Buying Local

Buying local is a hot – and very important – topic.  From what I can tell, people generally want to buy local for one of two primary reasons: environmental or economical.  They either want to decrease the environmental burden placed on the earth due to business operations such as manufacturing, warehousing, long distance shipping, and consumer activity, or they want to support their local and national economies.  Or better yet, both.

I wholeheartedly agree that buying local is important, particularly when it comes to the health benefits of locally grown organic foods.  But interestingly, did you know that it is actually possible, albeit perhaps rather uncommon, for companies halfway around the world to be even more beneficial to both the planet and local economies?  Seems odd, doesn’t it?  Whether they are a local, national, or international enterprise, take the time to ask deeper questions about any company’s environmental and business practices, and you just may be surprised by what you discover.

What is the best example I’ve personally seen and can offer you of this seemingly backwards phenomenon?

When I first stumbled upon the company whose personal care products I have chosen for my family based on a great deal of research (and for whom I now also do consulting work), their location in another country across the globe was a concern to me.  But when I did more digging to verify their environmental and business practices with third-party sources, I was shocked to find that the seriousness with which this company takes its environmental and social responsibilities as a global organization could actually make their products a better choice even from so far away.

As just two quick environmental examples: green manufacturing and green transport.  Miessence runs their manufacturing and warehousing facilities on wind power for zero emissions, and they work with a non-profit reforestation organization to plant trees in excess of what they would need to plant to merely offset their own global shipping burden.  In effect, they are doing more than their share, thus helping offset the excess impact from the many companies who do little or nothing to offset their eco-footprints.  In addition to being the first brand in the world to achieve personal care products certified organic to food grade standards, which supports organic farmers around the globe, they were also the first personal care and wellness company to achieve carbon negative business operations.  This really impressed me.  When I go to a local store to make a purchase of any kind, how often is the total ecological footprint – including the manufacturing, warehousing, and shipping of goods to retail stores, plus the impact of my own drive to the store – actually offset in its entirety and then some?

And what about economically speaking?  There are two parts to this in the case of Miessence, and you can apply similar principles and questions to any company whose goods, of any kind, you are considering.  First, Miessence bolsters the global economy by supporting national economies all over the world via the ethical, fair-trade sourcing of their certified organic ingredients.  From my perspective as a US citizen, therefore, I was glad to learn that many of the ingredients they use, particularly in their superfood products, are sourced from the US, thereby supporting our farmers who are committed to organic, sustainable agriculture.  (And of course, this is actually a double benefit to both the economy and environment.)

Secondly, let’s talk about job creation.  Are there companies from whom you could choose to buy online with little or no benefit to your local economy, and who contribute a limited number of jobs often in only one location?  Sure.  But there are also socially progressive companies structured in such a way as to bring business empowerment and work opportunities onto the ground in whatever country or state they operate.  In my opinion, this was another huge benefit of Miessence – they have the potential to provide hundreds or even thousands of meaningful work opportunities, part or full time, for people in regions all across the country and globe.  And now more than ever, with US unemployment at record highs, every new opportunity for fulfilling work created here in our country, states, and neighborhoods, whether from a local or international company, is a significant benefit.