We’re buzzing with excitement (and maybe a little happy dancing in the depot) because our incredible Founders, Paul Frasca and Ewelina Soroko, have just been named 2025 Humanitarians of the Year at the Australian Hair Industry Awards! 

This amazing recognition celebrates over a decade of driving real change for both people and the planet, from transforming salon waste into valuable resources to creating meaningful employment and feeding those in need. What started as a bold idea in a Sydney garage has grown into a movement that’s reshaping an entire industry.

But here’s the thing: this award doesn’t just belong to Paul and Ewelina. It belongs to our entire Sustainable Salons community! That’s every member salon that sorts their bins with care, every stylist who proudly tells their clients where their waste goes, every depot team member who keeps the cycle turning, and every supporter who believes that small actions can create big change.

Together, we’ve proven that sustainability isn’t a trend, it’s a team effort. 

At Sustainable Salons, we believe that waste is only waste if it’s wasted. Every foil, every hair clipping, and every empty product bottle has the power to do something good. By giving salon resources a second life, we’re helping protect the planet’s precious resources, supporting local communities, and showing the beauty industry that caring for people and the planet can go hand in hand with running a successful business. When sustainability becomes part of everyday salon life, everyone wins, including people, planet, and the industry we love. 🌏

Together, we’ve achieved some pretty incredible things:

 ♻️ Diverted more than 2.2 million kilograms of salon waste from landfill

🍽️ Provided thousands of meals through our charity partners

💪 Created meaningful work opportunities for people facing barriers to employment

💇‍♀️ 294,251 ponytails collected and made into charitable medical wigs

👷 80,460 hours of meaningful employment provided to people with disabilities 

That’s impact worth celebrating!

Reflecting on the win, Paul Frasca shared,

This award isn’t just for Ewelina and I, it’s for every single person who’s believed in the idea that sustainability belongs in the salon industry. From our amazing team to our passionate members, this is proof that when we work together, we can change the world one snip and clip at a time.

 

A huge shoutout also goes to our amazing member salons recognised at the AHIAs for their outstanding leadership and business excellence within our industry:
 

  • Little Birdie Hair Co
  • Co and Pace Salons
  • Ms Monaco Hair Society
  • The Following Hair Co
  • Intuition The Art of Hair
  • Privé Hair Organics
  • Scissor & Stone
  • Nak Hair
  • MIG Training

Watch our highlights reel and explore our Impact Report to see how we’re continuing to turn salon waste into world-changing impact.

Share
    Partnerships

    Together we can change the world. Partner with us.

    Find out how