eBucks has thrown its weight behind the green cause. Not only is eBucks the world's first carbon neutral rewards programme, but it is also actively working to mobilise its 1.4 million members into making greener choices. It runs continuous education and recycling programmes with employees and has committed considerable resources to energy saving initiatives such as the virtualisation of its IT infrastructure.

eBucks CEO, Lezanne Human said "at eBucks greening is very close to our hearts and forms a core part of our corporate social responsibility commitment. As a business we are always looking for innovative ways to reduce our impact on the environment and nurture sustainability. 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."

Earlier this year, eBucks, became the world's first multi-partner rewards programme to achieve carbon neutrality by planting close to 4 500 trees, shrubs and grasses from the eBucks Big Green Maze to low income homeowners in FNB's housing project in Cosmo City.

Jeunesse Park, founder of Food and Trees for Africa (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."

The eBucks Big Green Maze

In March this year, to celebrate the allocation of R1 billion worth of eBucks by the programme's partners to its members, The eBucks Big Green Maze was built. The first of its kind in South Africa, the maze represented a biologically diverse ecosystem. "On a conceptual level the maze represented what one can achieve in restoring biodiversity," says Lezanne Human. "We took a denuded site, transformed it into an environment that recreated the natural biodiversity of the region, showing that we are able to contribute to restoring earth's natural defenses for the sustainability of our planet's health."

Staff Education

Jeunesse Park from FTFA was also on-hand in July this year to chat to the eBucks staff about greening as eBucks held its first annual 'Green Day'. This initiative is part of a larger awareness campaign designed to not only educate eBucks staff about the global environment crisis, but also equip them with the tools to reduce their personal carbon footprint and each eBucks staff member pledged what they would do to help the environment.

In late October, many of the staff at eBucks swopped their laptops for spades as they headed to Tembisa to work in the permaculture garden at Zithikeni Secondary School for their annual volunteer day.

The permaculture garden at the school provides vegetables, not only to the many vulnerable children at Zithikeni Secondary School, but also to Are-Boekeng, a local hospice for orphans that focuses on the care of children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

Green shopping with eBucks

eBucks has made 'greening' easily accessible for its members with the launch of a 'green' category in the online eBucks shop. eBucks members received a spring time educational ezine and greening information is available on the website. Many eBucks members are turning to greener options, especially for their festive season shopping.

Members can use their eBucks to donate a tree through Food and Trees for Africa, purchase numerous eco-friendly products or sign up for a home recycling solution.

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.