3.9a local sourcing

Question 1

bristol

Answer 1

in 2012, Bristol introduced a ‘Bristol Pound’ (community currency)
encourages people to spend in local, independent businesses in Bristol rather than national chain stores

Question 2

costs of local sourcing

Answer 2

• services such as transport are co-ordinated centrally so they are hard to influence
• consumers can miss out price benefits of competition in national and regional markets
• global trade means that commodities are produced in the most resource-efficient location e.g. flowers in Kenya

Question 3

benefits of local sourcing

Answer 3

• every £10 spent in local business is actually worth £23 to the local economy
  
  • multiplier effect
  • local people gain employment and involvement
• a transition group n Brixton raised £130,000 to install a community-owned power station
• less dependent on international trade

Question 4

transition towns

Answer 4

some local groups and non-governmental organisations promote local sourcing of goods to increase sustainability

e.g. Totnes in Devon was the world’s first ‘Transition Town’

by 2016, Transition towns became a movement of communities in 50 countries

• attempting to reduce their carbon footprints and improve their resilience
• about 40 community-scale Transition initiatives across London
• increases self-sufficiency

Question 5

what does local sourcing promote?

Answer 5

• reducing consumption by repairing/ reusing
• reducing waste, pollution and environmental damage
• meeting local needs through local production