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<h2>Can I be an ethical Christmas shopper? </h2>
&#8216;Tis the season to be jolly… and spend hours scouring the internet for the perfect Christmas present. But what does your gift say about you, and what it does to the planet? 
We know how difficult Christmas shopping can be. We also know the importance of buying less for the sake of the environment. A simple click on ‘buy it now’ from Amazon is easy and convenient. But have you stopped to consider the impact your shopping habits have on the environment or whether you’re supporting local businesses? 
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<h2>How to lower your impact on the planet this Christmas</h2>
More often than not, big businesses dominate our search engines at the best of times. Did you know that you didn’t have to look very hard to find Christmas gifts with a positive environmental impact? There are many ethical Christmas gifts available through small local businesses, which can be easily found using websites like <a href="https://www.etsy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Etsy</a>, <a href="https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NotontheHighStreet</a>, <a href="https://www.trouva.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trouva</a>, <a href="https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Social Enterprise UK</a>. 
Websites like <a href="https://madeinfolkestone.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Made in Folkestone</a> are also a great way to find and support independent brands from your local area. A lot of small businesses sell on Instagram too; hashtags such as #ShopSmall #ShopLocal and #SmallBusinesses will be super helpful during your shopping. 
Many of us have friends who own their own business or work for awesome brands that do great things. It seems obvious, but buy from them or tell all of your friends to share the message! You can also find ethical brands, and get ethical ratings of your favourite brands, on the Good On You ethical fashion App. 
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<h2>Christmas traditions or bad festive shopping habits?</h2>
The festive season is often tied up with consumerism. It doesn’t help that we’re taught that Christmas is about over-indulging and exchanging huge amounts of presents with everyone you know… otherwise you don’t care about them. Fortunately, we’re quickly learning that this isn’t sustainable or necessary. 
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<h2>Think outside the (gift-wrapped) box</h2>
This year, we’re giving presents that not only say how much we love our nearest-and-dearest, but we’re also giving gifts that tell them how much we love the planet!
There are so many alternatives to buying presents: you can give your time, give an experience, or even give preloved items. When you do buy presents, it’s important to consider whether the person will really value it, and to make sure that it will have a positive impact somehow, like whether it’s climate-smart or you’re supporting local businesses. 
For those who want to buy less, and well, but have no idea where to start, we’ve compiled a list of our top 20 eco gift suggestions.
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1. Plastic-Free hair and body products from Ethique

Ethique makes cosmetic products that are 100% free of plastic and palm oil. Even better &#8211; their products are also carbon-neutral AND vegan! We especially love this Festive Trio containing a shampoo bar, conditioner bar, and solid deodorant bar, making this the ideal gift for someone going plastic-free. Oh, and most importantly, the products smell incredible too!
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4326 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119105931/1_Ethical_festive_trio-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119105931/1_Ethical_festive_trio-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119105931/1_Ethical_festive_trio-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119105931/1_Ethical_festive_trio.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://ethique.co.uk/products/the-ethique-festive-trio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy Ethique’s Festive Trio</a> £12

2. A 3-month baking club subscription with Bakedin

Bakedin baking subscription boxes make the perfect gift for the baking lover. Treat them to a 3-month Baking Club subscription and they’ll receive a unique baking kit each month. Bakedin exists to tackle food waste, they aim for their packaging to be as sustainable as possible, and they support local charities too.
Fancy trying something new or introducing a junior baker? There are Bread Baking and Junior Baking options too. 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4327 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119105956/2_Baking_club_subscription-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119105956/2_Baking_club_subscription-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119105956/2_Baking_club_subscription-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119105956/2_Baking_club_subscription.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://bakedin.co.uk/products/baking-club-gift-subscription-3-month?variant=39524582555742" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy a Baking Subscription</a> £33

This vegan spices recipe gift box contains five main-meal spice kits with printed recipe cards. The spices are wrapped in recyclable tissue that’s paper-printed with eco-friendly inks.
The Teaspoon Club sources all its spices from Soil Association Organic Certified producers and are working towards their own certification too. With every order placed, they also plant a tree in a country where the spices come from.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4328 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110019/3_Vegan_gift_box-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110019/3_Vegan_gift_box-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110019/3_Vegan_gift_box-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110019/3_Vegan_gift_box.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.wearthlondon.com/vegan-spices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy a vegan gift box</a> £13

Give the gift of long-lasting climate action. Ecologi Gifting lets you buy your loved ones Christmas Trees that come in forests of 100, 250, or 500 trees. This is a gift that keeps on giving &#8211; your loved one will get their own Ecologi profile where they will be able to see their trees represented virtually, watch them grow, and learn more about them. As the trees grow they will help to restore nature, protect biodiversity, support local communities, and even draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and store it away for many years &#8211; we think that&#8217;s pretty magical!
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4329 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110050/4_Ecologi-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110050/4_Ecologi-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110050/4_Ecologi-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110050/4_Ecologi.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://ecologi.com/gifting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy an Ecologi Tree-Planting gift</a> From £24.00

5. The Shrew with the Flu Book & Seedbom set

The Shrew with the Flu is an endearing story by author Will Hamilton-Davies, created in partnership with illustrator Jennifer Davison. It follows the story of Shrew and his quest to restore the forest he loves. This book comes with a set of Seedboms that contain a native woodland-inspired nectar-rich wildflower mix. This gift, and the environmentally-themed story, make the perfect read-aloud for every family.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4330 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110115/5_Book_Seedbomb-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110115/5_Book_Seedbomb-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110115/5_Book_Seedbomb-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110115/5_Book_Seedbomb.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://kabloom.co.uk/product/the-shrew-with-the-flu-gift-set/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy the book and Seedbom set</a> £16

