Continuing our blog series highlighting the clients and partners we work with here at Homeboy Electronics Recycling, this month we’re putting the spotlight on our partnership with John Paul Mitchell Systems.
Paul Mitchell is equally well-known for their salon-quality hair products and styling tools and their commitment to creating a greener future for our planet.
We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Sean Ansett, Paul Mitchell’s Senior Director of Sustainability about their sustainability goals and why they chose Homeboy Electronics Recycling as their e-waste recycling partner. Here’s what he had to say.
Tell us a little about who you are and what you do for John Paul Mitchell Systems
I’m Sean Ansett, the Senior Director of Sustainability at John Paul Mitchell Systems. I joined Paul Mitchell in July of 2022. While I am new to Paul Mitchell, I am not new to the sustainability field. I’ve been working in the sustainability field across industries for the last 20 years.
In my position at Paul Mitchell, I am responsible for leading our sustainability efforts and ensuring that our sustainability pledges include:
- Reducing virgin plastic
- Reducing carbon footprint
- Minimizing waste to landfill
- Sustainable and responsible sourcing
What are Paul Mitchell’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives?
We want to be known for our passion for hair and our compassion for people and the planet by taking positive and impactful actions that leave the ecosystems and communities where we operate better than how we found them.
We have our four core pledges I mentioned above, and we also recently refreshed our sustainability program, now called Regenerative Roots. The Regenerative Roots framework consists of:
- Respecting our planet and the communities where we do business
- Restoring our planet’s ecosystems
- Revolutionizing product packaging—including our ambitious conversion to packaging made from post-consumer recycled materials
We’re also in the process of developing a decarbonization strategy that will align with the Science Based Targets Initiative.
The first step is to measure and identify carbon hot spots in our own operations and throughout our value chain from ingredient sourcing to the consumer use phase. We will then set emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2050, and create a roadmap for how we’ll get there, measuring our performance year over year.
In addition, we’re transforming our packaging to be made from post-consumer recycled materials.
We’re working to select packaging that is not only aesthetically pleasing but that also has the least negative effect on our environment, such as post-consumer recycled plastic and aluminum packaging. By using post-consumer recycled materials, we avoid filling up landfills and reduce our carbon footprint by reusing these materials (the second of the three Rs in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). And by using these materials, we’re also creating demand from other companies.
Why did Paul Mitchell choose Homeboy Electronics Recycling?
We were looking for local Los Angeles-based organizations that shared our values, including programs with a strong social purpose.
Paul Mitchell has a long history of giving back to communities and we were excited by the opportunity to partner with Homeboy Electronics Recycling. Not only do they provide great service, but they also help us have an impact that extends beyond the environment. We could not be happier working with this incredible organization that aligns with our pledge to reduce waste heading to landfills.
What are Paul Mitchell’s core values, and how are they achieved by partnering with Homeboy?
As a core part of our Regenerative Roots strategy, we aim to leave ecosystems and communities better than we found them. Homeboy’s recycling program hits on all three areas of sustainability—social, environmental, and economic—and aligns with our overarching strategy and work.
Some estimate that we generate 50 million metric tons of electronic waste annually on the planet, which is a huge problem for our environment. Homeboy provides a seamless program for Paul Mitchell to send its electronic office waste and used electronic tools (including hair dryers and curling irons used by our customers) to be properly recycled, where parts are sorted and reused.
They help us contribute to the circular economy, and at the same time provide formerly incarcerated people an opportunity for dignified work and economic opportunity. This creates a win-win for Homeboy, Paul Mitchell, our customers, and our greater Los Angeles community.
What has been your experience working with Homeboy Electronics Recycling?
We have had an excellent experience working with Homeboy Electronics Recycling. The process to send items back is seamless, and Homeboy gives us peace of mind with their R2 certification and the transparent chain of custody they provide for the goods we recycle.
The Homeboy team is a professional and responsive business partner. We also know they are a leader in data and information security, and their tracking systems make it easy for us to publicly report on our progress.
How has working with Homeboy impacted your business?
The biggest impact they have had has been in providing a demanufacturing stream for products that would likely otherwise end up in landfills, as well as supporting our sustainability goals.
Homeboy has also impacted our teams.
We recently arranged a site visit and tour with some Paul Mitchell team members, and the transitional stories from Homeboy participants were truly inspiring to those who participated. This experience further motivated our team members to outreach into marginalized communities and to capture, track, and scale our e-waste rates to have even more positive impact.
I really can’t say enough about this program!
At Homeboy Electronics Recycling, we’re honored to be a part of helping inspiring companies like John Paul Mitchell Systems meet their sustainability goals. If your business would like to explore partnering with Homeboy for your e-waste recycling needs, give us a call today at (323) 222-3322.