We’re so proud to partner with will&able, a New Zealand social enterprise creating meaningful employment for neurodivergent and differently abled Kiwis. Through this partnership, everyday choices made by our network help support paid jobs, build confidence and independence, and contribute to a more inclusive future, with the will&able team now sorting the salon waste we collect from salons across the North Island.
It’s a beautiful reminder that business can be a force for good, and that the products and services we choose really do matter.
will&able exists to unlock potential through purpose-led work. Every product sold and every service delivered helps fund paid employment opportunities for people who can face barriers in traditional workplaces.
Right now, 124 will&able team members are neurodivergent or differently abled, and for many, that includes navigating multiple disability presentations. Of these team members, 102 live with cognitive or intellectual disabilities, including Autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, and Global Developmental Delay.
William
Person holding will&able cleaning product
T-Rellis, Kaneesha, Elijah
Three people wearing "will&able" shirts
Alicia
Will&Able worker labels product
Kiahn, Kathleen, Mereana
Three people wearing "will&able" shirts
Bex, Rosemarie
Two smiling women wearing "will&able" shirts
Meaningful employment opportunities
Behind these numbers are people gaining far more than a pay packet. Meaningful employment can bring routine, purpose, social connection, confidence and greater independence. It creates opportunities to learn new skills, be part of a team, and feel proud of the role you play. Work changes lives, not just financially, but emotionally and socially too.
Through our partnership with will&able, Sustainable Salons is helping make that impact possible.
Their work supports paid employment hours for people who are often excluded from traditional work environments. It contributes to skill development, workplace training, increased wellbeing, and growing confidence. It also helps build a workforce in Aotearoa that is more inclusive, representative and full of opportunity.
Creating measurable social impact
For us, this partnership is about more than supply. It’s about shared values. It shows that commercial decisions can create measurable social impact, and that doing business differently can help shape a better world.
There’s also a strong sustainability story at the heart of what will&able does.
Their eco cleaning range is Eco-Choice Aotearoa Certified, made in New Zealand, cruelty free, and crafted using recycled milk bottles. The bottles are also designed to be returned for recycling or reuse, helping keep materials in circulation for longer.
Across the factory, will&able has built practical systems to reduce waste and recover valuable resources. Food waste is composted onsite. E-waste, hi-vis vests, cardboard, soft plastics, paper and glassine backing paper are collected for recycling. Scrap cardboard is reused as packaging filler for cleaning product orders. Even onsite solar panels help power operations.
Leading much of this work is their brilliant Waste Warrior team. Armed with smiley-face badges and plenty of enthusiasm, they champion waste diversion across the factory and help make sure as much material as possible stays out of landfill. It’s a joyful example of sustainability in action — hands-on, practical and powered by people.
Purpose in every partnership
At Sustainable Salons, we know real impact happens when people and planet are cared for together. That’s what makes this partnership so special. It’s creating cleaner spaces, meaningful jobs and a more inclusive future, all at once.
So when you see will&able as part of our impact story, know this: it’s about far more than products. It’s about opportunity, dignity, community and purpose.
And that’s exactly the kind of impact we want to keep growing.