Inspire the art-lover in your life with Artfinder. This great brand sells artwork from local artists while aiming to provide a platform where artists can make a living doing what they love. The best bit? Anyone can easily find and buy original artworks – no matter their taste or budget. Every piece is unique, and signed by the artist, carrying its own story.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4331 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110135/6_Artfinder-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110135/6_Artfinder-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110135/6_Artfinder-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110135/6_Artfinder.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.artfinder.com/#/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy awesome Artwork</a> From £20

7. Raw Organic Chocolate Making Kit from Cocoa Love

Naissance Raw Organic Chocolate Making Kits are the perfect gift for chocolate lovers. This kit is vegan, cruelty free and organic. It also comes packaged using sustainable paper and cardboard. 
Go ahead and treat the chocoholic in your life… even if that chocoholic is you. 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4332 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110201/7_Chocolate_making-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110201/7_Chocolate_making-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110201/7_Chocolate_making-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110201/7_Chocolate_making.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://naissance.com/products/cocoa-love-diy-raw-organic-chocolate-making-kit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy chocolate making kits</a> £22.99

This thoughtful gift not only pays to plant an olive tree in Palestine, which comes with a Zaytoun-stamped certificate of proof. This cracker of a Christmas present comes with a 500ml bottle of Fairtrade organic extra virgin olive oil for your beloved. 
Zaytoun Fairtrade olive oil has been made from hand-picked and rain-fed olives. The gift packaging also comes in an attractive and recyclable cardboard presentation box.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4333 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110221/8_Zaytoun_Olive_Oil-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110221/8_Zaytoun_Olive_Oil-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110221/8_Zaytoun_Olive_Oil-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110221/8_Zaytoun_Olive_Oil.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/tree-planting-olive-oil-tube-gift" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy Zouytan olive oil</a> £25

9. Tiny Tony’s Chocolonely Christmas Mix Pouch

The ethos behind this dutch chocolate company is to fully eradicate slavery in chocolate production. They also actively train the farmers they work with to implement more environmentally-friendly production methods, such as minimising the use of pesticides, offsetting their emissions, and deforestation within their supply chain is strictly prohibited. 
And who doesn’t love Chocolate for Christmas?
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4334 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110244/9_Tonys_chocolate-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110244/9_Tonys_chocolate-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110244/9_Tonys_chocolate-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110244/9_Tonys_chocolate.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://tonyschocolonely.com/uk/en/our-chocolate/product/tiny-tonys-christmas-mix-pouch-180g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy more chocolate</a> £5.99

10. Gift vouchers for fun experiences together

Tinggly gift boxes for two let you choose the perfect experience from hundreds of fun and exciting new experiences &#8211; and it’s a great gift for your loved ones that are a little more tricky to buy for. 
For every gift experience, Tinggly offsets CO2 carbon emissions by 200%. Plus, all the gift boxes are produced from fully recycled materials and are printed using eco-friendly inks.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4335 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110317/10_Fun_together-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110317/10_Fun_together-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110317/10_Fun_together-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110317/10_Fun_together.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.tinggly.com/collections/fun-together" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy an experience gift</a> £99

Pela phone cases are the world&#8217;s first compostable phone cases, meaning that they gracefully return back to the earth when you&#8217;re done with it. All you have to do is throw it into compost! Pela is also certified Climate Neutral and a member of 1% for the Planet.
What’s not to love about these awesome Christmas gifts?
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4336 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110339/11_Pela_phone_case-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110339/11_Pela_phone_case-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110339/11_Pela_phone_case-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110339/11_Pela_phone_case.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://uk.pelacase.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy a phone case</a> From £27.95

Calm’s on a mission to make the world happier and healthier. The Calm app is perfect for helping you mediate, relax and sleep better. Giving the gift of a Calm subscription is a great way to show love to your friends and family this year, without giving a physical object. 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4337 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110359/12_Calm_gift-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110359/12_Calm_gift-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110359/12_Calm_gift-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110359/12_Calm_gift.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.calm.com/gift" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy a Calm gift subscription</a> £55

Teapsy is a cute, funky, eco-friendly and vegan-oriented tea company that’s reshaping the tea industry into something much more interesting. All their packaging is recyclable or home compostable &#8211; even the teabags, which are made of Soilon &#8211; a type of bioplastic derived from corn starch. This Taste of Magic gift set is fun, tasty and sustainable, with the added joy of their funky packaging.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4338 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110419/13_Tea-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110419/13_Tea-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110419/13_Tea-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110419/13_Tea.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://teapsy.co.uk/collections/bundles/products/a-taste-of-magic-bundle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy tea gifts</a> £15.99

14. Vegan chocolate gift box from Love Raw

The Love Raw gift box is perfect for your chocolate loving, vegan friends. This vegan chocolate contains no artificial nonsense, no palm oil and no compromise! The favourites pack includes two Vegan Butter Cups, two Vegan M:lk Choc Bars and 3 Cre&amp;m Wafer Bars. 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4339 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110438/14_Love_Raw-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110438/14_Love_Raw-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110438/14_Love_Raw-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110438/14_Love_Raw.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://eatloveraw.com/collections/vegan-gift-box/products/loveraw-favourites-pack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy even more chocolate</a> £11.99

