Melissa Corkhill

By Melissa Corkhill

23rd November 2016

Shopping in local stores is better for the earth

Melissa Corkhill

By Melissa Corkhill

23rd November 2016

Melissa Corkhill

By Melissa Corkhill

23rd November 2016

Friends of the Earth estimate that only one to two per cent of supermarket turnover comes from food obtained from providers within thirty miles of their shops.

There is an environmental price to pay for being able to buy Peruvian asparagus in October and Egyptian strawberries during our winter. This involves more ‘food miles’, possibly using artificial preservation, making unnecessary packaging and creates more pollution than would be necessary if the food was purchased from a local business.

And even if a supermarket has, for example, Norfolk potatoes on its shelves, it’s likely that they were dug up in the county, transported elsewhere for processing and packaging, and then delivered to stores around the country, including those in this region.

Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation, and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss, and pollution. Shopping local means no need for long car journeys to out of town stores.

Win £100 and a subscription

Take a photo of you in your favourite local shop and post it with #greenparentmag and #lovelocal. Competition closes at midnight on 27th November. We’ll choose a winner to receive £100 cash and a subscription to The Green Parent magazine on 29th November.

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