Civic consumption explained

Civic consumption is a model for social change that leverages shared buying power to reward socially responsible businesses. The model operates by gathering groups of consumers to leverage the group's size in order to expand access to a particular good or service.^[1]

History

The term first appeared in 2013, in a Fast Company article featuring Groundswell co-founder, Will Byrne.^[2] The model has been used in the clean energy sector by Groundswell. The model has expanded to increasingly include hybrid organizations.^[3]

In 2013, Groundswell launched the Civic Consumption Network.

This network includes organizations such as Freelancers Union, First Book, EveryoneOn, and Common Market.^[4] In December 2013, with the support of the Ford Foundation, the Rita Allen Foundation, and the Kendeda Fund, Groundswell hosted a national summit to discuss strategies for social change.^[5] Notable attendees included Sara Horowitz of the Freelancers Union, Andrew Kassoy of B Lab, and Lewis of the U.S. Green Building Council.

See also

• Collective buying power
• Group purchasing organization

Notes and References

1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashoka/2013/12/23/4-innovators-using-civic-consumption-to-change-the-world/ "4 Innovators Using Civic Consumption to Change the World"
2. http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679995/purchasing-power-is-social-impact-power "Purchasing Power is Social Impact Power"
3. http://www.fastcoexist.com/1680757/how-civic-consumption-can-drive-change-in-business-as-usual "How Civic Consumption Can Drive Change in Business as Usual"
4. http://www.shareable.net/blog/civic-consumption-puts-the-we-in-the-sharing-economy "Civic Consumption Puts the We in the Sharing Economy"
5. http://civicconsumption.org/ "Civic Consumption Summit 2013"