Around 100 Amur Leopards remain in the wild, and their habitat is under threat from logging, deforestation and industrial development. By adopting an Amur Leopard, you are helping to fund WWF’s work with local organisations to protect Amur Leopard habitats. 
Lucky recipients receive a welcome pack, regular updates and a personalised adoption certificate.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4340 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110501/15_Adopt_a_leapord-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110501/15_Adopt_a_leapord-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110501/15_Adopt_a_leapord-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110501/15_Adopt_a_leapord.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://support.wwf.org.uk/adopt-a-leopard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adopt a Leopard</a> From £3 a month

This Fairtrade apricot facial soap is ideal for those with sensitive skin as it has gentle cleansing, moisturising and calming properties. It contains Fairtrade apricot, olive and shea butter with added chamomile for an extra calming effect. Fair Squared soap is suitable for vegans, does no animal testing, is free from plastic, palm oil, perfume, parabens, phthalates, triclosan and SLS, and it’s hand-made with Fairtrade ingredients. 
Did we mention that the packaging is plastic-free too!
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4341 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110520/16_Fairsquared_soap-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110520/16_Fairsquared_soap-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110520/16_Fairsquared_soap-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110520/16_Fairsquared_soap.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.naturalcollection.com/shop/fair-squared-apricot-facial-soap-with-cotton-soap-bag---sensitive-skin---2-x-80g-by-fair-squared/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy facial soap</a> £11.45

17. Fairtrade Christmas bath bomb by Honeystreet Handmade

Bath bombs make a perfect stocking filler, and this Fairtrade Christmas bath bomb from Honeystreet Handmade is packed with essential oils to rejuvenate and restore your skin.
Give someone the gift of a relaxing bath this Christmas!
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4342 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110538/17_Bath_bomb-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110538/17_Bath_bomb-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110538/17_Bath_bomb-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110538/17_Bath_bomb.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.honeystreethandmade.com/shop/22187-christmas-wish-bath-bomb/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy a bath bomb</a> £4.50

This rose and sandalwood soy candle from Moksa is handmade in the UK with all natural ingredients. It’s a 100% vegan candle with sustainable soy wax and an eco-waxed hemp wick. 
The best bit is that it smells gorgeous and looks stylish wherever you put it. 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4343 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110556/18_Soy_candle-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110556/18_Soy_candle-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110556/18_Soy_candle-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110556/18_Soy_candle.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.wearthlondon.com/hemp-soy-candle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy a luxury candle</a> £14

The ideal starter kit for anyone wanting to make simple life swaps. Zero waste kits from Battle Green contain organic, handmade &amp; reusable products. It comes complete with an  organic cotton strong shopping bag, an organic cotton produce bag, a bamboo cutlery set in a handmade organic cotton pouch and a bamboo straw! 
Battle Green is also a member of the Surfers Against Sewage 250 club, and makes monthly donations to help the charity clean up beaches and waterways.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4344 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110617/19_Zero_waste-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110617/19_Zero_waste-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110617/19_Zero_waste-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110617/19_Zero_waste.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.wearthlondon.com/small-zero-waste-kit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy a zero waste kit</a> £19.96

Making your own face masks using only all natural, organically sourced, vegan ingredients with moisturising coconut oil, antioxidant rich cacao powder and deeply cleansing bentonite clay, is a great way to show someone you care. This Fruits of the Nut Tree gift is ideal for your friends that you’d like to pamper, comes with easy-to-follow steps, and plastic-free and compostable packaging.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-4345 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110636/20_Facemask-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110636/20_Facemask-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110636/20_Facemask-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20211119110636/20_Facemask.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.wearthlondon.com/make-your-own-face-mask-kit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy a make-your-own face mask kit</a> £21

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<h2>A note on packaging&#8230;</h2>
Christmas is definitely one of the most wonderful times of the year, however it is also one of the most wasteful. In the UK, an<a href="https://www.biffa.co.uk/media-centre/news/new-research-shows-brits-are-dreaming-of-a-green-christmas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> extra 30% of rubbish</a> is produced and discarded throughout the festive period when compared with the rest of the year. That’s something like a whopping 3 million tonnes, and one of the biggest culprits: Christmas wrapping paper. An estimated <a href="https://www.biffa.co.uk/media-centre/news/new-research-shows-brits-are-dreaming-of-a-green-christmas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">227,000 miles</a> of wrapping paper is thrown away in the UK each Christmas. That means the average household will go through four rolls of wrapping paper, and about 40 million rolls of sticky tape. 
Switching to plain brown paper or newspaper fastened with string or ribbon instead of tape is one way to reduce your waste. You don’t want to go through all the trouble of buying super eco-friendly gifts, just to wrap them in wasteful, non-recyclable paper do you? 
Wrapping presents in lengths of fabric, following the Japanese art of fabric wrapping: furoshiki, is another option that is becoming more and more popular. These lengths of cloth are both beautiful and reusable, and can be passed from person to person. 
If you do use wrapping paper, make sure you do the scrunch test to determine if it can be recycled. Simply scrunch the paper in your hand, and if it keeps its shape, it is recyclable. 
Another option involves unwrapping your presents very carefully and saving the wrapping paper year after year!
Are you sending presents to loved ones? <a href="https://heapsgoodpackaging.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HeapsGood packaging</a> has some brilliant compostable packaging options, including 100% biodegradable Eco Mailers that will break down in 3-6 months!

