BEING “GREEN” Why a “green” spa? Well, because spas evoke images and sensations of pampering, relaxation and sensory quiescence, their highly unhealthy and polluting aspects are often forgotten...or simply not even realized! The sad truth is, however, that mainstream spa services and products are very toxic to both body and Planet. Residential bathrooms alone are a major source of daily intoxication(1)...so imagine an entire spa! Is eliminating body care altogether the solution? Should we close down all spas and stop opening new ones? Of course not. Massage, wraps, footbaths and other such pleasures are just too much fun. And so is born the “green” spa. But what is “green” exactly? Being “green”, for us, is any effort made to be: • healthy (ex. promoting well-being, being clean and non-toxic) • environmentally friendly (ex. organically grown, selectively cut, non-toxic, locally made) • socially fair (ex. sourced from fair trade) “Green”, as a lifestyle mentality, is growing stronger every day. Some spas wear the emblem because their products are environmentally friendly, while others, for example, have gone a step further and have also made use of non-toxic building materials and have integrated energy saving policies in their daily operations. Here are some of the things we did: Premises improvements – We laid in a new wooden floor, made with local wood (selectively cut) and eco-friendly non-toxic oily finish. We also put in a new bathroom with same eco-friendly non-toxic materials and fixtures, and water-saving devices. We painted walls and facade with non-toxic paint. Our decor is made up almost entirely of plants. Spa equipment, linen and accessories – Our treatment tables are locally made. Our linen and bathrobes are also locally made, with natural healthy fabrics of environmentally friendly sources. We’ve limited our use of plastic accessories (ex. locally made wooden bowls for mixing products; ceramic and glass water dispenser). Body care products – Although it’s sometimes tempting to import fine exotic products from half way across the World, we’ve decided to go local, organic and environmentally friendly, with all our products – massage oils, butters, specialty oils, exfoliants, wraps, masks, bath salts, bathroom and shower soaps, etc. They are all hand-made, from natural ingredients, and custom designed for Nubia. Staff clothing – We’ve outfitted our team with eco-friendly and locally made clothes. Day-to-day operations – • We use energy saving lights and appliances. • Our paper requirements are minimal (and when we do use paper, we use recycled, of course). • We deal with local printers who use vegetables inks. • We create a limited production of waste and have integrated recycling policies. • We use environmentally friendly and non-toxic cleaning products. • Drinking water is clean water. • We burn locally handcrafted soya and/or bee wax candles. • Every chance we get, we buy local. • Etc. On a final note, here’s the thing to know: we’re not perfect yet, we’re very open to suggestions, and we’re committed to always keep improving. Are we proud of being amongst the first green spas in Montreal and in Canada? You betcha. And we’re hoping that many will follow our lead. The great thing about a truly “green” philosophy is that, as a business owner, you’re hoping that competition will grow really quickly... 1 - See Slow Death by Rubber Duck (by Rick Smith, Bruce Lourie and Sarah Dopp) and www.thegreenguide.com (by National Geographic).