September 2007

• Spread the word! Become a Purchaser!
• Why buy local?
• Job satisfaction hasn't improved
• Links of the Month

Spread the word! Become a Purchaser!

Signing up on our site as a social purchaser means you support the efforts of progressive companies who are trying to support the lives of their employees beyond just financial compensation. If you support these values (defined by our Social Purchasing Asset Model), then consider signing up as a Social Purchaser on our site today by clicking on 'Purchaser Sign-Up'. If you have already signed up, then send an email to people you know from other businesses who share the same values.

Why buy local?

Tastes better, supports local farmers and saves on transportation and unnecessary packaging. Next time you shop, consider where those products are made and try to buy local, or go to a farmer's market instead of the grocery store. Ottawa has a Buy Local Food Guide, and there are a number of other efforts to encourage people to buy local as well. The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies promotes local efforts towards sustainability, and there is a group in Calgary trying to get a BALLE chapter off the ground.

Job satisfaction hasn't improved

A new study found that job security, earnings, and workplace health and safety have improved. However, job satisfaction and participation in job-related training have stagnated, while other indicators have worsened -- including work-life balance, job stress and union membership. Read this Calgary Herald article here.

Links of the Month

• Zerofootprint (www.zerofootprint.net) provides products and services for individuals, organizations and cities to help reduce their environmental footprint.
• Consumers' Choice Awards (www.ccaward.com/new/ce/listing.asp?city=Calgary&cat=0) winners are determined by consumers and not by a panel of judges. It covers a broad range of categories of interest to the public and the to business community. Its purpose is to publicly identify those establishments which have been voted by consumers as being their choice for excellence.

If you have good links to share, pass them along!

Go to:
• Current Issue
• Back Issues
• Subscribe to the SPP Newsletter