Social Cooperative Humana Nova
About this good practice
Irresponsible textile waste management and exclusion of people with disabilities and other marginalized groups from the labour market are two society problems for which Humana Nova wanted to find a solution. Its objectives are promoting and supporting social inclusion, developing and validating work integration models, contributing to creating a more tolerant society, but also taking care of our environment through collecting, recycling, and reusing textile surpluses.
With more than half people being people with disabilities (22/38) and members of other marginalized groups (12/38) like national minorities or long-term unemployed elderly people Humana Nova is continuously reaching one of the objectives.
On the other side, it is collecting, reusing and recycling more than 400 tons of textile annually, therefore reaching the environmental objective. Main
stakeholders are employees which are getting the opportunity and are removed from the verge of poverty and social exclusion. Working in Humana Nova changes their life and life of their families, gives them confidence and an opportunity to reach their full potential. By combining ecological and social elements, Humana Nova is developing a sustainable business model with an impact on local and national levels. Besides reusing, production and sale of quality textile products made from recycled fabrics.
Expert opinion
Decreasing the environmental and carbon footprint of the textile sector from clothes design to disposal is definitely one of the biggest challenges in the shift towards the circular economy and this is the reason why the European Commission is currently preparing a new EU Strategy for sustainable textiles (the publication of which expected second half of 2021). The good practice at hand proves once more that cooperatives and social enterprises have a big role to play to increase the lifespan of products, foster reuse and recycling in line with the Waste Framework Directive and pursue social goals like the inclusiveness and the creation of employability conditions for marginalised or otherwise vulnerable groups. The average quantity of 400 tons of textiles collected, reused and recycled annually from 2011 onwards as well the numerical growth of the personnel employed by the ‘Humana Nova’ social cooperative strongly make the case for this business model. Policymakers interested in instilling more circularity in the textile sector while contributing to the social economy at local and regional levels may find inspiration in this highly replicable good practice.
Resources needed
To start running, the cooperative in 2011. 50 000 Eur were required. Today cooperative has 38 employees (22 people with disabilities), and it makes monthly revenue cca 75 000 Eur. In 2012. when the cooperative started running business there were 8 employed people.
Evidence of success
Today Humana Nova and it’s work integration model employs 38 people, of which 22 are people with disabilities and 12 from other marginalized groups. As for the environmental level, our textile waste management model is taking care of 400 tons of textile annually, thus giving a local community the option to take care of the environment. Most people are willing to donate their used clothes.
Potential for learning or transfer
Textile waste is an equally big problem all around the world. Number of textile surpluses will grow if more energy is not devoted to solving it. Recycling is one of several solutions that is effective which can be implemented at the local and the national level. When it comes to people with disabilities and other marginalized groups, they are facing the same problems – having difficulties finding employment and are therefore relegated to the marginal role in society which deprives them of opportunities for personal and professional development. Problems found in our local society can be found in other countries, but so can be solutions. Taking two important issues that concern people and the planet and trying to solve one with another can be a recipe to substituting deficiencies which each of them has. In other words, what can be done is turning weaknesses into strengths to achieve economic prosperity for sustainable management and reinvestment of profit.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Agency for Small and Medium Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Investment