The benefits of buying local
Our decision to buy local – i.e. from locally-owned businesses – or purchase our goods from a larger chain has an impact on smaller businesses and our local communities Tweet This!, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rebecca Moses of Groom + Style in the article “Buying Local: Benefits, Methods, and Tips” draws attention to the fact that approximately 45 percent of revenue spent at a locally-owned business, as opposed to 14 percent of the revenue spent in a chain store, stays in the local community.
What can we buy local? Local independent retail, local produce or foods, liquors, beers or wines, ordered meals from local restaurants and other local business partnerships are some options to choose from.
Why should we buy local?
There is a wide range of benefits when shopping locally for local businesses, the local individuals who run and work at these businesses, local families, and local communities as a whole:
- Health benefits: Communities with a greater level of small businesses tend to have greater levels of population health. Buying local food (fresh and local crops that did not have far to travel) might also help you cook better than before. Local food production will often have fewer harmful preservatives, and you can know where these foods come from, what’s in them, and who made them.
- Environmental benefits: Smaller, local farms preserve genetic diversity in agriculture and produce, thus promoting biodiversity among the surrounding ecosystems. Most local farms also practice responsible land development and have lower water and carbon footprints compared to big agriculture. For example, local businesses have to use less packaging, meaning less waste, fewer plastics, and reduced carbon emissions from shipping.
- Social benefits: When shopping locally, you support your neighbours and individuals who you may know personally, helping local shop owners get by in times of crisis. Telling your friends about the local shops you support, where you are buying from and what they offer, helps you to network and become a trusted resource among your friends. You also make connections with local businesses that will appreciate your support. During social distancing, you can additionally tag the shops on your social media and indicate where you are.
- Economic benefits: Economic prosperity among smaller businesses often means a better quality of life for the wider community. Buying local is an investment in businesses that pay local taxes and source from other local businesses, thus promoting the development of better public services and prosperity among the greater population. Most importantly, buying locally helps preserve and create local jobs, boosting the local economy and community.
References:
This article is based on published information by Groom + Style. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:
https://groomandstyle.com/buying-local-benefits-methods-and-tips/
ALSO READ:
How are businesses benefiting the societies and economies they are relying on for growth and profit?
78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards
SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.
Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.
FBRH GRI Standards Certified & IEMA recognised Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE
By registering for the next FBRH GRI Standards Certified & IEMA recognised course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.
Most importantly, you will gain the knowledge to use the GRI Standards, project manage your own first-class sustainability report and:
- Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and Society
- Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP