The Better Planet Guide

There are five principles for sustainablei development in local economies:

Plug the leaks by using local renewable resources rather than externally-sourced.

Recycle financial resources within the system by buying local goods and services.

Add value to local produce before it is exported.

Connect up local stakeholders (people and institutions) to create trust, new linkages and more efficient exchanges.

Attract in external resources, especially money, skills and new technologies.

In detail:

. Plug the leaks by using local renewable resources rather than externally-sourced:

Sustainablei agriculture (that emphasises natural resource based technologies rather than fossil-fuel derived);
Local food systems and direct marketiing;
Buy local campaigns for businesses;
Renewable energyi generation (wind, water, tidal, biomass).

2. Recycle financial resources within the system by buying local goods and services:

Credit unions and other micro-finance;
LETS and local currencies;
Community banks and foundations.

3. Add value to local produce before it is exported:

Local food systems - farmers’ marketis, box schemes, CSAs; Green tourism;
Labelling, accreditation and traceability for food, fish and timber;
Local processing and manufacture.

4. Connect up local stakeholders (people and institutions) to create trust, new linkages and more efficient exchanges:

Buy local network for businesses;
Deliberative democracy and participatory governance methods for community planning and regeneration;
Strengthen local social institutions;
Farmers’ groups, community co-operatives.

5. Attract in external resources, especially money, skills and new technologies:

Buy local network for businesses;
Deliberative democracy and participatory governance methods for community planning and regeneration;
Strengthen local social institutions;
Farmers’ groups, community co-operatives.