The Philippines’ leading digital mobile wallet company GCash has announced that it has planted 1,000,000 trees through GForest, the app’s environmental sustainability feature..
GForests launched in 2019 and has attracted more than 10,000,000 users. A total ofGForest users have planted 1,060,000 trees virtually, and 1 million of these trees have been transformed into actual trees that have been planted in different locations. This is a significant feat for all of those who actively participated in it. 1 million of these trees have been converted to actual trees and planted in various locations.
We have helped 55 million Filipinos become digital and cashless, enabling them to make more efficient and greener transactions. GForest is an extension of our efforts to increase awareness and conservation of the environment. Martha Sazon (President and CEO of GCash) said that this doubles up as a reward system encouraging our users to live greener lives.
GForest users can earn green energy points by using cashless services such as Send Money, Pay bills, or Bank Transfer. These services help reduce their carbon footprint and also plant trees. GForest users can also earn green energy for every step they take if they allow GCash access to their fitness tracker or health app. These green energy points can then be used to plant virtual trees. To earn green energy points for GForest users, more than 133,000,000 digital, paperless transactions have been made through GCash since November 2021. This is in line to the mission of GCash which is to support environmental sustainability and reduce individual carbon footprints while battling climate change.
GCash was a pioneer in GForest joint projects, including tree planting partnerships with World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines, Ayala Land Inc., Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), HOPE, and Century Pacific Food, Inc. in critical areas like the Ipo Watershed, Alaminos Carbon Forest, Luyang Watershed, South Cotabato, and Sarangani Provinces.
DiverseGForest and its associates have planted trees in these locations, including Narra, Yakal Molave and Guyabano. GCash is identifying new areas that it can reforest to expand its sustainability program in the country, along with these areas.
GForest allowed GCash to empower and support local farming communities. More than 2,000 coconut farmers were able to receive coconut seedlings thanks to the tree-planting activities of GCash and HOPE, Century Pacific Inc. and Century Pacific Inc.. This can increase their yield and help them grow more produce. 150 farmers received training and orientations on tree planting from RAFI. The goal of the initiative is to plant 1.3 million trees by 2022.
GCash is the only fintech firm in the Philippines that has a sustainability feature integrated into its app.International sustainability organizations have awarded it the prestigious title. Recently, WWF Philippines presented the Conservation Innovation Award to GCash. Miss Earth ECO Awards 2021 and BIOFIN recognized the leading mobile wallet company for the positive environmental impact it has made.
“Being a tech company, it puts us in a good position to really promote less carbon footprint,” adds Sazon. GForest is an expression of the company’s ESG (environment, social and governance) framework. GCash reiterates that financial results are important while protecting the environment. We take care of our employees and communities, and work closely with relevant stakeholders and governing agencies to ensure we achieve these goals.
GForest is a proof that organizations can combine new technologies with creative sustainability solutions. We are grateful for the support of our users and partners who made this possible. We are looking forward to being more “One with the Nation” with our social responsibility initiatives in the years to come, said Chito Maniago, Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs of GCash.
“One with the Nation” is GCash’s corporate social responsibility program employing various initiatives including NGO partnerships, programs on disaster response and environmental stewardship, as well as grassroots finlit education campaigns nationwide.
Aside from GForest, GCash’s various digital products and services enable users to go cashless for various transactions, which helps reduce their carbon footprint and help fight climate change.
Use GCash to continue your green journey!
Visit www.amazon.com for more information www.gcash.com.
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