Consuming locally-produced goods is one important part of being a responsible consumer. By supporting local businesses and production, you can directly support your community while also supporting responsible and sustainable practices. For the month of October, we’ll focus on the benefits of local consumption and how supporting local empowers you as the buyer.
What are the envionmental benefits of buying local food?
- Proximity reduces carbon footprint and energy that would otherwise be used for transport
- Protects local land and wildlife
- Supports fresh food and local sustainable practices
Why is it important to support local businesses?
- Supports the arts and other crafts that cannot be mass-produced
- Supports community members’ financial security
- Your purchasing power (what you do with your money) can be used to advance social missions and causes
Additional Resources for Local Consumption:
Check out page from Sustainability For All and the University of Waterloo on local consumption
Carolina Dining Services’ (CDS) sustainable practices in their Annual Sustainability Report
Program Ideas:
- Organize a workday with your residents at the Carolina Community Garden to learn more about an organic, local approach to growing food for UNC’s lowest-income employees
- Take a trip to the Carrboro Farmer’s Market, Weaver Street Market, or the Black Farmer’s Market on Sundays in Durham to explore local vendors and food practices
- Plan a program or bulletin board surrounding the strong, inexpensive, local infrastructure for recycling in North Carolina and the southeast region to create local products