A Conversation between Maxim’s Group and Bas Fransen, Founder of EcoMatcher
There is ample evidence that the world is being affected by climate change, including the global increase in temperature, melting ice sheets, and rising sea levels. EcoMatcher believes that planting trees on a massive scale can help to mitigate the climate crisis, and scientists agree that this can have "mind-blowing results."
Given the critical importance of planting trees, financing becomes a key question, whether through governments, consumers, or companies. EcoMatcher, a tech start-up, focuses on providing tree-planting support specifically for companies. To effectively convince companies to invest in planting trees, transparency is crucial.
Elevating Local Communities across 15 Countries
Maxim’s: What’s your strategy for looking for plantation partners? Do you look for partners that particularly locates in tropical or biodiversity hotspots?
EcoMatcher: Currently, we plant in 15 countries and are working on additional tree planting partners, as we want to offer our customers a choice, and we need more trees. To ensure our plantation shares the same vision, we have set up a 3-step vetting process and look for foundations with a track record, linked with universities, that are located in developing countries, where tree planting helps not only combat the climate crisis but also helps elevate local communities.
Integrating Innovation and Engagement in Tree Planting as a Differentiator
Maxim’s: You have been working with lots of corporates like Maxim’s. Did you see any specific changes in their needs over the years?
EcoMatcher: Companies increasingly realize that their customers and employees have become more critical of their sustainability actions. Offering transparency and involving employees and customers are trends that we address. To build creditability, we have put much effort into demonstrating transparency, are a proud B Corporation, and through our own technology like TreeCorder, we let companies know everything about every tree including the farmers. Then we offer various digital ways to integrate tree planting in a company’s business, from shopping, gifting, and impact reports, to virtual visits of the trees or forests planted by companies, employees, and partners, or even the broader community.
From 1M to 1B trees
Maxim’s: Your target is to plant 1 billion trees by 2025. How far are you from getting there? Do you also have other numbers to quantify the impact?
EcoMatcher: We, to date, have planted 1 million trees with companies piloting our platform. These trees altogether sequester a total of 250,000 tonnes of CO2 over their lifetime. We expect to tenfold that number by the end of 2023. On top of that, we have signed a first licensing agreement whereby 50 million trees will be planted and mapped with our technologies. The journey has been exciting, and we expect to plant more with companies for a better future for all.
Working closely with Companies with a Vision of Sustainability
Maxim’s: How do you think about corporate partnerships?
EcoMatcher: Solving the climate crisis is a collective effort. If we bring in tree-planting organizations and a comprehensive digital platform but without customers, this will be meaningless. So, we hope to enable companies to see the value we bring and ramp up the tree demand. Maxim’s Hong Kong has been one of our supporting companies. As a Food and Beverage leader in Asia and beyond, they have been committed to taking climate actions by pursuing a circular business model, managing their carbon footprint by influencing their supply chain, and working with mitigation partners. Together, we can make a difference indeed.