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<h2>A summary of your eco-Christmas </h2>
There are many ways that you can adapt your wrapping habits so that you’re more sustainable. In our eyes, this is more in line with the true spirit of Christmas. There has never been a better time to try something different and step back from the excessive consumerism that so often dominates this time of year.
If you want to do more, and help plant trees and fund climate solutions, <a href="https://ecologi.com/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sign up</a><a href="https://ecologi.com/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> to Ecologi today</a>.

20 climate actions businesses can take in 2025

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20 impactful climate actions businesses can take in 2025

Transform your business sustainability while driving growth with these proven strategies for medium-sized enterprises. Our comprehensive guide helps organisations implement practical climate solutions that enhance both environmental impact and bottom line.

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Reduce Business Risk

1. Commit to net-zero.Future-proof your business with a robust net-zero strategy. Clear roadmaps help protect against future regulatory changes and market shifts. Read our <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/uk-corporate-sustainability-standards-explained">analysis</a> of the existing sustainability standards, such as ISO 14068, that shows how leading companies are successfully navigating this transition.
2. Make your office more energy efficient. Power down printers, use motion-sensor lights, and choose laptops over desktops. These practical steps reduce operational vulnerabilities while protecting against energy price volatility.
3. Green business pensions. Your business pensions could be secretly funding fossil fuels. Sustainable pension funds deliver 21 times more environmental impact than traditional green initiatives while reducing exposure to stranded assets.

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Make Financial Savings for Your Business

4. Switch to a renewable energy supplier. Strategic selection of providers like <a href="https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecotricity</a> and <a href="https://octopus.energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Octopus</a> can reduce operational costs while enhancing energy security. Renewable energy contracts often offer price stability and protection against market volatility.
5. Reduce business travel and flights. Optimise travel spending through strategic planning. Implementing hybrid meeting solutions reduces costs while maintaining productive relationships. Video calls offer an efficient alternative when in-person meetings aren&#8217;t essential.
6. Buy refurbished tech. Only 17.4% of e-waste was recycled in 2019. Smart IT procurement through providers like <a href="https://helloklyk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Klyk</a> deliver professional-grade equipment at reduced costs while supporting circular economy principles.

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Drive Deeper Employee Engagement

7. Enroll your leadership team in a carbon literacy course. Transformational change starts at the top. Investing in leadership team climate literacy builds the foundation for informed decision-making and organisational adaptation. Our recommended e-learning course with Seed Culture equips executives with practical knowledge to drive sustainable growth. Get in touch and find out more <a href="https://ecologi.com/page/schedule-a-call">here</a>.
8. Engage colleagues through sustainability lunch and learns. Knowledge-sharing creates organisational momentum. Regular sessions with sustainability experts energise your team and generate innovative solutions. Creating a culture of environmental awareness drives engagement across all levels of your organisation.
9. Reward green travel and commuting. Transform daily commutes into engagement opportunities. The <a href="https://www.bike2workscheme.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bike2Work</a> scheme and other sustainable transport initiatives boost employee satisfaction while reducing your corporate carbon footprint. Recognition programs for green commuting build community and demonstrate your commitment to employee wellbeing.

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Communicate Your Company's Sustainability Work Effectively

10. Create a sustainability page on your website. Showcase your climate journey through dedicated digital real estate. Transparent communication of your goals, progress, and initiatives builds trust with stakeholders and demonstrates leadership. Regular updates keep your audience engaged and inspired.
11. Fund meaningful climate action projects. Share the impact of your investments with compelling storytelling. Regular updates about supported projects and their outcomes demonstrate your commitment to meaningful action. With Ecologi, you can showcase verified impact metrics such as the number of funded trees, carbon avoided or removed through impact projects, that resonate with stakeholders.
12. Level up your business strategy by listening to a business climate podcast. Stay informed and share knowledge through thought-leading content. Shows like Outrage + Optimism and GreenBiz 350 provide valuable insights that can be shared across your communication channels.
13. Join the Million Tree Pledge. Demonstrate your commitment to long-term environmental impact. This ambitious <a href="https://www.milliontreepledge.org/">initiative</a> shows your business is serious about climate action, contributing to global reforestation efforts while building a lasting environmental legacy that resonates with stakeholders.
14. Work with sustainable suppliers. Transform your supply chain to showcase comprehensive sustainability commitment. Working with verified sustainable suppliers enhances your reputation and influences industry standards. The <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-claims-code-making-environmental-claims/green-claims-and-your-business">CMA checklist</a> provides a framework for evaluating and optimizing supplier partnerships.
15. Celebrate wins! Share your sustainability victories, both big and small, on LinkedIn and other platforms. Regular communication of achievements inspires other businesses while positioning your brand as a sustainability leader. Remember, it&#8217;s about progress, not perfection.

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Attract Eco-Conscious Customers

16. Switch to green web hosting. Your digital infrastructure matters to environmentally conscious customers. Providers like <a href="https://krystal.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Krystal</a> hosting offer 100% renewable energy solutions that demonstrate your commitment to sustainability at every touchpoint.
17. Measure your business&#8217; carbon footprint. Professional carbon accounting builds trust with eco-conscious customers. Our carbon footprinting solution, <a href="https://zero.ecologi.com/signup">Ecologi Zero</a>, provides verified data that proves your commitment to measurable impact. If you don&#8217;t measure it, you can&#8217;t manage it.
18. Opt for a low-carbon website. Choose providers like <a href="http://create.net" target="_blank" rel="noopener">create.net</a> or <a href="https://wearecomplexcreative.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Complex Creative</a> to design and build an environmentally conscious website. A carbon-efficient digital presence shows attention to detail in your sustainability efforts.

