Many of the plants and animals we share our planet with are disappearing at the fastest rate in history. Human activity has caused this silent killer: biodiversity collapse. Its effects might not be as immediate as the extreme weather events caused by human-induced global warming, but its threat is just as potent to the health of our planet.
 
 
 
 But we still have time to save these valuable ecosystems and stop species vanishing from our planet forever. Below, we examine what this will involve, how we have reached this point, and how joining Pinwheel will allow you to take meaningful action in the fight against biodiversity collapse.
 
 
 
 <h2>Supporting life and delivering beauty: the importance of biodiversity</h2>
 Diversity in plants and animals sustains life on our planet. It provides us with access to clean air, water, food and arable land. As they naturally capture carbon, forests and oceans also play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy balance of CO2 in our atmosphere. If predictions of an extinction event that has not been seen since the end of the dinosaurs pan out, all these would be irreversibly destroyed, plunging our planet into crisis.
 
 
 
 But we&rsquo;d also lose something less tangible but equally as crucial: the beauty of nature. Species-filled savannahs would be no more, rainforests could no longer teem with life and our oceans left void of everything from majestic whales to schools of reef-dwelling fish. Our planet would be stripped of what makes it unique: sustaining a diverse range of awe-inspiring flora and fauna.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Being able to observe this, no matter where we are in the world, is essential to our wellbeing as a species. If current predictions are realized, all that would be left in its place would be the documentation of our own extinction, an incredibly sad and ultimately self-inflicted conclusion to our time on this planet.
 
 
 
 This does not have to be the legacy we leave for future generations, but unless urgent action is taken, we will be left with no choice. To assess what form this action should take, we first need to see how we reached this point.
 
 
 
 <h2>What human activities have caused large-scale biodiversity loss?</h2>
 Several key aspects of human activity post-industrialization have led us to this unprecedented point. These are:
 
 
 
 <ol>
 <li>Altering habitats &ndash; whether it&rsquo;s to grow food or expand cities, huge swathes of natural habitats have been either destroyed, fragmented, or seen a reduction in their quality. This also eliminates nature&rsquo;s flood defenses, meaning that as flooding becomes more severe due to global warming, plants, animals, and humans alike are much less protected from damage.</li>
 <li>Hunting, logging, harvesting and fishing &ndash; all of these have led to the over-exploitation of plants and animals. For example, since logging began, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature14967">nearly 50% of all trees have been cut down</a> and <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/overfishing">currently one third of the word&rsquo;s fisheries are at their biological limit.</a>&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Accelerating climate change &ndash; climate change affects biodiversity in multiple ways. It changes how species are distributed, destroys habitats by increasing extreme weather and even alters reproduction patterns.&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Polluting habitats &ndash; untreated waste, pollutants from industrial processes and oil spills all wreak havoc on plants and animals, killing anything in their path, while also making areas uninhabitable.&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Introducing invasive species &ndash; non-native species cause increased competition for food, can pray on native species and spread disease. Japanese knotweed, for example, is estimated to cause &pound;166 million of damage a year in the UK alone.
 
 
 </li>
 </ol>
 <h2>High-quality reforestation, species protection and conservation: how we can turn the tide on biodiversity loss</h2>
 The need for a united global front against the biodiversity crisis is clear. What is often hard to know, however, is what we can do at a personal level. That&rsquo;s where the Pinwheel plans step in.
 
 
 
 Subscribing to Wilderness or Ocean Rescue means you can directly play your part in combatting the biodiversity crisis by supporting projects that both restore and protect the natural world to ensure our planet remains home to the breathtaking range of species we are all so fortunate to share nature with. Some highlights from the plans are:
 
 
 
 <ol>
 <li><a href="https://edenprojects.org/">Eden Reforestation Projects</a> &ndash; by employing local people to replant the forests they have traditionally relied on for food and shelter, supporting Eden means you are transforming lives alongside reestablishing vital ecosystems. Ocean Rescue is supporting high-quality coastal reforestation in Mozambique: &nbsp;</li>
 <ol>
 <li><a href="https://edenprojects.org/mozambique/">Mozambique</a> &ndash; this east African country was once home to sprawling mangrove networks and towering forests. But with 45% of the population living below the poverty line, these have been felled to provide vital food and shelter. Subscribing to Ocean Rescue means you can help break this cycle, restoring Mangroves in Maputo Bay while adding to the nearly 500,000 workdays already created for local communities.</li>
 </ol>
 <li><a href="https://savemetrust.co.uk/">The Save Me Trust</a> &ndash; wild animals have no voices with which to defend themselves &ndash; Save Me ensures this is never the case. Founded by Queen&rsquo;s Brian May, the charity uses campaigning and lobbying to change the law, tackling the root causes of why species are declining from our planet at the fastest rate in history. The key projects included in Wilderness are:</li>
 <ol>
 <li><a href="https://savemetrust.co.uk/our-work/saving-britains-hedgehogs/">Project Amazing Grace</a> &ndash; over the last forty years, the UK&rsquo;s hedgehog population has tumbled from 35 million to just one million, meaning we could lose this bastion of British wildlife by as early as 2025. By supporting Amazing Grace through Wilderness, you be directly involved in the fight to ensure this nightmare never becomes a reality. The project rescues and then releases hedgehogs, as well as ensuring we no longer destroy their homes as we build our own.&nbsp;</li>
 <li><a href="https://savemetrust.co.uk/our-work/securing-wildlife-habitats/">Rewilding for Wildlife</a> &ndash; habitat loss has devastated Britain&rsquo;s biodiversity. Through Rewilding for Wildlife, Save Me is rebuilding these ecosystems. Crucially, this is always done in line with the existing flora and fauna, ensuring high quality regrowth designed to sustain wildlife for centuries.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>
 <li><a href="https://oceanfdn.org/">The Ocean Foundation</a> - supports, strengthens, and promotes organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world. By subscribing to Ocean Rescue plan you can support their large-scale seagrass and mangrove restoration project at the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Puerto Rico.
 <ol>
 <li><a href="https://oceanfdn.org/projects/seagrass-grow/">Seagrass Grow</a> &ndash; not only is seagrass crucial for removing carbon dioxide, but it is also an important part of thriving coastal habitats. The Jobos Bay Reserve provides sanctuary to endangered species including the brown pelican, peregrine falcon, hawksbill sea turtle, green sea turtle, several species of shark, and the West Indian manatee.</li>
 </ol>
 </li>
 <li><a href="https://www.seeturtles.org/">SEE Turtles</a> - around the world, six out of seven species of sea turtles are either threatened or endangered and SEE Turtles has been a leader in sea turtle conservation since 2008. As a "keystone species" sea turtles are an important part of their environment and influence many other species around them contributing to balanced and healthy reefs, seagrass beds and beaches. Subscribing to Ocean Rescue means you too can help support turtle hatchlings and protect these beautiful and gentle creatures.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>
 We have time to work together to preserve the vast array of plants and animals that share our planet. As shown by the projects above these vital and pressing initiatives are already underway and being supported by Pinwheel.&nbsp;

