The Sustainable Spa Association (SSA) has partnered with sustainability specialist Stephanie Hodgson from MeettheFiveR’s to help global spas understand the importance of a circular economy.

The #SpaWasteNotChallenge campaign brief focuses on helping spas find a creative solution for one of their waste streams and educate them about how a circular economy can help them:

- Save money on unnecessary waste, such as the cost of sending waste to a landfill - Help other businesses that can use materials unwanted by a spa business

- Improve the environmental footprint of the business - Strengthen community bonds and integration.

“We acknowledge it’s incredibly important for businesses to reduce their waste footprints and that this involves looking at both what goes into the business and what goes out,” said Lucy Brialey, SSA co-founder.

“We’re asking spas to choose one of their waste streams to send to or be collected by a local business or organisation that will then be able to make use of that material for their operations.”

The SSA’s vision is for participating spas to ultimately forge a partnership with another local entity and thus support and strengthen their community.

How to get involved

The SSA suggests that to get started, spas should host a team-building event so staff can work together towards the ultimate task.

The following are ideas for the event:

• Discuss what goes into your spa: disposable towels, treatment products, robes, slippers, complimentary teas and coffees and fruit, treatment beds and sheets, PPE, electronics, staff food, cafe food, soft furnishings etc.
• Discuss what currently happens to these things when they’re worn out, break, become damaged or no longer fit the decor
• Investigate what it costs to dispose of these unwanted things
• Brainstorm how any of that output material could be made valuable or useful again rather than just sending to a landfill or for incineration or for traditional recycling
• Brainstorm local entities that might be able to make use of those materials – the SSA suggests this maybe could even be a side business of the spa or an employee may be keen to take this on
• Decide on one of your waste streams as well as a local entity to supply this material to
• Make a plan to make contact with that local entity and come up with a strategy that will benefit both your spa and them.

The SSA is encouraging all participating spas to share their individual journeys across social media using the hashtag #SpaWasteNotChallenge, to help share their progress and inspire as many spas as possible to get on board.

The campaign is running from May till the end of July and the SSA is taking the time to assess and celebrate the success of each participating spa to showcase the power of industry collaboration.

As part of the initiative, the SSA will be handing out awards for best entries in three categories: Most Creative Solution, Most Impactful Solution and Most Collaborative Solution.

To find out more, head the official SSA website.