For an Economy Rooted in Care and Regeneration
Amid ecological crises and capitalist failures, the prosumer economy offers a caring, just, and collaborative alternative.
Through platforms like Good4Trust, a growing movement is demonstrating that solidarity, trust, and regeneration can replace profit and exploitation at the heart of economic life.
For listeners who might not be familiar with the term, what exactly is the prosumer economy?
The term “prosumer” is a portmanteau of “producer” and “consumer.” The idea is that nothing in nature is only a producer or only a consumer, everything is both. Humans, forests, fungi, economic entities, all are prosumers.
The prosumer economy is modeled after nature. Imagine it as an ecosystem, like a rainforest, where everything is interdependent, circular, and regenerative. The Amazon, for example, is the most profitable economy on Earth, not in terms of money, but in the richness it provides to all life. The prosumer economy seeks to replicate that kind of abundance and reciprocity.
That’s a powerful image. Is the prosumer economy similar to the circular economy?
Not quite. The circular economy is a step forward, but it still operates within the capitalist, growth-driven paradigm. It’s more of an efficiency tool. The prosumer economy calls for a complete paradigm shift, one where relationships are built on justice and mutual care, not accumulation.
The prosumer economy calls for a complete paradigm shift, one where relationships are built on justice and mutual care, not accumulation.
Let’s talk about Good4Trust. What’s the story behind it?
I’ve spoken about building a new kind of economy but talk alone isn’t enough. We needed to do something. Good4Trust is that action.
It’s a digital public utility that enables micro, small, and medium enterprises, from cooperatives to social businesses, to sell their goods and services in an ethical marketplace. We have a complementary currency called “trust,” and the whole system is built to support ecological and social justice.
Today, Good4Trust hosts over 830 enterprises and 27,000 users. Think of it as a digital grove, not yet a forest, but growing, where solidarity and sustainability drive every transaction.
How do you measure the impact of Good4Trust?
We measure several things. First, the circulation of our complementary currency, “trust.” Around 200,000 units have been generated so far, and we track how much circulates within the ecosystem.
We also assess how producers evolve. Enterprises start as “intentional,” then progress to “determined,” and eventually to “fair” producers, depending on how much they align with ecological and social justice principles.
And of course, we track economic flow, how much money is going into these values-driven enterprises.
What happens when producers make misleading sustainability claims?
Our platform is built on trust. If a producer makes a claim that turns out to be inaccurate, we don’t shame them, we engage with them. Often, they believe what they’re doing is sustainable, and they want to do better.
We see it as a learning process. Our community supports each other in finding better alternatives, in peer-to-peer ways. Because our producers aren’t focused on maximizing profit, there’s more room for honest self-reflection and improvement.
If a producer makes a misleading sustainability claim, we don’t shame them, we engage with them.
I read that Good4Trust is open source. Can others replicate this model?
Yes, sort of. While we make our code freely available, just having the code isn’t enough. Running a platform like this takes deep commitment and know-how.
So instead, we use a “social franchising” model. We help groups in other countries or regions set up their own versions, with their own branding if they want. We’ve attempted this in Chile, South Africa, and are now working with groups in Germany.
We also have the Prosumer Economy Network, where any group can join if they follow our core principles, even if they don’t use our software.
Looking ahead, where do you see Good4Trust in the next ten years?
Our vision is to grow the ecosystem, not just Good4Trust, but the wider prosumer movement. In Turkey, we’re collaborating with initiatives like Çiftçiden Eve (farm to fork) and Local Makers.
Our software enables local ecosystems to thrive, even municipalities like Izmit and Merkezefendi have their own “bazaars” on the platform. Think of it as different ecosystems, lakes, savannas, forests, all part of the same larger biome.
Ultimately, our goal is not just to grow a platform, but to transform the economy itself.
Dr. Uygar Özesmi has shared the philosophy and practice behind the prosumer economy. His work with Good4Trust shows us that a more just and regenerative economy is not only possible, it’s already being built.
Want to learn more or become part of this transformation? Visit Good4Trust.org and discover how you can join a growing movement of producers and consumers working together for the planet and each other.