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In order to confront the challenges of today's changing world conditions we need to build Community Resilience.

The promotion of local production by micro and small businesses will lead to job creation and revitalisation of local economies. A fundamental change in society could take place, from being big business driven to being community driven.

Low carbon footprint production and consumption, ethical business practices and living sustainably should be a priority for everyone. To combat climate change the whole community needs to be motivated not just those who are presently engaged.

EcoMart is a practical way to bring about change in these areas.

The plan of action is...

To set up producer/consumer cooperatives to distribute local produce and goods to village and neighbourhood shops and to consumers who order online.

Latest News

Our first Co-op, EcoMart Northern Rivers Co-op Ltd, is now ready to register producer and consumer members. Only residents of the Northern Rivers of NSW, Australia are able to register. If you are interested in starting a similar co-op in your region we may be able to help you do this.

EcoMart will promote...

LOCAL production, business, and economy - money is retained locally.
SUSTAINABLE goods, services, employment, community initiatives and individual lifestyles - small carbon footprint.
PRODUCER-BASED pricing - profit to producers not middlemen.
EDUCATION about sustainable products and services - transport miles and business practices.
INTERACTION with EcoMart distribution centres in other localities for redistribution of surplus goods.

How will this work?

The plan is to form a network of EcoMart distribution centres, which will be owned by incorporated community organisations with the above aims. These will be run on a low profit basis which will be returned to the community for resilience building. The distribution centres will supply existing local stores, and in areas where extra shops are needed these can be set up and run by local community groups. National support teams in IT, procurement, sustainability evaluation, education and marketing will be formed to provide services for the local EcoMarts.

In practice the retail outlets will procure a range of produce and goods with the emphasis on local from the EcoMart distribution centre, making neighbourhood shops more competitive with the major supermarkets and encouraging people to shop in their own neighbourhood. Without the transport costs, distribution fees, and excessive profits of the large supermarket chains, EcoMart should be able to supply groceries at low enough prices for the retail outlets to compete with the large supermarket chains. The EcoMart retail outlets will be encouraged to work with reasonable profit margins, allowing a comfortable living for owners and employees, but keeping prices compeditive.

Sustainability ratings will be displayed on all goods offered for sale and used to inform and educate consumers.

All primary producers and manufacturers, will be asked to perform a self-assessment in relation to the goods they provide. Compliance will be verified at random. Retail outlets and other enterprises will be asked to incorporate an Evironmental Mangement System and will be encouraged to improve their sustainability rating on a continuous basis.

A computerised supply chain, stock and accounting system with producer and consumer interface will be core to the operation. On bringing goods to the distribution centres or direct to retail outlets, the producer will enter his/her preferred price and a minimal levy will be added for running the EcoMart distribution centres, EcoMart national support teams, and for community benefit. In this way the producer controls the price. If the goods do not sell he/she may alter the price or retrieve goods.

The goods are labelled with a bar code (linked to the computer database) indicating price and sustainability rating of the product or service. The consumer may check product and enterprise information via the bar-code on any product using an in-store information terminal. At point of sale, reading of the bar code results in electronic payment to the producer at the specified price.

EcoMart distribution centres will be networked so that excess goods can be transferred according to local, regional and national demands.

Goods from other centres will have lower sustainability ratings due to distance travelled, type of transport used and storage requirements. In this case, increased levies will be charged at point of sale.

The purpose of the EcoMart Wiki is to further develop the proposed EcoMart strategy with the input of as many people as possible. For this to work please:

1. Give us a minute of your time to vote in the EcoMart Poll (right hand side) as we need feedback from you as soon as possible.

2. If you think EcoMart, or something like it is a good idea, read the pages that interest you (see menu on left) and place comments based on your experience on any page. You can do this anonymously, but please register so we can incorporate your ideas in the EcoMart strategy.

3. By registering, you will be able to edit pages and you will become a copyright owner of the content of the EcoMart Wiki. (See"Editor How To" on left)

4. If you are unable to participate at this time, but want to follow the progress of EcoMart, subscribe to our newsletter. (On the right)

5. Please, email or phone us if you would like more information, or are interested in setting up EcoMart in your area.

Please note the EcoMart strategy is not associated with or sponsored by any other organisation. EcoMart is envisioned to be a totally independent community owned entity focussed on building community resilience. 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead