eBucks, the reward of choice, said today that through the planting of 1 938 indigenous trees it has achieved carbon neutrality, as confirmed by The Carbon Standard, and in so doing has become the world's first multi-partner rewards programme to achieve this status.

eBucks' carbon footprint in 2007 was 422 tons of carbon and through the tree planting it has offset 621 tons of carbon.

Lezanne Human, CEO of eBucks, said: "Close to 4 500 trees, shrubs and grasses from the eBucks Big Green Maze were donated to low income homeowners in FNB's housing project in Cosmo City through Food and Trees for Africa's award winning sustainable development programme, Trees for Homes. Of the 4 500 plants, only the 1 938 trees were used in the carbon sequestration calculation as most shrubs, flowers and grasses do not sink enough carbon to make a significant contribution and they do not live as long as trees."

Jeunesse Park, founder of FTFA and The Carbon Standard, said: "We commend eBucks for calculating their carbon footprint and then voluntarily offsetting it. In addition through their donation of the trees from the maze to the Trees for Homes programme, they have greatly assisted with the development of the Cosmo City community, which will benefit enormously from this greening. We hope that many other companies follow their example."

To understand how much carbon would be sunk by planting the trees from the eBucks Big Green Maze in a sustainable project, eBucks commissioned an independent study by Ekotrust in collaboration with Green Carbon, the foremost experts in carbon sequestration in South Africa.

Plants play an important role in the carbon cycle and have the ability to act as both sinks and sources of carbon dioxide. Through the process of photosynthesis plants use light energy to reduce carbon dioxide to produce organic compounds. As a result of this carbon storage process plants act as natural carbon sinks when an area is reforested or afforested.

Professor Gretel van Rooyen from Ekotrust explained that the equations used to determine the amount of carbon stored in the trees were developed after an extensive study of indigenous South African trees growing in an urban environment.

"Using these equations, our carbon estimates are far more accurate than the estimates obtained by using generic biomass equations," said van Rooyen. The report by Ekotrust measures the sequestration of the plants over a 20 year period. eBucks has 'banked' this as a single offset.

Human said in facing up to the challenges of climate change and sustainable development, eBucks is approaching 'greening' in a multitude of ways. It has implemented various energy saving initiatives to reduce its emissions for the next calendar year and the residual footprint will be offset through similar greening projects.

"In addition to offsetting our own carbon emissions and reducing consumption of non-renewable resources, we are also looking at how we can assist our members and partners in contributing to 'greening' and sustainable development," concluded Human.

For further information contact info@ebucks.com

Notes to editors:

• The FTFA carbon calculator, the first South African calculator of its kind, was developed by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (the first African company accredited to do carbon auditing) using the Global Greenhouse Gas Reporting Protocols which aim to harmonize GHG accounting and reporting standards internationally to ensure that different trading platforms and other climate related initiatives adopt consistent approaches to GHG accounting. This protocol has recently been converted into a standard (SANS ISO 14064-1:2006 Part 1: specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals). (Source: Food and Trees for Africa)
• Trees for Homes is a highly successful and innovative public greening initiative that contributes nationally in a visible way to enhanced environments. Trees for Homes started in 2000 to address climate change whilst improving quality of life and contributing to the development of sustainable settlements by giving low-income communities trees to plant at their homes, as well as providing training, some employment and environmental awareness.
• Trees for Homes aims to improve the quality of life of the poorest in South Africa by adding value to their housing settlements through the provision of trees which will:
• improve air quality and contribute to climate change through carbon sequestration;
• provide shade;
• provide food in the form of fruit;
• improve the thermal efficiency of the unit;
• provide a potential source of food (in the case of fruit trees);
• improve the economic (resale) value of the unit;
• assist with drainage;
• decrease noise pollution;
• help to settle dust;
• contribute to soil management and reduce run off;
• develop green suburbs and contribute to civic pride;
• provide a habitat for wildlife and improved biodiversity;
• contribute to economic development and jobs by coordinating with local emerging nursery businesses;
• provide skills and training for Community Based Educators (CBEs);
• provide some job opportunities for CBEs;
• increase environmental awareness through the CBEs locally and the publicity campaign nationally;
• improve the aesthetics of these new suburbs
• develop sustainable human settlements.

About eBucks:

eBucks, the rewards programme offered by First National Bank (FNB) and RMB Private Bank, is acknowledged as one of South Africa's leading rewards programmes with highly active members spending in excess of 80% of the eBucks earned in any given month.