The Solidarity Emporiums and Their Role in Achieving Economic and Socio-Cultural Sustainability

The chapter explores the characteristics and effectiveness of solidarity emporiums as a new form of service for poverty and hunger relief in urban contexts. Unlike traditional food donation methods, the emporiums prioritize individual agency and empowerment, promoting personalized approaches to addressing needs. They combine market exchange with mediated access to food, creating opportunities for socialization, cultural capital development, and individual growth among beneficiaries. However, challenges remain, such as the need to integrate the emporium service with economic and housing support and educational initiatives for basic cooking and food management skills. The case study of the Emporio Sociale in Bra exemplifies how emporiums can work and support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.