Inspired by the New Institute in Rotterdam, Rif commemorates our workplace in such a way that not only humans, but also other life forms are given a voice. In doing so, Rif will become Belgium's first-ever Zoöp on Saturday 13 September 2025. During the Rif opening party, we will welcome guest speakers Klaas Kuitenbrouwer (Zoological Institute, Rotterdam), Didier El Bacha (Hop.regenerative architecture) and Judith Vindevogel (initiator) to sign the Zoöp certificate.
A Zoep is an organisational governance model for cooperation between human and non-human life that represents the interests of all zoe (Greek for 'life'). The Zoonomic Institute (Rotterdam) forms the root system of the Zoep movement: It supports all Zoeps with knowledge and expertise. The Zoonomic Institute helps organisations implement the Zoep model and thus reverse their ecological burden. It is committed to the growth of the Zoöp network and also regulates the use of the Zoöp name and logo, through certification. An organisation may call itself Zoop when it includes an independent expert in its governing body who ensures that the interests of non-human life are heard in the choices it makes.
Together with the organisation becoming Zoöp, the Zoönomic Foundation chooses which expert would be the best fit, depending on what the organisation needs most. This could be e.g. an ecologist, but also a lawyer or another expert. In this way, the Zoöp model anchors the voices and interests of nature in the organisation, without changing the organisation's existing goals. In all other respects, the organisation works as it always does, but with a representative who looks from the interests of all life. Together with the Zoonomic Foundation, the choice was made for Didier El Bacha (Hop.regenerative architecture) to represent the interests of non-human life in and around Rif.
