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Ecofficine: Building Sustainable and Inclusive Communities Through Education and Collaboration

Best practices

02 July 2025

Ecofficine: Building Sustainable and Inclusive Communities Through Education and Collaboration

Regenerative Green Transition

Skills

Working conditions and governance

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Ecofficine is a social cooperative fostering social and environmental sustainability through community-based initiatives. Their inclusive approach engages schools, public bodies, non-profits, businesses, and citizens, promoting active participation, collaborative networks, and shared responsibility. Their initiative offers valuable insights for educators, social economy actors, and local development practitioners working to strengthen proximity economies and build more inclusive, sustainable communities.

Authors

Editorial Team: Euricse

Topics
Geographical descriptors

Italy

Organisation Type

Local Authorities

National authorities

Networks and Federations / Confederations

NGOs / Non-profits

Regional Authorities

SMEs (a company with less than 250 employees)

Social Economy Entity

  • Thematic area

    • Regenerative Green Transition

    • Skills

    • Working conditions and governance

  • Interlinkages with other sectors

    • Proximity and social economy

    • Energy intensive industries

  • Action areas and keywords

    • Circular Economy

    • Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

    • Economic democracy

    • Education

    • Future workplaces

    • Greening infrastructures and business operations

    • Innovation

    • Innovation as enabler for green transition and business development in the social economy

    • Local employment

    • Local Green Deals, green business communities and citizens’ initiatives

    • Local Markets

    • New business models

    • Reinforcing Business to Business collaboration for greener and circular value chains

  • Ecosystem focus

    • Proximity economy

    • Social economy

  • Scope of activity

    • Local/neighbourhood

    • National

    • Regional

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Promoting Sustainable Culture

Founded in 2016, Ecofficine was created to promote a culture of sustainability by encouraging socially and environmentally responsible economic practices. The cooperative works to design collaborative and supportive communities, embedding the principles of sustainability into every project. For Ecofficine, sustainability is not a fixed destination but an ongoing journey, an active commitment reflected in each of their actions.

Ecofficine is founded on the belief that sustainability also means recognising the limits within which all community members must act. The cooperative is dedicated to building a solidarity-based and collaborative economy, placing people, relationships, and the environment at the heart of economic activity. Whether through launching new initiatives or replicating successful existing models, Ecofficine actively fosters a society in transition towards more equitable and sustainable ways of living.

An Inclusive and Participatory Approach

At the core of Ecofficine’s methodology is a strong focus on inclusiveness and participation. Their work is designed to involve all community stakeholders (citizens, public authorities, and businesses) encouraging a shared commitment to real change. The cooperative emphasises network collaboration and the empowerment of local actors to drive positive transformation within the territory.

A Skilled and Connected Team

Ecofficine relies on a close-knit team of experienced professionals from both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. Over the years, they have built a wide network of external collaborators, further enriching the cooperative’s expertise. Choosing to be a social cooperative reflects their commitment to solidarity, democratic principles, community spirit, and strong ties with the local area, always striving for a positive impact on the surrounding community.

Empowering Schools for a Sustainable Future

Ecofficine offers tailored educational programmes to schools of all levels, believing that education must embrace complexity to spark cultural shifts towards a fairer and more sustainable society. Their approach is participatory and designed to stimulate critical thinking, creativity, and imagination.

Their services for schools include:

  • Sustainability education programmes
  • Creative sustainability workshops
  • Project design and funding research support

 

Supporting Public Bodies and Non-Profits

Ecofficine assists public entities and non-profit organisations in project development, sustainability training, and organising events following the ISO 20121 sustainable event management standard. They promote participatory planning processes to ensure that community actors are genuinely engaged, resulting in initiatives that respond to local needs and deliver tangible benefits.

Their services for public and non-profit organisations include:

  • Participatory project design
  • Funding research
  • Sustainable event management
  • Sustainability-focused training programmes

 

Helping Businesses Embrace Sustainability

Ecofficine works closely with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help them understand the advantages of sustainability and improve their environmental and social impact through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices. Their goal is to help businesses balance economic, social, and environmental objectives, safeguarding the local area's resources for future generations.

Their services for businesses include:

  • CSR development
  • Sustainable event management
  • Sustainability training
  • Team building activities focused on sustainability
  • Support for the creation of Renewable Energy Communities (CER)

 

Engaging the Wider Community

Ecofficine organises training courses, informative meetings, and creative workshops open to everyone, actively promoting social and environmental sustainability. They prioritise citizen engagement as a dynamic and essential tool for increasing environmental awareness and supporting shared community-building projects. Ecofficine champions the spread of good practices that foster a solidarity-based economy capable of including all local actors.

Their services for the broader public include:

  • Informative and training events
  • Sustainable event organisation
  • Creative sustainability workshops
  • Support for the development of Renewable Energy Communities (CER)

 

Ecofficine stands as a dynamic example of how sustainability can be rooted in community action, education, and cross-sector collaboration. By cultivating partnerships, fostering participation, and embedding sustainability in every activity, Ecofficine is not only supporting immediate environmental and social goals but also nurturing a resilient and inclusive future for all. 

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