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Ignite Innovation and Productivity

19. Upskill by reading the latest business climate literature. Start a company Book Club with works like Bill Gates&#8217; <a href="https://www.gatesnotes.com/My-new-climate-book-is-finally-here">How to Avoid a Climate Disaster</a> and <a href="https://www.koganpage.com/product/the-solutionists-9781398609327">The Solutionists</a> from Solitaire Townsend. Continuous learning inspires innovative thinking and creative climate solutions across your organization.
20. Buy upcycled office equipment. Transform your workplace through innovative resource management. Pre-loved furniture and equipment create inspiring spaces while reducing waste. This approach demonstrates creative problem-solving and encourages innovative thinking.
BONUS. Implementation Strategy. Success in sustainable business transformation comes from methodical implementation. Begin with initiatives that offer immediate impact while building toward longer-term goals. Regular measurement and communication of progress maintains momentum and demonstrates leadership. Focus on creating business value alongside environmental impact, and share successes to inspire industry-wide change.

<h2>Your Next Steps</h2>
Ready to accelerate your business sustainability journey? Our team specialises in helping mid-sized businesses implement effective climate strategies and funding high-quality, high-impact climate action in the UK and globally. Contact us to discuss how these approaches can be tailored to your specific business needs and growth objectives.

Schedule a 30-minute discovery call with our climate experts

Regenerative agriculture: Reviving ancient practices for carbon removal

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Regenerative agriculture

In this article, we’ll cover;
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What is regenerative agriculture</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The core principles of regenerative agriculture</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What is soil organic carbon and its role in carbon removal</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">How regenerative agriculture fights against climate change</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) does soil organic carbon support?</li>
</ul>

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Introduction to regenerative agriculture
As the world grapples with the intensifying effects of climate change, the need for sustainable solutions has never been more urgent. A promising approach to addressing this challenge lies in regenerative agriculture, a farming method that not only focuses on improving soil health but also actively works to sequester carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. Inspired by ancient agricultural practices that have long understood the importance of working in harmony with nature, regenerative agriculture offers a profound pathway to carbon removal and climate change mitigation.

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<h3>What is regenerative agriculture?</h3>
Regenerative agriculture is more than just an agricultural technique; it is a holistic approach to farming that emphasises the restoration of soil health and the rejuvenation of ecological systems. This approach goes beyond conventional farming practices, which often use harmful substances and depletes the land, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, regenerative agriculture creates a more sustainable relationship with the earth, prioritising both environmental health and food production. By using methods that improve soil quality, enhance biodiversity, and enable natural nutrient cycles, regenerative agriculture provides a way to work with nature rather than against it.
At the heart of regenerative agriculture is the idea of improving soil health. Healthy soil serves as one of the planet’s most effective carbon sinks, with the ability to absorb and store vast quantities of CO₂ from the atmosphere. By implementing farming practices that increase the organic matter in the soil, regenerative agriculture helps sequester carbon while simultaneously improving soil fertility and crop yields.
Regenerative agriculture is based on photosynthesis whereby plants absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere and convert it into sugars, which fuel their growth. Some of these sugars are released through the plant roots into the soil, where they feed beneficial microorganisms. These microorganisms, in turn, support plant health by enhancing nutrient availability, improving soil structure, and offering natural pest protection. This symbiotic relationship between plants and soil organisms is key to building soil organic matter, increasing its carbon-sequestering capacity, and enhancing soil fertility.

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<h3> The core principles of regenerative agriculture</h3>
Regenerative agriculture encompasses a range of practices designed to restore and maintain healthy ecosystems. These practices not only contribute to carbon removal but also help to increase agricultural productivity and resilience. The core principles of regenerative agriculture include:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Soil Health Improvement: At the foundation of regenerative agriculture is the improvement of soil health. This involves increasing soil organic matter (SOM) and enhancing soil microbiology. Techniques like<a href="https://www.oneearth.org/cover-crops-and-their-myriad-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> cover cropping</a>, <a href="https://thinkregeneration.com/tr-journal/f/regenerative-research-tillage-no-till-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">no-till farming</a>, <a href="https://greenamerica.org/blog/methods-regenerative-agriculture-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">composting</a>, and<a href="https://rodaleinstitute.org/why-organic/organic-farming-practices/rotational-grazing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> rotational grazing</a> help restore soil fertility and boost the soil’s <a href="https://www.zevero.earth/blog/regenerative-agriculture-reduce-ghg-emissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">carbon sequestration </a>potential.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Biodiversity Promotion: Regenerative agriculture encourages the integration of diverse plant and animal species into farming systems. By promoting<a href="https://www.themomentum.com/articles/how-regenerative-farms-support-biodiversity-and-food-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> biodiversity</a>, regenerative farming helps<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384891298_Regenerative_Agriculture_and_Soil_Health_Enhancing_Biodiversity_through_Sustainable_Farming_Practices" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> create resilient ecosystems</a> that naturally control pests, promote pollination, and support soil health.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Water Management: Healthy soils play a critical role in water retention, reducing runoff and erosion while increasing drought resilience. By improving water infiltration and holding capacity, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367540401_Regenerative_Agriculture-A_Literature_Review_on_the_Practices_and_Mechanisms_Used_to_Improve_Soil_Health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regenerative agriculture enhances the water cycle</a>, ensuring crops receive the moisture they need, even in arid conditions.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Reduced Chemical Use: Regenerative farming minimises or eliminates the use of synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilisers. This reduction enables natural nutrient cycling, reduces environmental contamination, and encourages a healthier farming ecosystem.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Adaptive grazing techniques: Using rotational grazing enhances regenerative agriculture by promoting soil health, increasing carbon sequestration, and supporting biodiversity. These methods allow pastures to recover between grazing periods, improving vegetation growth and soil organic matter while reducing erosion.</li>
</ol>

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What is soil organic carbon and its role in carbon removal?
<a href="https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/what-is-soil-organic-carbon-soc/120702/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Soil organic carbon (SOC)</a> is the carbon component found in organic matter within the soil. It is a crucial element in soil health and plays a fundamental role in carbon sequestration. The restoration of degraded soils and the implementation of regenerative agricultural practices have the potential to significantly increase SOC levels, effectively removing CO₂ from the atmosphere.
Healthy soils act as one of the earth’s largest carbon reservoirs, storing more CO₂ than both the atmosphere and vegetation combined. If managed effectively, soils could sequester up to 5 billion tonnes of CO₂ annually (<a href="https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/b05a2539-f9e0-470c-b258-dabfc38dcd0e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FAO, 2021</a>). This makes soil restoration and the management of SOC a critical strategy for addressing climate change.

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<h3>How regenerative agriculture fights against climate change</h3>
As global efforts to combat climate change intensify, regenerative agriculture serves as a powerful tool for carbon removal. The process of soil carbon sequestration not only helps to mitigate the effects of climate change but also enhances the resilience of agricultural systems in the face of extreme weather events, droughts, and soil erosion.
By adopting regenerative practices such as no-till farming, cover cropping, and agroforestry, modern agriculture can restore the land’s ability to sequester CO₂ while simultaneously boosting soil fertility and increasing crop yields. These methods create a virtuous cycle whereby healthy soils support healthy crops, which in turn provide food for humans and livestock while contributing to a healthier planet.
At COP21 in Paris, where the Paris Agreement was signed, the 4 per 1000 Initiative was also introduced, highlighting soil carbon sequestration as a critical strategy for achieving global climate goals. By enhancing soil health and increasing carbon storage in the ground, regenerative agriculture provides a scalable solution for reducing atmospheric CO₂ and mitigating the impacts of climate change. (<a href="https://climateaction.unfccc.int/Initiatives?id=4per1000_Initiative_Soils_for_Food_Security_and_Climate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Climate Action, 2023</a>)

The <a href="https://4p1000.org/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4 per 1000 Initiative</a> &#8211; Soils for Food Security and Climate is a global effort launched in 2015 during  COP21 (the Paris Climate Conference) to promote soil health as a key strategy for combating climate change and enhancing food security. The initiative&#8217;s name, &#8220;4 per 1000,&#8221; comes from the concept of increasing the amount of carbon in the world&#8217;s soils by just 
 0.4% per year (or 4 grams per kilogram) could have a significant impact on reducing the rise of atmospheric CO₂.
<h3>Goals and Objectives</h3>
The main objective of the 4 per 1000 Initiative is to increase the global soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks through sustainable agricultural practices. This increase in soil carbon can potentially offset a significant portion of annual global greenhouse gas emissions, stabilising the climate while improving soil fertility. Key goals include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Climate Mitigation: Enhance soil carbon sequestration to absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere, reducing the impact of greenhouse gas emissions.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Food Security: Improve soil health, which leads to better crop yields, increased food security, and more sustainable agricultural systems.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sustainable Land Use: Promote agricultural practices that are regenerative and sustainable, like agroecology, agroforestry, cover cropping, no-till farming, and crop rotation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How It Works</h3>
The 4 per 1000 Initiative encourages countries, farmers, scientists, and stakeholders to adopt agricultural techniques that increase soil carbon content. The idea is that even a small annual increase in soil carbon content (by 0.4%) globally would sequester enough CO₂ to help offset current anthropogenic emissions, particularly from fossil fuels and deforestation. 
(The International “4 per 1000” Initiative, 2016)

The 4/1000 initiative

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<h3>Which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) does Soil Organic Carbon support?</h3>
Soil organic carbon management is directly tied to several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which focus on creating a more sustainable and equitable world. These goals include:
<ul>
<li>SDG 15: Life on Land – Regenerative agriculture contributes to land restoration and biodiversity conservation, ensuring the health of ecosystems and the protection of natural resources.</li>
<li>SDG 13: Climate Action – Soil carbon sequestration plays a vital role in climate mitigation by capturing CO₂ and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.</li>
<li>SDG 2: Zero Hunger – SOC improvement boosts soil fertility, increasing agricultural productivity and food security, particularly in regions facing food insecurity.</li>
</ul>
The management of soil organic carbon is also instrumental in achieving broader environmental objectives. As soil carbon levels increase, so does soil health, which in turn supports increased agricultural productivity, improved water retention, and better resistance to erosion and drought.

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<h3>The future of regenerative agriculture</h3>
The future of agriculture lies in practices that restore rather than deplete the earth’s resources. By adopting regenerative agricultural methods, we can revive the health of the soil, promote biodiversity, and mitigate the effects of climate change. However, this will require a concerted effort from farmers, policymakers, scientists, and consumers alike to support and invest in regenerative farming techniques.
Regenerative agriculture provides a powerful solution for carbon removal and climate change mitigation. By drawing inspiration from Indigenous wisdom and combining it with modern scientific understanding, regenerative agriculture offers a pathway to a sustainable future—one that is rooted in harmony with the earth. By restoring soil health and enhancing its ability to sequester CO₂, we can create a more resilient, sustainable, and food-secure world for generations to come.

