Why Go Local?

       Have you ever wandered the streets of town and stumbled across a family owned restaurant or a local art shop? It’s places like these that give a community character, connect its citizens, and allow for sustainable living. One of the most convenient ways to incorporate sustainability into everyday routine is by shopping locally rather than from mass-market shopping centers.

Source: Flickr

            Keeping it local creates a sense of connection and charm, from which sustainability comes naturally. Money and resources remain within the community, and less nonrenewable resources are used in production and transport. Mass-producing and shipping products sold in chain stores consumes thousands of calories in fossil fuels (non-renewable energy forms that emit carbon dioxide) and wastes paper, plastic and other packaging materials. Goods produced close to home require significantly less transport and packaging and support the local economy. Buying directly from local businesses also reduces vehicle pollution, since they are often located in city centers where people walk rather than drive.

            The “Buy Local” movement is quickly gaining momentum, especially in the food industry. Your lunchtime salad is more environmentally costly than you might think; shipping and packaging one bag of lettuce across the US requires 4,600 calories of fossil fuel. Foodies everywhere agree that fruits and veggies bought from local farms are fresher, healthier, and save energy because they require less transport. Locally grown foods are easily found at farmer’s stands or farmer’s markets. Some shopping centers (Whole Foods, for example) even stock locally grown options, providing a convenient and accessible way to access goods produced within the community.

Source: Flickr

            Being mindful of where your meals come from isn’t the only way to enjoy all your local area has to offer; buying a locally made handcrafted scarf or furnishing your home with a painting by a local artist are also fun ways to live sustainably. A business working in harmony with local artisans provides a responsible and environmentally conscious method of production. Alabama Chanin, and eco-friendly company founded by Alabama native Natalie Chanin, employs local artisans from Florence, Alabama to handcraft unique garments and home products. The hand-sewn pieces are created from a combination of new, organic, and recycled materials, and focus is on sustainability through the slow-design process. Working collaboratively with local designers allows businesses like Alabama Chanin to offer meaningful, sustainable and one-of-a-kind products.

            Supporting the locals is a reward in itself, with sustainability a fortunate side effect. Locally crafted items offer individuality, a quality the cookie-cutter products from a factory hundreds of miles away lack. Making efforts to buy local, such as picking up a couple of fresh peaches from a farmer’s market, or buying an in-town artist’s jewelry, allows for a more personal and eco-friendly shopping experience. So be adventurous: the next time you pass by an independent boutique or a vendor selling fresh fruit, take a moment to stop, look around, and connect with some fellow locals. Sustainability is simple, rewarding, and can be found in your very own neighborhood.


-- Claire Ruhlin, Community Intern