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Sustainable Activity Centres by Join us in the SAC

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Pitch

The equivalent of a stadium to the sports industry. A sustainable-activity-centre is a local synergistic venue promoting eco-options.


Description

Summary

Local communities can benefit immensely with a synergistic 'hub' that actively promotes the local sustainable sector. A venue to display and promote local 'green' products, activities, events that are available and in reach for the individual consumer. A venue to run a calendar of in-house activities to educate and spark the active uptake of sustainable behaviors and entice the public to invest in sustainable products.

A SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITY CENTRE (SAC) will be a resource (venue) utilized by anyone and everyone, business and personal, to promote and engage the general public in utilizing or purchasing from the sustainable sector to produce a cumulative outcome. In the same way that a Sports Centre congregates and provides space for like-minded individuals to participate in sporting activities and promote and market sporting products and services, a sustainable centre will provide the location for congregation,  participation and marketing for the sustainable sector.

A business model had been created for the setup and running of a SAC with a pilot Centre expected to be open in April 2016 to provide investors with a functioning profitable example.


What actions do you propose?

The current economic way of life places extreme value on consumerism and retail. The exact things that are contributing to civilities unsustainable thirst for purchase and resource use. 

Retail, in general, exists to ease a consumer into purchase.  It's not just a shop with what you want, it's a place where you know you could speak to an expert about the newest and best product that you may need, or to be convinced to spend your income on a purchase that is best suited to your needs.  It's comfortable knowing your purchase comes from a place where you can compare various options and purchase the most appropriate for your situation.   A place were you can touch, feel, pickup, demo and see in action the thing you are spending your hard earned money on. 

Climate change is missing its retail branch.  Most people want to do something to improve their footprint, they want to incorporate sustainability into their lives but are left with a sense of unease at the disjoined delivery of hands-on practical solutions. And the climate change solutions are as varied as the options in Costco.  From organic backyard vegetable patches to investing in fossil clean banking.  What's missing is the place to match the consumer to the product.

But its simple, get people into a site to browse and learn what options are available to them and they will likely spend their time, energy, effort and more importantly money, on a solution.

Marketing local green business and promotion of local products and services (for example organic food to renewable technology) The SAC provides the suppliers and producers with 'shelf space' and direct marketing opportunities while it engages the public and stimulates a behavioral (purchase) shift by providing the community with a venue to become actively involved and enlightened.

The local Sustainable Activity Centre will display various options available to consumers on how to maintain a comfortable lifestyle with less of a footprint.  By holding an in-house calendar of events to draw a crowd and utilize these events (such as education sessions or workshops) to promote the message of positive actions towards climate stability a cumulative community outcome can be achieved.


Who will take these actions?

Investors in the form of private businesses, to build capacity and equity to establish the venues.  While the many local suppliers and producers of sustainable products and services will be the drivers.


Where will these actions be taken?

Globally, every city can benefit from a SAC. 

Each community is as individual as the physical layout of the town in inhabits.  The size and structure of each SAC should be determined to best suit the area.  Much like any other retail business, the supply and demand concept should be a key component in deciding the necessity and profitability of opening a SAC.

This concept is a distinct 'missing link in the chain' for every continent and every city in the world. However the first SAC will be operational as a pilot in the city of Wodonga in Victoria, Australia in 2016.

 


How will these actions have a high impact in addressing climate change?

People are educated about climate issues and also provided a direct link to the suppliers of the solution.  It's going to takes big business to invest and divest to change anything. By providing the customers with options at their fingertips, each purchase will contribute to negating climate changes at an individual level, but also as a collective the consumers are able to cast a vote with each dollar they spend to influence the business sector.

For every dollar spent in the sustainability sector that dollar is lost from the climate change business as usual model.


What are other key benefits?

The SAC is also a site for information dissemination.  From international success stories and global trends to local awards and local political agendas, information can be made accessible and dissemination can be done easily.


What are the proposal’s costs?

Establishment costs are dependent on the business model established to address the communities needs. 


Time line

SHORT TERM

An initial pilot is expected to be established and opened by April 2016 in Wodonga, Victoria, Australia.

LONG TERM

A global spread


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References