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<h2>Why your business should fund regenerative agriculture</h2>
Supporting regenerative agriculture is an impactful way for your business to drive meaningful climate action. By funding projects through Ecologi, you can help restore ecosystems, improve food security, and combat climate change through soil carbon sequestration. Investing in these initiatives not only helps the planet but also demonstrates your commitment to innovation, responsibility, and long-term resilience. Speak to the Ecologi team today to explore how your business can make a lasting impact.
Fewer than 50FTE? Visit our <a href="https://ecologi.com/impact-shop/regenerative-agriculture">Impact Shop</a> to fund Regenerative Agriculture carbon removal today.

Schedule a call with our team

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Why tree-planting isn’t the whole story

With the launch of <a href="https://ecologi.com/solutions/impact-funds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecologi’s Forests and Landscapes Impact Fund</a>, we are working with our partners to pioneer the next phase of corporate financing for nature restoration.
In this article, we’re going to explain a step-change in our industry’s understanding of how to restore nature: shifting the focus from inputs to outcomes.

<h2>Landscapes in a global context</h2>
At the end of 2023, the <a href="https://www.unep.org/resources/state-finance-nature-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State of Finance for Nature Report</a> from the UN Environment Programme described just how underfunded nature-based solutions are.
The UNEP report found that $200 billion USD per year is provided to nature-based solutions – a tiny percentage of the $6.7 trillion USD which is provided annually to activities which directly harm nature. In order to meet our climate, biodiversity and restoration targets (as well as reducing nature-harmful financial flows), almost three times this annual amount of nature-positive investment is required by 2030.
As well as scaling-up the financial flows, we must create multifunctional landscapes where people and wildlife can thrive. This method was described in the recently-updated <a href="https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2023-09/undp-gef-integrated-spatial-planning-workbook-2023-en.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNDP Integrated Spatial Planning Workbook</a>, to provide implementation guidance in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The landscapes we restore will only remain in a healthy state if those living within them are able to exist harmoniously alongside nature.
As such, our approach holds that any restoration projects that the Ecologi community supports must maintain this holistic approach, and generate lasting positive impacts on people and biodiversity, as well as on our climate. 
Any restoration project exists within its own ecological and social landscape, and through working alongside local communities and carefully designing the project activities to be holistic and enduring, the projects we support are much more than just ‘tree-planting programmes’.

<h2>Planting trees is not the whole story</h2>
Nowadays, some of the basic principles of nature restoration are quite widely understood – for example, most prospective funders are aware of the importance of planting locally-native species. But other critical aspects of project design don’t receive the attention they deserve, because funders are often only thinking in ‘per-stem’ terms, about how many trees have been ‘paid for’ and planted. This means there is a risk of private funding being directed to projects that are not necessarily producing the most impactful results for people, biodiversity and the climate. 
Tree-planting plays an important role in successful nature restoration projects. However, there are many other important elements required to run an impactful project – which also require funding. At Ecologi, we have always sought out partners who go beyond tree-planting, incorporating many other environmental and socioeconomic elements to their projects in order to produce the most positive outcomes. 
Whilst historically we have often championed the number of trees funded for planting by the Ecologi community, it would be wrong to think of this as the main (or only) success metric for how successful our projects have been in restoring nature.

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Our aim then, is to make other restoration outcomes as well-understood as the number of trees planted. At Ecologi, we’d love to see a world where the public and businesses are able to appreciate and communicate the cascading positive impacts of funding a landscape restoration project which go beyond how many trees have been planted.
Equipped with this more holistic understanding, businesses who want to do good will put their money towards the very best initiatives, and enable us to collectively have a bigger impact on our planet’s future.

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<h2>What is landscape restoration?</h2>
Our partners on the ground have been thinking this way the whole time – but the demand-side understanding is very much stuck in the past; if corporate funders are only focused on the input of how many trees they are ‘paying to plant’, then it’s very likely that they are missing out on understanding crucial wider components of effective landscape restoration.
We spoke to each of our long-term restoration partners to gather their thoughts.
<h3>The social aspect</h3>
The level of involvement of local communities in a nature restoration project is among the strongest indicators of project success, because it is local people who will manage the landscape into the long-term future. If we are serious about restoring ecosystems, then we need to root our restoration efforts in the community itself. It is they, their children, and their children’s children who will look after the forest as it grows and returns to health – a process of decades and centuries. 
We also cannot discount the social and economic realities of the communities themselves. The most impactful restoration programmes are those which align the needs and aims of the community with the needs and aims of the ecological restoration activities; otherwise, the structural foundations of the project will always be weak.

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Local and Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge is also critical to help sustain a landscape restoration project.
Often, important local historical context is held and shared by local people who have seen the landscape change in their lifetime and have anecdotal evidence passed down through the generations. This knowledge could not be found anywhere else, and it can be instrumental in developing successful outcomes.

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To truly understand the impact of a project, we need to look beyond the solitary ‘trees planted’ metric, and seek out a wider set of indicators which include the social, to help us to understand which projects are generating the most positive impact.
<h3>The ecological aspect</h3>
We then need to consider the ecological angle. Ecosystems around the world are in desperate need of restoration and protection. We know how important restoring tree cover is for our climate, but restoring other elements of landscapes is also vitally important for planetary health, biodiversity, and livelihoods.
From rivers and streams that provide us with clean water, to soils where we grow our food, and wetlands that keep carbon locked away, every part of a landscape needs consideration when designing a restoration project. Tree-planting can be an effective way of supporting many elements of a landscape, but it is just one tool we can use – and trees are not the right intervention everywhere.

