What is 1% for the Planet?

1% for the Planet is a global environmental movement. Started in 2002 by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard and Blue Ribbon Flies founder Craig Matthews, it inspires businesses and individuals to support planet-protecting solutions through annual memberships and everyday actions.

Simply put, business members commit to giving 1% of their gross sales each year to the organisation’s approved non-profit partners. At least half of this comes through monetary donations – it can also come from employees volunteering their time or product and service donations. In return, 1% for the Planet advises businesses on giving strategies and helps them create high-impact long-lasting partnerships with non-profits.

With 3,000 business members worldwide, including Pukka, Klean Canteen, and Boxed Water, 1% for the Planet is having a big impact. The network has directed more than $270 million to non-profits working on projects across six key areas: climate, food, land, pollution, water, and wildlife – from bringing community gardens to urban landscapes and working to secure indigenous land rights to protecting the world’s most endangered species and advocating for sustainable climate policies.

Why we’re proud members

For Selesti, membership seemed like the next logical step. Year after year, we undertake various acts of charity as individuals and as an organisation. We have recently donated £2300 to The Feed in Norwich, a not-for-profit organisation that has really stepped up to help the hungry and homeless during the pandemic. This money was raised through a combination of staff fundraising and company donations.

We also supported Beryl Bikes with an innovative scheme to provide free bike rides to key workers. Initially we donated the equivalent of 10,000 minutes which Beryl agreed to match, however after such a huge uptake, we doubled our donation to 20,000 minutes, enabling Beryl to provide 40,000 free minutes to those that have helped keep the country moving over the last year.

The education landscape has completely changed since the Covid-19 outbreak, with the majority of school children now taking part in online learning. Whilst most of us are fortunate enough to have access to technology that would make logging into a zoom class a simple task, many are left without access to laptops and computers, we therefore wanted to join other local businesses in donating laptops to those who can’t afford them or don’t have access to them.

It’s important to recognise that even small changes can make a big impact, so we’ve taken meaningful steps towards ensuring we do everything we can to play our part in making our world a better place for everyone, including:

  • Plant-based catering at our events and for the team
  • A paperless office
  • Our energy is sourced from a green supplier
  • Company travel is conducted where possible by train or electric or hybrid taxis.
  • Office composting
  • Compostable coffee pods
  • Plastic-free tea bags
  • No single-use plastics
  • All cleaning products eco friendly, not tested on animals
  • Tote bags for the team
  • We declared a climate emergency
  • We’re a living wage employer
  • Our senior management 50/50 male/female
  • 54% of our team are female
  • Living wage employer

We are also passionate about our planet. Like most people, I knew the natural world was in danger, but I reached my tipping point after watching The Cove, an Oscar-winning documentary about brutal dolphin-hunting practices in Japan. It shocked me into action – I realised I could do so much more than recycling my waste or picking an eco-friendly energy supplier. I could use Selesti’s success to set an example and be a force for good.

As a certified B CorpTM, we’re already using the power of business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. Our business-with-purpose approach has seen us declare a climate emergency and become a Carbon Positive organisation. That means not only that we offset all of our carbon emissions, but plant more trees and offset even more than our output as a business. And by joining 1% for the Planet, we’re putting our profits where our principles are, cementing our commitment to creating a better world.

Why partnering with us means investing in a better future

Donating 1% of our revenue to causes that benefit the environment isn’t just good for the planet, it’s great for our clients too. While they’ll continue to enjoy the same successful results, by choosing to work with Selesti and paying an invoice, they’ll be supporting 1% for the Planet too and the issues we care about. It’s what sets us apart from other purely profit-driven agencies and means our clients can feel even better about working with us.

Find out more

As a 1% for the Planet member we’ll be supporting our non-profit partners directly, building meaningful relationships with the non-profits that matter most to us. The organisation legitimises our commitment by reviewing and certifying all of our donations too. If you’re interested in finding out more about 1% for the Planet or becoming a member yourself, visit onepercentfortheplanet.org