Parma, November 7, 2025 - Parma Calcio continues its journey towards sustainable innovation with the 'Play Green' project, that unites environmental sustainability to the Gialloblu, and the Club overall. Launched in May 2024, 'Play Green' began with the ISO 14001 environmental certification and has evolved into a model of culture, awareness and collective participation. This commitment has led the Club to become one of the key members of SMAU 2025, Italy's leading trade fair for innovation and digitisation, where Parma Calcio won the SMAU Innovation Award for its progress towards sustainability and circular economy. Stefano Perrone, the Club's COO, was there to accept the award and he also spoke in the Live Show 'Open Innovation: collaborating to grow, innovate and transform businesses'.

'It was an instense two days at SMAU and Ecomondo,' said Perrone, 'The 'Play Green' project has reached SMAU in Milan, where we were awarded for innovation, a prize shared by many outstanding organizations, both national and international. This recognition, together with the ISO 14001 certification, was particularly important because it allowed us to exchange ideas with other projects and understand how our everyday sustainable practices represent a successful model that is being listened to and awarded. We are very proud of this vision, that has gained recognition at both SMAU and Ecomondo, in a more specialised and environmentally-oriented context. The idea behind 'Play Green', and the approach to sustainability, has been recognised as a solid and tangible model. We may be the final link in a long chain, but without that last link that puts everything into practice and brings together community practices, sustainability would be not be achievable. It was something missing, and perhaps also unexpected from a football team,' Perrone concluded.

During the Open Innovation panel, the discussions focused on how collaboration between companies, startups and external partners can foster collective growth and sustainable changes. Alongside Perrone, Luca Pollano (CA AutoBank), Giacomo Silvestri (Eni), Stefano D’Albora (FS Italiane), Mauro Parrini (Simonelli Group) and Matteo Aguilos (Terna) also took part. The panel was moderated by Silvia Pagliuca from Il Sole 24 Ore.

The day continued with the official award ceremony and a video interview for SMAU TV, in which Perrone discussed the value and goals of 'Play Green' in more detail. Parma Calcio stood out for its environmental management model inspired by the principles of a circular economy. A kind of 'corporate training programme in sustainability' that involved all aspects of the Club, from players to staff, suppliers to fans, including the visitors. The aim is to make sustainability an integral part of the Club's identity both on and off the pitch.

The SMAU Innovation Award is one of Italy's leading prizes for companies and public institutions that promote ethical models in agrifood, manufacturing, chemicals, fashion, and public services. This year, more than 50 organisations were recognised, a testament to the growing focus on digital and sustainable change.

Perrone also took part in Ecomondo, the international trade fair for the green and circular economy, where he spoke at the conference “Innovative Systems for Waste Prevention and Circular Resource Management.”

In his presentation, Perrone introduced the case study “Parma Calcio 1913: A Model of Circular Management and Waste Prevention in Sports,” outlining how the Club is implementing sustainable practices to reduce waste and enhance material recovery within the football ecosystem.

The conference provided an overview of Europe’s best practices in by-product management and recycling process digitalisation, highlighting the importance of assessing environmental impact as the foundation for business and policy decisions.

Perrone’s presence at both SMAU and Ecomondo shows Parma Calcio’s growing role as a benchmark for sustainable innovation, successfully bridging sport, business, and environmental responsibility. It’s a strong signal of how football, too, can become a driver of cultural change and a real-world laboratory for the circular economy.