CELEBRATING SUSTAINABILITY with ECO FOILS

Tenille Lawrence has spent 15 years as a multi-award-winning stylist and internationally recognised global educator. She has had the privilege of travelling the world, showcasing her talents—whether educating fellow hairdressers, styling for runway shows and fashion weeks, working on magazine shoots or film sets, or being the go-to colourist for a roster of celebrity clients. However, after years of working closely with chemical-heavy hair products, her passion for eco-friendly solutions was born from a deeply personal experience.

During three of her four pregnancies, Tenille suffered from chemical poisoning due to constant exposure to hair colour products. The pivotal moment came when she gave birth, and the placenta was found to be completely black—an alarming condition the doctor attributed to harmful chemicals she had encountered in the salon, despite being a non-smoker. This experience was life changing. Determined to protect herself, her staff, and her clients from dangerous toxins, Tenille made the bold decision to leave educating behind and focus on creating an eco-friendly salon.

This marked the beginning of her ecojourney as she built a salon committed to using low-tox products and prioritising environmentally conscious practices. Her dedication led her business to be recognized for its green initiatives, earning the title of Best Eco Salon in Australia three years in a row. Today, this commitment to a safer, cleaner approach continues to inspire every product and practice at Little Birdie Hair Co.

At Little Birdie Hair Co, sustainability has always been at the heart of what they do. They noticed a significant gap in the market when it came to eco-friendly alternatives for salon essentials, particularly foils. Salons like theirs are always looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint, but the options for sustainable foils were limited and often fell short. This inspired Little Birdie Hair Co to take action and create Eco Foils—high-quality, eco-conscious foils that allow salons to maintain their professional standards while making a positive impact on the planet. They are excited to offer something that aligns with their values and those of their clients, who care deeply about sustainability.

Editor of Hair Biz Magazine Louise May chats with Tenille about the newly launched Eco Foils.

How does Eco Foils build on the values of Little Birdie Hair Co?

Eco Foils are a natural extension of the values that have always been at the heart of Little Birdie Hair Co - sustainability, innovation and the drive to make a positive impact. From day one, we’ve believed in “being the change” we want to see in the industry. That philosophy guided us as we researched how to offer a greener, more responsible alternative to traditional salon foils. We knew there had to be a better solution out there, so we took it upon ourselves to create it. Eco Foils are the result of our dedication to not only meet the needs of stylists but also make a meaningful contribution to a more sustainable future.

Your motto, ‘Small Changes, Big Impact,’ is central to Eco Foils. How do you envision salons adopting this philosophy to make a difference?

Our motto, ‘Small Changes, Big Impact,’ speaks to the power of starting with simple, manageable steps that can lead to meaningful transformation. For salons, it can be as straightforward as switching to Eco Foils and recycle the foils after use. This one small change can significantly reduce waste and promote sustainability. The beauty of this philosophy is that it’s not about overhauling everything at once - it’s about making thoughtful choices, one step at a time. We envision salons embracing this mindset, starting with eco-friendly foiling and gradually incorporating more green practices into their daily operations. As each small change accumulates, salons can collectively make a big difference, helping to create a better, healthier planet for future generations.

Why did you partner with the Australian Koala Foundation and Carbon Positive Australia?

Koalas are not only adorable, but they’re also an iconic symbol of Australia’s unique wildlife. By partnering with the Australian Koala Foundation, we saw an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to home and deeply connected to our natural heritage. We wanted to support the preservation of our beloved native species and the environment they call home. Partnering with Carbon Positive Australia allows us to take our commitment to sustainability even further by supporting reforestation and carbon reduction projects.

Together, these partnerships reflect our passion for making a meaningful impact - not just in the beauty industry but in the broader environmental landscape, contributing to the protection of wildlife and the fight against climate change.

Can you share a bit about the behind-the-scenes journey of bringing Eco Foils to market, from concept to launch?

The journey to bring Eco Foils to life was a three-year labour of love. It all began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when I found myself with some rare time to pause and reflect. With my own salon using an astonishing 12 kilometres of foil each month, I realised just how much waste the hairdressing industry generates and knew there had to be a better, more sustainable option.

Determined to find a solution, I dove headfirst into researching and experimenting, seeking to create a product that would reduce this environmental footprint without sacrificing performance. It wasn’t an easy process countless prototypes and tests were involved to ensure the foil met the high standards salon demand. From sourcing eco-friendly materials to perfecting the manufacturing process, every step was meticulously thought through.

After years of development, overcoming supply chain challenges and fine-tuning the product, Eco Foils was finally ready to launch. Today, it stands as a game-changer in the industry, offering salons an innovative, sustainable alternative to traditional foil while staying true to the core values that inspired its creation.

What advice do you have for salons wanting to be more eco-friendly?

My biggest piece of advice is to start small but think big! Transitioning to a more eco-friendly salon doesn’t have to happen overnight. Begin by looking for sustainable alternatives in your everyday operations. For example, switch to energy-efficient lighting to cut down on electricity use, explore water-saving tools to reduce waste, and opt for eco-friendly laundry sheets.

Additionally, look for products that use recycled or minimal packaging and make it a priority to limit single-use plastics wherever possible. These small changes can have a significant impact when adopted consistently. The key is to embrace the mindset that every decision, no matter how small, can contribute to a greener, more sustainable future. Over time, you’ll be surprised by the ripple effect your efforts will have, not just for the environment, but for your salon’s reputation as well!

What are the biggest sustainability challenges currently facing the hair industry, and how can brands like Eco Foils lead the way in overcoming them?

One of the biggest sustainability challenges in the hair industry has always been the widespread use of traditional foil, which contributes significantly to salon waste. With Eco Foils, we’ve made strides toward addressing that issue by providing salons with a much-needed eco-friendly alternative. However, that’s just the beginning. Another major challenge facing salons is water conservation. Hairdressing is a water intensive industry, from washing hair to rinsing out colour treatments and finding sustainable solutions to reduce water usage is crucial.

At Eco Foils, we’re already exploring innovative ways to tackle this issue and are excited about the future solutions we plan to introduce. We believe that by creating practical, eco-conscious alternatives for everyday salon practices - whether it’s reducing water consumption or rethinking the materials we use - we can help lead the industry toward a greener, more sustainable future. The key is not only in providing eco-friendly options but also in educating and empowering salons to adopt these changes as part of their core values. By taking on these challenges together, we can create lasting, positive change in the beauty world.

What future projects or products do you have planned for Eco Foils and your other brands, continuing your commitment to sustainability?

We’re incredibly excited about the future of Eco Foils and the direction we’re heading in. Right now, we’re working closely with our manufacturer to develop innovative solutions that address more sustainability challenges. We want to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible when it comes to creating eco-friendly tools and practices for salons. We’re already in the process of creating new, unique patterns and prints that will not only stand out in terms of aesthetics but will also maintain the same high standards of sustainability.

We believe that style and environmental responsibility can go hand-in-hand, and we’re constantly looking for ways to offer salons more variety without compromising on our eco-friendly mission. Our commitment to sustainability will always be at the heart of everything we do, and we can’t wait to share these exciting new products with our customers!

@eco.foils @littlebirdiehairco