COOPERATIVA CIGNO VERDE: A HISTORY OF PARMA SINCE 1989

The Cigno Verde Cooperative was born in Parma in 1989 on the initiative of the local club of Legambiente, one of the most representative Italian environmental associations.

The basic idea was to give a job opportunity to disadvantaged people, in particular to prisoners admitted to outside work and to people with various kinds of disabilities. So, we immediately offered them the opportunity to carry out socially useful activities , from the maintenance of games in preschools, to the management and cleaning of green areas.

1997 is the year of the turning point: the shareholders' meeting decides the conversion into a “social cooperative for the employment of disadvantaged people (type B)” , which has always been associated with the Parma Social Solidarity Consortium. A qualitative leap that also involves a change of residence. From the historic headquarters in Vicolo Santa Maria, we move to the more functional one in Via Pasubio.

In 2004 the Cigno Verde Cooperative grows further, thanks to the development of the sector dedicated to door-to-door separate waste collection in the municipality of Parma. This makes another change of location necessary (Via Belli 6 / a), allowing the construction of a toner and electronic waste (WEEE) recovery plant.

Since 2016, however, the headquarters of Cooperativa Cigno Vede is in Via Belli 10 / a . A residence that has more space available for special waste, for new educational activities, and for the LabOfficina . Over the years we have strengthened the socio-educational sphere, our social commitment has been recognized by most of the local institutions allowing us to expand our activities and leading to the definitive transformation into a mixed object cooperative (B + A).

At the end of 2017, a new chapter in our history opened with the merger by incorporation of the "Cristina" Social Cooperative of Fidenza , whose twenty-year experience, added to the thirty-year experience of Cigno Verde, has given life to a solid and always more projected towards the future.

2019 ends with another important novelty for the Green Swan: the official activation of the “ Progetto Nativa ” with the production and sale of organic fruit and vegetables. After a journey of acquaintance with the Native Social Cooperative, we decided to join forces to strengthen and make the social agriculture project even more solid .

30 YEARS OF HISTORY

Well yes, our cooperative turns 30 and we have decided to celebrate them as we do best: by creating moments of dialogue and sharing on issues dear to people and the environment.

On this page you can consult all our initiatives. We have already organized events for the cooperative's 30th anniversary, not only to enhance our social impact and create cohesion with the territory, but also to strengthen the bond between cooperative members and workers.

There are many meetings scheduled that we will gradually communicate to you to celebrate these 30 years of history together.

Mission

THE COOPERATIVE

We are a type B social cooperative based in Parma. We deal with the job placement of disadvantaged people: psychiatric patients, inmates admitted to external work, people with alcoholism and drug addiction problems, the handicapped, the long-term unemployed, and civil invalids.

We offer them concrete employment opportunities , dedicating ourselves to the selection, coaching, planning, and monitoring of their paths.

Within our social cooperative, socio-educational activities are also carried out and environmental services are provided (management and maintenance of greenery, separate collection of urban waste, management of collection centers, collection of special waste).

Furthermore, Cooperativa Cigno Verde is committed to the recovery and reuse of assets, joining the Parma Riusa network and supporting the LabOfficina project, a repair workshop for old bicycles.

We also manage the Camper Parking Area of ​​the Municipality of Parma , with an adjoining Bar, with a view to sustainable tourism.

We are an open and dynamic reality, guided by a strong spirit of solidarity. Since 1989 we have been on the side of people and the environment and our social commitment has been recognized by most of the local institutions.

OUR MISSION

“We are a type B social cooperative based in Parma, we deal with job placement by responsibly combining the spirit of solidarity with the commitment to protect the environment. In collaboration with local services and institutions and the third sector network, we provide services for the care and maintenance of the territory, for a new development that is more compatible with the environment, for the defense of the common good. We are aware of the social challenge, which is why we combine professional seriousness with a strong tension towards equality between the people who work. "