LUIGI SACCO HOSPITAL: Project “Un Sacco Verde”
Caring for green spaces and people while creating value for the community. This is the goal of 'Un Sacco Verde', an environmental and social sustainability project that brings us together with ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco in Milan.
Caring for the hospital’s green spaces, creating opportunities for a fresh start.
Developed by the Milan-based association Angeli del Bello ETS, the project involves people facing challenging circumstances in the care and maintenance of the hospital’s green spaces. Covering approximately 35,000 square metres, the initiative combines environmental sustainability with social inclusion. At the heart of the project are people participating in court-ordered probation programmes. For them, caring for the hospital grounds becomes a meaningful opportunity to take responsibility, actively contribute to the community and make a fresh start.
A project launched in 2023.
The project was launched in 2023 through an agreement with the Court of Milan, which refers people undertaking probation programmes for minor offences to Angeli del Bello. Their work benefits the entire community. Amsa, the company responsible for waste collection, also supports the project by providing technical assistance.
Dedicated teams at work every sunday.
Every Sunday, groups of 7–10 participants come together to carry out the activities. The teams remain as consistent as possible to foster a sense of belonging, teamwork and motivation, turning the work into an opportunity to connect, share experiences and actively contribute to the community.
Over the course of a year, the Un Sacco Verde teams collect litter, clear fallen leaves and remove debris from drains. Working across several thousand square metres of hospital grounds, including tall trees, shrubs, flower beds and grassy areas, the teams use manual tools such as rakes, brooms, dustpans and waste bags.
The activities focus on different areas of the hospital grounds depending on current needs, with particular attention given to the entrances and Emergency Department. Sacco Hospital has also provided a dedicated storage area for equipment and collected materials awaiting disposal.
We are a strategic partner of ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco and are supporting the Un Sacco Verde project. For us, caring for a hospital also means looking after its surrounding green spaces and the people who maintain them.
More than just community service.
For many participants, caring for the hospital’s green spaces has become much more than simply fulfilling a commitment. It has become an opportunity to connect with others and share meaningful experiences. Many have said that they feel less alone and have rediscovered the value of helping others. Some have even expressed a desire to continue volunteering after completing the programme.
To date, 120 people have contributed to the project "Un Sacco Verde".
people have completed their court-ordered community service programme.
participants per team, every sunday.
m² of hospital green spaces.
HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR AT MARKAS
“Markas has always been committed to inclusion and social sustainability, which is why we have chosen to support the Un Sacco Verde project.”
“This project puts these values into practice. Through the work of Angeli del Bello volunteers and the involvement of people facing challenging circumstances, caring for green spaces becomes an opportunity for active participation and a meaningful contribution to the community.”
“As a company, we feel a responsibility to make a meaningful contribution to the well-being of the wider community. We believe that bringing together different skills, people and organisations is essential to fostering inclusion and creating a positive impact.”
A hospital open to the community.
“Un Sacco Verde is a clear example of how a hospital can be more than just a place of care. It can also be a space that welcomes the community and creates social value,” says Maria Grazia Colombo, General Director of ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco. “I would like to thank everyone involved, including the volunteers, Angeli del Bello and Markas, for taking care of our green spaces and helping to create a well-maintained, welcoming environment for our patients, staff and the wider community.”
This initiative combines a second chance for those involved with the practical care of shared spaces, helping to create a more welcoming environment in a place dedicated to health and the community.
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