Loopami: local communities for giving, lending and exchanging objects
Loopami is a free digital platform that helps people circulate everyday objects within trusted local communities rather than buy new ones or discard items that are still useful. It was launched as a pilot in Dergano, in Milan’s Zone 9, with the aim of creating a model that can be replicated neighbourhood by neighbourhood.
Residents join a local “loop”, after applying to community administrators for access. Within the loop they can give away, lend or exchange objects, or publish a request for something they need. Private contact between members allows the items to be handed over while protecting personal information and abiding by the visibility rules of each community. Loopami is not a sales marketplace: there are no prices, payments or commissions.
Loopami combines a digital tool with place-based trust. Keeping exchanges local makes borrowing and reuse practical, strengthens relationships between neighbours and can reduce unnecessary purchases and waste. The Dergano pilot is open to families from the surrounding north Milan area and is being used to test participation, governance and user experience before creating further loops for neighbourhoods, apartment buildings, schools and associations.
More than 50 families are currently involved. The service is free to use and is designed to make local circular behaviour simple, safe and repeatable.
Loopami is in an early pilot and validation phase. More than 50 families are involved in the Dergano community. From 31 August to 27 September 2026, the website recorded 227 active users and 221 new users; around 149 users were reached through Facebook. These figures measure initial reach, not environmental impact or completed exchanges.
The platform has established a local model for giving, lending, swapping and requests within an approved community, with private member-to-member coordination. The next phase will monitor registered members, items offered, fulfilled requests, completed gifts, loans and swaps, repeat participation and, when sufficient data are available, avoided purchases and environmental benefits. The pilot will inform replication in other Milan neighbourhoods.