Every day, our industry throws away 877,000 pounds of waste– a shocking reality that needs to be shared far and wide, so we can start working together to decrease this ugly side of our industry’s impact.
Daniel Johnson, the visionary and founder of The Green Beauty Community Foundation and The Salon Chair Guys, said it best when talking about the beauty industry.
“We are a powerhouse and we should be leading the way. We should be doing our work with a clearer message. This is where the beauty industry really has the chance to stand out amongst other industries.”
Daniel, like many of us, grew up in the beauty industry watching his dad run a salon with a commitment to sustainability long before it was a widespread concern. Daniel bonded with his dad repairing salon equipment, creating new life for chairs and bowls that would otherwise be thrown away. All of this laying the foundation for his passions and initiatives in the green community.
“We’re upcycling equipment. We’re doing what’s best for the environment. And now the world has caught up to my dad’s vision.”
The Green Beauty Community Foundation (GBC) serves as a central hub for all sustainable voices in our industry to come together, uplifting shared knowledge and community building. Alongside The GBC, Daniel runs The Salon Chair Guys, continuing his father’s legacy of salon equipment repair and restoration.
“We like to unite the voices of sustainability in the industry. It’s a paradigm shift from individuals working towards this goal in their own separate spaces and building a collaborative effort to champion sustainability and actually make the change that we’re all hungry to see.”
Daniel highlights how we can all start with small steps to get into greener habits. Simple actions, like unplugging hot tools or the salon wifi at night, can make a difference.
“It doesn’t matter where you are in your sustainable journey. If you’re just peeking your head in the door or you’re a zero-waste salon, we have space for you.”
In this episode, Daniel also talks about the issue of greenwashing and emphasizes that education, rather than criticism, is the key to changing beliefs and actions regarding sustainable choices.
And here’s a little teaser, Daniel shares exciting news about a new project from The GBC. Hint, we all can benefit and change the way we go about sustainability in our salons, barber shops, spas and more with this launch. To find out more about this free project, you’ll have to tune into the podcast.
Listen to the full episode here or wherever you stream and head over to our Instagrams @Readthetease and @volumeupbythetease.
