advanced academy offers employees opportunities for professional development.
11. How does your business support employees to lead balanced lives and be active participants in their communities?
SwizzleSticks SalonSpa has a culture of supporting individual and employee fundraisers and team-led community involvement, but it would like to improve with more ways to involve and engage employees. April is Earth Month and there are employee events and fundraising initiatives each day. As a Founding Member of REAP Business Association, SwizzleSticks SalonSpa sees an opportunity to more completely integrate its Earth Month activities with the Calgary sustainability network.