Devon Tong

Devon Tong is the National Manager of Sustainable Salons, a social enterprise in New Zealand that helps salon partners provide environmentally-friendly options.1 In 2021, Tong was recognized when Sustainable Salons received a Highly Commended Award for Community Collaboration at the Tāmaki Makaurau Zero Waste Awards. Upon receiving the award, Tong stated, "It was a real honour for us at Sustainable Salons to be recognised amongst so many inspiring heroes in our local community."1

The organization Tong manages works to minimize the hair salon industry's environmental impact by implementing innovative recycling and community support initiatives, such as:

• Collecting and upcycling plastics
• Recycling salon metals and paper
• Collecting hair for potential oil spill cleanup
• Donating long ponytails to create wigs for cancer and alopecia patients1