How to "Green Clean" Your Massage Practice

Lighting

Replacing incandescent lamps with energy smart light bulbs, such as LEDs, is quick and easy. LEDs last longer (30,000-50,000 hours versus 1,000 hours), are more energy efficient, produce very little heat, and unlike CFLs, they contain no mercury. The Department of Energy notes that, "LED lighting products are still more expensive than their conventional counterparts, but when the costs of energy and maintenance are included in the total cost of ownership, LED-based products can have a distinct advantage."

Candles present another opportunity for positive change. Replacing traditional wax candles with eco-friendly alternatives or rechargeable candles is better for air quality.

Linens

Swap out worn sheets with organic treatment table sheets from Sposh. You can select from smooth percale or soft flannel. Organic unbleached cotton is every bit as durable and attractive as regular cotton, but it's easier on the environment.

Hand, Foot, & Body Treatments

Tried and true paraffin is warm and soothing, but in addition to being derived from petroleum, it's not very versatile. However, a product like plant-based Eco-fin® can be used as a sanitary alternative to paraffin and as a massage lubricant. So while keeping sanitation in check, you're using one product and minimizing the amount of paraffin residue going into landfills. And the average cost per treatment is less than a dollar.

Massage

We all have our favorite massage products—ones we trained on and have used for years. But have you looked closely at the ingredients? Sometimes they don't complement the healing benefits that our massages provide. Look for products that feature high quality plant-based ingredients and avoid parabens and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. Some good, "clean" performance brands include Moor Spa, Pure-ssage®, Soothing Touch®, SacredEarth Botanicals®, and as stated above, Eco-fin.

If you offer stone massage, you probably know that typical stone warmers can use a lot of electricity during the course of a business day, not to mention a good amount of water usage. Self-heating stones are an excellent alternative. They're made of crushed stones and clay so you do not lose the traditional benefits of stones/ They also require less energy and water usage. A 60-second charge can last 60 to 90 minutes. However, be aware that self-heating stones cannot be used as placement stones and must stay in motion.

When cleaning and disinfecting your workspace and equipment, consider brands like Force of Nature, CleanCide, Purefexion, and EcoLogic Solutions, all of which can be found in our eco-friendly sanitation collection. Just as effective in killing bacteria and viruses as their traditional counterparts, these brands offer biodegradable ingredients that are gentler for the user and the environment.  

Waxing

For those of you who are dual licensed, there are great alternatives in the waxing world as well. If waxing is a part of your daily services, there are plant-based products that offer the same results as traditional microcrystalline wax. Also, with energy-efficient heaters and lower melting points, this makes for a great energy-saving alternative. Some brands even offer a wrap to go around the canister that plugs in and heats the canister—a perfect solution if you only use wax some of the time. Some plant-based waxes include Plum Smooth® Cold Wax and Plum Smooth Naturelle-Vous. If you're looking for wax-free hair removal, try plant-based Nufree. These offer a botanical alternative to petroleum-sourced products.