SAS strives to combat deforestation, improve reef health and lower emissions

Analytics leader working with the Smithsonian and Amazon Conservation to help protect the planet

SAS’ commitment to creating a more sustainable future through social innovation is highlighted this Earth Day, as the analytics innovator works with the Amazon Conservation and the Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (HR4HP) Initiative, led by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, to help address three critical environmental issues: stopping rainforest deforestation, improving reef health, and reducing SAS’ carbon footprint. 

“As a global leader in analytics, we feel a responsibility to use our technology and our resources to find answers to the world's most pressing needs.” said Susan Ellis, Brand Director and Head of Social Innovation Programs at SAS. “But it is our employees' passion and commitment to social innovation that makes it a powerful force for change.

GCash Forest green heroes prevent 500 million grams of carbon emissions

Keyboard warriors have somehow had a bad rep, but there are times when it’s a good thing to let your fingers do the fighting—especially when it could save the only home you know. 

GCash users who have tapped into GCash Forest, the personal carbon tracker within the mobile app, have helped avoid carbon emissions by adopting more eco-conscious lifestyles. Since its launch in June, GCash Forest counts more than 300 million grams of carbon emissions prevented through green actions monitored by the GCash app.

“Taken together, the simple changes we make in our daily lives—such as walking instead of driving, going paperless, cultivating our own backyard garden, recycling and upcycling—make a difference to our planet,” Mynt’s Chief Marketing Officer Chris Manguera said.

There are now more than 933,000 users of GCash Forest, and they earn green energy points whenever they choose actions that would mean less carbon emissions. These points let them plant a virtual tree in GCash Forest, which grows with every green activity. 

700,000 Filipinos using GCash Forest to help save watershed

More than 700,000 GCash users have joined the movement to plant trees through GCash Forest, an important carbon tracking feature of GCash, to help save the watershed that supplies water to Metro Manila. 

Ney Villaseñor, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Mynt, which runs the country’s leading mobile wallet, said 756,370 people have signed up to collect green energy through GCash Forest as of August 19. That translates to almost 400,000 people using the new feature every month since its launch on June 25. 

GCash Forest is a personal carbon account that tracks how much emission people have avoided by living more consciously. “Green” activities—such as walking, bringing eco-bags and own utensils, going cashless, reducing paper use—earn users energy points. When they have enough points, they get to plant a virtual tree in GCash Forest, which GCash will match with a real, native tree planted at the Ipo watershed. 

Epson works with youth groups to drive environmental initiatives

Epson has partnered with two youth-led organizations to help raise awareness on environmental issues as part of its 2018 to 2019 environmental initiatives, in line with its vision to contribute to the development of a sustainable Philippines.

In its partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), its youth arm GREENducation Philippines, and Rotaract Club of University District Manila (RAC-UDM), Epson Philippines aims to work with youths to inspire environmental volunteerism through a series of youth-driven projects and eco-seminars.