The social cooperative Humana Nova was founded on April 7, 2011, with a clear goal – to create positive ecological and social change. The inspiration for establishing the cooperative came from study visits across Europe, where the founders encountered successful models of work integration. Prior to its establishment, Međimurje County faced challenges such as a high number of unemployed persons with disabilities, members of national minorities, and seamstresses of middle and older age who had lost their jobs due to the collapse of the textile industry. Additionally, municipal companies did not systematically separate or collect old textiles.

Through the project “ESCO – Education for Social Cooperatives,” implemented by the Autonomous Centre ACT (now ACT Group), the aim was to increase the employment of persons with disabilities, promote their social inclusion, and raise awareness about employment opportunities through the development of sustainable business models. As a result, the social cooperative Humana Nova was founded in 2011.

The cooperative's first activities began in late January 2012, and since then, we have continuously recorded growth in the number of employees, revenue, and business partners. At the time of its founding, the cooperative had 8 members and one employee. The founders included the Autonomous Centre ACT and four associations of persons with disabilities from Međimurje County, with the shared goal of enabling their members to enter the labor market.

Following leading European examples, the cooperative model was chosen for its emphasis on values such as tolerance, respect, responsibility, and trust.