MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippines’ leading digital mobile wallet company GCash announced it has virtually planted 1 million trees through GForest, the environmental sustainability feature on the GCash app. As of December 19, 2021, a total of 1,060,000 trees have been planted virtually by GForest users.
The virtual trees are planted by GCash users via the GForest on the app, and GCash in turn plants the real trees on their behalf. Since GForest’s launch in 2019, it now has 9 million users. The users can earn green energy points by using the various cashless services of GCash, such as Send Money, Pay Bills, or Bank Transfer on the app – digital financial services that also lessen their carbon footprint, in addition to planting trees. GForest users can also collect green energy every time they walk if they enable GCash to access their health app or fitness tracker. These green energy points can be used to plant virtual trees.
As of November 2021, more than 133 million digital, paperless transactions have been made in GCash to earn green energy points for GForest users. This is in line with the mission of GCash to support environmental sustainability by keeping individual carbon footprint low and helping fight climate change.
“With the impacts of climate change, GCash capitalizes on technology in contributing and raising awareness to environmental conservation and sustainability. We hope that through GForest, we are able to empower more Filipinos to help in protecting the environment,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash.
GCash executed several 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 areas such as the Ipo Watershed, Alaminos Carbon Forest, Luyang Watershed and South Cotabato and Sarangani Provinces. Trees with diverse species like Narra, Yakal, Molave, Guyabano, and Coconut have been planted in these vulnerable locations nationwide, through GForest and its partners. Aside from these designated areas, GCash is also identifying new sites that it can reforest as it scales up its sustainability program.
Through GForest, GCash was also able to support and empower local farming communities. With the tree-planting activities of GCash, HOPE, and Century Pacific Inc., more than 2,000 coconut farmers received coconut seedlings which can help them have more produce and in turn, increase their revenue. With GCash, RAFI also conducted tree growing orientations and planting trainings for 150 farmers in order to guide them on tree-planting projects. The initiative aims to achieve 1.3 million trees planted by 2022.
GCash is the only fintech company in the Philippines to have a sustainability feature integrated within its app, and has been recognized by global sustainability organizations. Recently, WWF Philippines conferred the Conservation Innovation Award to GCash. The leading mobile wallet company was also recognized by Miss Earth ECO Awards 2021 and UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative (UNDP BIOFIN) as well for the environmental impact the campaign has created.
“The GForest program proves that marrying new technologies with creative sustainability solutions are something organizations can achieve. We thank our partners and users for making this milestone 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 Officer 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 keep their carbon footprint low and fight climate change.
Continue to use GCash and become a “green hero” today!
