Purchasing

Think about how your purchasing habits affect the planet and the community where you live. It all comes back to the Triple Bottom Line; it should be good for the environment, the economy, and people.

Buying locally is good for the environment. 1. Materials travel a shorter distance, reducing costs and increasing profit--and less CO2 is produced. 2. You travel a shorter distance, reducing what you spend and the amount of time spent purchasing, and less CO2 is produced. 3. Local businesses are usually in a town center, reducing sprawl, habitat loss, and air pollution due to travel.

Buying locally is good for the economy. 1. Money spent locally remains in the local economy, supporting local businesses and the people who work there. 2. Our community becomes more self-sufficient and economically stable. 3. A healthy local business competition leads to good prices.

Buying locally is good for Society. 1. Thriving local businesses create cities and towns with great character, with interesting places to shop and live. 2. Local businesses hire local people. 3. Local business supports local efforts to make your community a better place to live. More information available from Local First.