Words by Smiley Team
Get inspired by crowdfunding projects that give back. Learn how entrepreneurs are solving the world's problems by supplying the goods and services we need.
Your debit card in your wallet could soon make a difference in the fight against climate change – that’s if you have an ekko card.
Oli Cook, 35, from London, has crowdfunded for his project, which – in simple terms – means by using an ekko card, you’ll be collecting one ocean-bound plastic bottle for every five transactions, regardless of the amount spent.
A tree will also be planted with every 50 purchases and cared for up to five years, he says.
“Like all good ideas, it started in a pub,” says Oli. “We were talking about climate change andI shared to everyone that despite caring about the environment, I didn’t feel I was doing enough,” explains Oli. “It turns out, I wasn’t alone and we all felt the same.
“We thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great if we created a business where you can just carry on living your life, but you still had a positive impact on climate change’. Those were the simple origins of ekko, but our actual plan goes a lot further.”
The impact of ekko could be transformative for the way people live. Oli hopes to empower people to make a tangible, positive difference and nudge them to make more eco-friendly choices, “especially once they see how easy it is for them to make a difference through routine actions”.
Over the next five years, Oli says they hope to see ekko customers plant 50 million trees and clean up 500 million ocean-bound bottles. “We are building an ecosystem that brings together innovative leaders in sustainability too,” he says.
“You can go about your everyday life as usual with ekko: shopping, purchasing coffee, paying bills and good vibes will echo around the globe. People can have a positive effect on the environment in little ways without changing their lifestyle, and we wanted to provide everyone the opportunity to own a piece of ekko and be a part of the movement we're leading.”
The first ekko cards will launch in October 2021. Oli's crowdfunding project reached 150% funded with the help of over 400 investors from a diverse range of backgrounds.
"This investment will help us to launch the ekko card to help consumers to turn the tide on climate change by planting trees and preventing plastic from entering oceans with their daily transactions," says Oli.
Find out more about ekko here.
Could you make this happen in your community? Be part of the change. Or, if you, or someone you know, has launched a crowdfunding social enterprise project, email [email protected].
