LoREco
Towards a local regenerative economy in Lichtervelde
A collaboration between Happonomy, Howest, Muntuit and Fairfin
Who works on LoREco
Happonomy joined forces with three other organizations, all committed to sustainable transition.
About the Project
LoREco stands for "Local Regenerative Economy" - an innovative project implemented in Lichtervelde, West Flanders, aimed at developing local economic models that support both social and ecological priorities.
In a world where globalization and centralization often lead to alienation from local communities, LoREco offers an alternative: an economic system that literally grows "from the ground up" in Lichtervelde and respects and strengthens the unique needs and values of this local community.
The project developed concrete tools and methodologies to stimulate the local economy of Lichtervelde, including an innovative payment app that facilitates local exchange and rewards community members for regenerative activities within the municipality.
Key Results
Economic Model
Development of a comprehensive economic framework that stimulates local exchange and regenerative practices.
Payment App
Technological solution that facilitates local transactions and connects community members through an innovative reward system.
Pilot Implementation
One-year pilot in a Flemish city to test and refine the system in practice.
Consortium Collaboration
Collaboration within a larger consortium to share knowledge and create collective impact.
Project Videos & Presentations
These videos are in Dutch.
LoREco Project Introduction
An overview of the LoREco project and the local regenerative economy.
Local Complementary Currencies
How local currencies contribute to a sustainable economy.
Partnership & Collaboration
The collaboration between Happonomy, Howest, Muntuit and Fairfin.
Implementation & Results
The practical implementation of LoREco and the results achieved.
Impact & Vision
"LoREco demonstrates that economy can be more than just growth and competition. It can be a force for community building, ecological restoration and human wellbeing."— Happonomy Team
What We Learned
LoREco was an ambitious and wide-ranging project. The road was sometimes bumpy, but every challenge produced valuable insights — for Happonomy and for anyone who wants to work with local, regenerative economic systems.
Learning by playing beats learning by listening
When around fifty Lichtervelde residents played the SumSy card game, they experienced first-hand how a different monetary system changes stress levels and wealth distribution. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Hands-on, playful methods are one of the most powerful ways to make complex ideas truly click.
Pair theory with real stories
Economic models are compelling on paper, but concrete examples from other complementary currency or basic income projects also resonate emotionally. An approach that combines rigorous analysis with tangible, human stories reaches a far broader audience.
Introduce innovation layer by layer
Introducing several groundbreaking concepts all at once is a steep climb for any community. Rolling them out gradually — starting with the most essential — gives people the time to understand, trust and embrace each new idea before the next one arrives.
Build on what already exists
Joining established forums and exploring existing technology platforms — rather than building everything from scratch — saves significant time and resources. It also connects you instantly to an audience that is already engaged and curious.
Define 'done' before you start
Clear goals, concrete milestones and a shared definition of done for every deliverable keep a project on track and ensure all partners share the same expectations from day one — preventing a great deal of frustration down the line.
Agility is a strength, not a compromise
Working in short cycles with regular retrospectives allowed the LoREco team to spot what could be improved and adjust course quickly — before small issues became large ones. Flexibility within a structured framework proved to be one of the project's greatest assets.
Project Tags
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