Not Just About the Environment. Case Study of the Solidarity Purchasing Group, in Italy: A Niche of Sustainable Innovation

Abstract

The development of the global market has contributed to environmental degradation. It has encouraged long production chains in which food loses its identity (Migliore et al., 2014), the consumer is not aware of the origin of the food he buys, and the small producer struggles to move forward. In response to this production and purchase model, new consumption and sales strategies are born, focused on the search for identity, relationships and sustainability (Soron, 2011): it is the case of the Solidarity Purchasing Group. The SPG promotes organic agriculture, the value of solidarity, justice for workers, transparency and local economy.