Power of Small Signals
Power of Small Signals - How Small Choices Impact the Big Picture
We hear it all the time: “Just a few corporations are responsible for all the damage.”
You’ve probably seen the posts, 9 companies cause 155% of global emissions, 4 create ~614% of the world’s plastic trash (give or take… you get the idea).
The message? If they changed, everything would be fixed. And sure, that’s not wrong. But it’s also not the whole story.
At best, it’s a comforting oversimplification. At worst, it’s psychological warfare designed to keep things exactly as they are. (I lean toward the latter.)
Because while the big guys are doing the damage, they’re only able to because we haven’t stopped them.
Let me explain:
According to the Fed, consumer spending makes up about 70% of the U.S. economy. That means we, the buyers, are the real power players.
Yes, we may be small individually, but if we get the motion just right, we’re mind blowing.
Now, there are two ways to create change in this system:
Option 1: Legislation.
Sure, one well-written bill could flip the script, but if you believe that’s likely in our current political climate, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
I’m not anti-political solutions, just realistic. Most lawmakers are bankrolled by the very companies profiting from environmental destruction.
Option 2: We do it ourselves.
We stop feeding the beast. And we start supporting something better.
Here’s my (simple but powerful) 2-step plan:
Step 1: Cut off the tap.
Where you spend your money matters. A lot.
Take Target. In early 2025, they quietly abandoned their DEI commitments. People noticed. A boycott followed. Their stock plummeted 30%, triggered by just a 1.7% dip in sales.
That pressure worked. DEI is back at Target.
Not because they wanted to change, but because they were forced to.
Step 2: Support the change makers.
The problem with legacy companies? Their DNA is built for profit above all else.
That means exploitation, manipulation, and oceans of plastic.
In hair care, four companies own 70% of the top 10 brands, most of them selling you overpriced (bad) bottled water (bad) in a single-use container (super bad).
At SeaBar, we think there’s a better way.
✔️ Less plastic
✔️ Less water waste
✔️ Less shipping pollution
✔️ Lower cost
✔️ Ocean cleanup funded with every bar sold
If you see SeaBar as a change maker, we’d be honored to wash your hair.
👉 Discover a better way to wash your hair at seabar.com.
– Greg
