Meet the first local chapter in Turkey

The ECOnGOOD movement has over 170 chapters in 35 different countries. The newest addition to this list it the local chapter in Turkey formed after the 2025 Next Economies Summit in Istambul, where ECOnGOOD ws one of the global partners. Communication Manager, Science & Research and EU Policy Coordinator at ECOnGOOD, Sophie Gripenberg, had the chance to introduce the Economy for the Common Good (ECG) to participants. Some were excited about the possibility of collaborating with these ideas and organisation from their home country and decided to create a local chapter right away!

ECOnGOOD: How do you think economic systems change from one territory to another?

​Turkey LC: Economic systems stem from our need to interact as social animals. Our basic needs, our cultures, and our habits form systems of exchange for goods and services. Throughout history, they have evolved many times in different forms and paces around the globe. We can continue living in systems that are doomed to collapse because of their exploitative nature, or, we can choose to change them for the common good.

​We can observe extractive and cooperative systems within and between countries. Some try to overpower each other, exploiting resources and cultures. However, there are also resilient structure that protect cooperation, solidarity and common good over competition. The main differences in one territory to another come from a history of struggle and resilience. Tools like the the Common Good Balance Sheet make these differences visible and measurable. Through institutions like ECOnGOOD, these differences can pave the way to the positive change we need as a collective.

ECOnGOOD: Was it an easy call to organise a local chapter?

Turkey LC: There were many people who were excited about the concrete solutions to measure the wellbeing of businesses, the planet and people. We are slowly forming a small but confident team that is determined to spread the word about ECOnGOOD. However, we are aware that creating a group might be easier than sustaining it. Sustaining momentum requires commitment, clarity of roles, and long-term vision. We know that voluntary movements depend on trust and shared purpose. This is why we are investing time in building strong internal foundations from the beginning. Hopefully, we will set the proper systems in place for our LC to flourish and raise the voices of businesses that care about the wellbeing of humans and nature.

ECOnGOOD: Do you believe that organisations and companies in Turkey are open to applying ECG tools?

Turkey LC: As in many places around the world, we believe some firms are open but some won’t be because they are fixated on short term profit over long term wellbeing of humans and the planet. Yet, we believe that by spreading the word and organizing awareness events, we can persuade more and more businesses to join the movement.

ECOnGOOD: What plans does your local chapter have for 2026?

​Turkey LC: We hope to get used to our monthly meetings, expand our members, and form committees for events, education, and businesses. We plan to hold discussions around topics such as how systemic change can be done, and what is our role and solidarity in this change. The committees will be:
1) Members & Events
2) Economics Education for the Future
3) Business to join the ECOnGOOD movement

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Local Chapters form the backbone of our movement. Activists work to help implement ECG through events, forging relations with local businesses and nurturing strong networks. Creating an ECOnGOOD local chapter is an important first step in creating a global citizen’s movement to help fulfill the vision of the Economy for the Common Good. Check our website to see if there is a local chapter in your area or find out how you can create a chapter.

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