Local sustainability on a global scale
In a lunch conversation today with Chris Varley, a talented local economic development leader in technology, it occured to me that there are forms of global commerce that lead to local sustainability.
One example would be when a local collaboration between an environmental design company and fabric company produces a cheap durable new bio-friendly (actually edible) fabric that can be used to create safe, temporary shelters for homeless families in emerging country villages devastated by war or natural disasters. The product provides value in locations where no other alternatives are available and adds economic value to the local innovators, producers and the value chain they interdepend with. Very smart.
