Clusters of solidarity economy

In Italy, Clusters of solidarity economy (DES Reggio Emilia, DES Brescia, DES Brianza, DES Altro Tirreno, DES Varese, DES Torino, DES Livorno) have as their primary objective the creation of economic spaces that are attentive to the local area, to the common good and to whatever else is needed to promote widespread wellbeing of the people who live there.

The set of actors involved weave closer relationships, sharing ideas, projects and horizons. This interweaving of realities and experiences gives rise to social and solidarity economy networks, in which the economic actors share the founding values and are committed to the development of relations and economic processes. The basic idea is that, overall, the individual network experiences can - as they grow - put together a new social-based economic system.
In order for the individual experiences to best respect the reference values and consolidate, it is important that the social and solidarity economy networks develop locally, forming clusters that operate in specific territories.

In this sense, the clusters are “laboratories” that aim to make the most of local resources and produce wealth in conditions of ecological and social sustainability, through the active participation of those involved who are committed to working for:
 a fair and socially sustainable economy, supporting a fair distribution of income, with transparent criteria in the definition of prices;
 ecological sustainability, creating an economy that respects the environment and integrates the environmental impact variable into the business model;
 valorization of the local dimension, giving priority to the production and consumption of local resources, both in terms of raw materials and energy, and of knowledge, traditional practices, relationships;
 active participation in defining and managing economic processes and relations with other players in their area.