ZeroPerCento

ZeroPerCento was founded with the goal of promoting the employment inclusion of people with cognitive and psychiatric disabilities through economically sustainable business activities. During its early years, the cooperative developed the ZeroPerCento project, a network of food shops dedicated to promoting responsible consumption and providing employment opportunities for individuals belonging to protected categories. Starting in 2022, the cooperative undertook a significant strategic repositioning process, progressively shifting its focus toward the corporate market. Following this transition, in 2023 it began directing its activities to the B2B segment, moving beyond the neighborhood retail model developed in previous years and focusing instead on services for businesses, including: corporate catering, the supply of fruit and snacks for offices, the creation of customized gifts and promotional items for events, and inclusive team-building activities such as workshops and experiential labs centered on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) themes. A distinctive feature of ZeroPerCento’s model is the integration of business services with the implementation of agreements under Article 14 of Italian Law 68/99, through which the cooperative supports companies in developing workplace inclusion pathways. Thanks to this approach, by 2025 ZeroPerCento had employed 88 workers, 69 of whom were disadvantaged individuals, while collaborating with numerous companies across the region on inclusion and corporate welfare initiatives. FSVGDA’s investment will support the cooperative’s next phase of growth, aimed at strengthening and scaling its business model through the enhancement of existing services, the launch of new business lines, and the creation of a nationwide network of partner cooperatives. The plan also includes a significant increase in employment opportunities for people with cognitive and psychiatric disabilities, further expanding the social impact generated by the cooperative.