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So when we think about a project area – a polygon on a map which could be hundreds or even thousands of hectares in area – it is very unlikely that a singular intervention like tree-planting is going to be appropriate uniformly across the whole area. The topography could vary in altitude or aspect (slope direction), and different areas within the polygon could have different wind exposure, rain shadows, soil compositions, wildlife grazing patterns, and so on. There might be existing primary forest which needs preservation rather than new saplings planting amongst it. There might be rivers, streams, lakes or peat bogs. There might be people living in the project area – with houses, facilities and roads or pathways which all need to be factored in.

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Our partners have always been concerned with all of this and more, and we want to bring that understanding to our customers and funders who support their projects through Ecologi.

<h2>Our partners and landscape restoration</h2>
The physical planting of trees can be very cheap. But prioritising high-quality projects that deliver meaningful benefits to the people and wildlife who live there – something Ecologi believes in strongly – comes with other considerations, which cost money.
When our community entrusts funds to Ecologi to support climate action projects, we take our responsibility very seriously and our team works tirelessly to ensure that money is directed towards the most impactful projects, delivered by organisations committed to making a real difference for our planet. It’s not really about ‘paying to plant trees’.

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To date, Ecologi has funded over 50 incredible reforestation projects on 3 continents with 11 partners, and what made them truly impactful was that they have always been being delivered holistically. In reality, each of these is much more than ‘tree planting’ projects. That’s why two of our supported partners <a href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/nature-staging-comeback-un-recognizes-seven-world-restoration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">were announced as UN World Restoration Flagships</a> in 2024, and one of them <a href="https://earthshotprize.org/winners-finalists/accion-andina/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won the Earthshot Prize</a> in 2023. 
Consequently, we’ve been able to report on incredible benefits brought to local people and wildlife by these projects, from the development of new sustainable income streams enabling local people to send their children to school, to the installation of irrigation systems providing clean drinking water.

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<h2>How can my business make a difference?</h2>
On your business’s road to net-zero, you have two central objectives:
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">First: measure your business’s emissions, set ambitious reduction targets, and reduce your emissions across all scopes as much as possible, as quickly as possible.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Then: support the global transition to net-zero and the restoration of nature by contributing to climate and nature projects around the world. </li>
</ol>
Under this second step, you’ll come across the phrase ‘Beyond Value-Chain Mitigation’ (BVCM), and it’s a crucial part of your business’s sustainability story. Without businesses taking responsibility for supporting restoration efforts worldwide, we will not reach <a href="https://www.unep.org/resources/state-finance-nature-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the levels of nature-positive financing required</a> to address the linked climate and biodiversity crises.

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Supporting long-term, large-scale initiatives delivered in partnership with local people can be one of the most effective ways of restoring nature.
Businesses should choose projects that allow them to report on all the impacts they’re contributing towards. Not only will this allow them to demonstrate the variety of ways their business is contributing towards a better future, but by demonstrating a more sophisticated approach to funding climate action.

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<h2>How can Ecologi help?</h2>
Here at Ecologi, we are determined to make it easy for businesses to fund meaningful and holistic climate projects, whilst tackling their own emissions. 
Our <a href="https://ecologi.com/solutions/impact-funds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Impact Funds</a> direct funding towards a range of incredible, holistic projects that are making a difference to local people and biodiversity as well as our climate. As we’ve explored in this article, this means funding much more than simply planting trees, and we want to shift business’ mindsets away from thinking about funding the planting of a specific number of trees, and towards thinking about contributing an amount of money towards holistic forest and landscape restoration.
Some of our partners have already made this shift in communicating the projects’ benefits, including Eden: People+Planet (formerly Eden Reforestation Projects).

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<h2>How to support Impact Funds today</h2>
You can contribute to the Impact Funds via the <a href="https://ecologi.com/impact-shop" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecologi Impact Shop</a>, or if you&#8217;d like to discuss your climate action goals in more detail then schedule a call with our experts by filling in the form below.

Ecologi’s top 20 Eco Gift ideas for the festive season 2021

1. Plastic-Free hair and body products from Ethique

2. A 3-month baking club subscription with Bakedin

3. Vegan recipes gift box

4. Ecologi Gifting

5. The Shrew with the Flu Book & Seedbom set

6. Art from Artfinder

7. Raw Organic Chocolate Making Kit from Cocoa Love

8. Zaytoun Olive Oil & Tree-Planting

9. Tiny Tony’s Chocolonely Christmas Mix Pouch

10. Gift vouchers for fun experiences together

11. Pela phone cases

12. Gift a Calm subscription

13. A Taste of Magic Teapsy tea bundle

14. Vegan chocolate gift box from Love Raw

15. Adopt a WWF leopard

16. Fair Squared apricot facial soap

17. Fairtrade Christmas bath bomb by Honeystreet Handmade

18. A rose & sandalwood soy candle

19. Zero waste kit from Battle Green

20. Make your own face mask kit

More posts

20 impactful climate actions businesses can take in 2025

Regenerative agriculture: reviving ancient practices for carbon removal

Why tree-planting isn’t the whole story: transforming our thinking about restoring our planet

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