Organizational structure
It is possible to identify three different kind of organization for Ethic Purchasing Groups, each group, depending on its own need and characteristics can choose the type that fits better its demands.
The first typology is the informal one, in which components choose not to formalize an agreement, but to use a less strict structure of organization. This kind of group adopts shared regulations / guidelines in which are described in detail their activities, completely carried out by the components, without implying any additional cost for the product purchase. Little groups of people, who look for a more flexible organization, prefer this kind of organization.
Another kind of structure is characterized by the collaboration with existent associations or cooperatives. To join the EPG, participants have to be also members of the association, and all the collective purchases have to be planned as one of the goals of the association. The advantages of this organization reside in the availability of wide spaces, at disposal or property of the association, for the storage of great quantities of goods, and in the guarantee of a regular accounting managing. Naturally, all these services imply additional costs, for this reason there is a price increase on the products bought.
The last organizational type consist in an EPG that decides to constitute an association. This is often a choice made by a large or an increasing group that want to obtain more autonomy and a more definite identity, in order to access capitals destined to associations, to dispose municipal spaces or to acquire new ones. To make it possible, it is necessary to draft the memorandum and the articles of association and to lodge / deposit them at the registry. The aim of this kind of association envisage the collective purchase and, in order to behave fairly, is very important that this new entity would be a no-profit-making one. The association has to register all the income and expenditure, all the receipts has to be put in the association’ s name, all the purchases have to be made only for the association’ s members. Usually all members pay a share of participation to help sustaining of the costs or, otherwise, it is possible to apply a price increase on the products.
The most spread structure is the informal one, both for small and big groups. Undoubtedly, this represent the less demanding organization type that counts on the reciprocal trust of the participants.
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