Protecting biodiversity and endangered species is one of the most important aspects of saving our planet’s future.

Why we need to protect biodiversity

The need for biodiversity

Biodiversity loss is threatening life on our planet: what can we do to combat this silent killer?

In the last 150 years, human activity has had an unprecedented impact on the health of
 our planet. If we are to halt, or even reverse, this impact, it must be simple for people
 to play their part, whether it’s tackling climate change or saving species on the brink of
 extinction.
 
 
 
 This often takes the form of compensation, where people look to remove the same
 amount of carbon as their activities generate through carbon offsetting. These initiatives
 will play their part, but we must move beyond them if we are to see any lasting reversal
 of fortunes in the health of our planet.
 
 
 
 To make it happen, it needs to be easy for people to make the biggest contribution
 possible and cut through the planet restoration noise. This is our mission at Pinwheel –
 connecting people with the projects around the world that make the biggest contribution
 to a healthy planet.
 
 
 
 But why the need to go beyond simply carbon offsetting? Let’s take a look at the
 differences between contribution and compensation below, and why it matters.
 
 
 <h2>Why reducing carbon emissions means we will all have to contribute rather
 than compensate</h2>
 
 There are two key reasons why we need to move beyond carbon offsetting and instead
 look at how we can make the biggest contribution possible to reducing carbon
 emissions:
 
 
 <ol class="pw-list-plain">
 <li>
 <h3>Compensation is too often used as permission to carry on damaging
 our planet</h3>
 
 Once individuals and companies become familiar with the idea that their actions
 can be offset and made ‘right’, they risk taking this as a green light to carry on as
 normal. As a result, they insufficiently focus on how to make their business
 operations or lifestyle more planet-friendly.
 
 
 
 Offsetting alone cannot get us to net zero – or stabilise our climate. Anyone
 looking to reduce their personal carbon footprint or businesses setting net zero
 targets need to first decarbonise their lifestyle or operations. We then advise that
 any subsequent efforts focus on the most effective and high-quality solutions
 rather than on trying to compensate for, or offset, any remaining carbon.
 
 
 </li>
 <li>
 <h3>Long-term carbon removal is needed to stabilise the planet - carbon
 offsetting as currently practiced will not produce these</h3>
 
 If we are to reverse the effects of climate change, we need to create scalable
 solutions that remove Co2 from the air and then store it underground. In a world
 where people and businesses are solely focused on carbon offsetting, there is a
 significant risk it will not happen, as funding wil not flow to those, vital projects.
 
 
 
 Currently it is most common to only ever seek to offset one’s full emissions. For
 financial reasons, businesses and people usually then gravitate towards the
 cheapest (and therefore usually least impactful) way to do this. The race to the
 bottom means funds are directed away from the innovative and needle-shifting
 projects where they are needed most.
 
 
 
 As a result, the compensation model is broken. The average carbon offset price
 of just £3 (0.2% of global GDP) defies logic. If we could reverse the effects of
 CO2 on the atmosphere for such a small amount, the climate crisis would be
 over. We need to provide funding to the most important projects, the gamechanges, the ones that store carbon for hundreds of years. These cost much
 more than most offset purchasers are prepared to spend, meaning we risk not
 funding the projects that matter most.
 
 
 </li>
 </ol>
 <h2>Long term carbon removal is needed to save the planet</h2>
 
 The case for contribution versus compensation, therefore, is clear. If we are to reach the
 goals set out in the landmark <a href="https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement">Paris Agreements and have a livable climate</a>, we <a href="https://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/publications/reports/Oxford-Offsetting-Principles-2020.pdf">need to
 move to 100%, permanent carbon removal on a global scale by the middle of this
 century</a>.
 
 
 
 Our mission at Pinwheel is to show individuals and businesses alike the projects where
 they can make the biggest contribution. We connect people and companies with the
 highest quality, most impactful carbon removal projects - many of which offer permanent
 carbon storage, such as locking it deep within rocks, meaning that any removed carbon
 is safely put away for over 100 years, rather than being in carbon sinks that can be
 reversed.
 
 
 
 Protecting the flora and fauna we already have, as well as planting millions of trees, will
 also play its role in preserving the future of our planet. But we have to go further. This is
 because the effects of climate change (forest fires and disease) will leave certain
 species on the brink, meaning we will lose their natural carbon sequestration, leading to
 even more Co2 in the air. As a result, Pinwheel also provides plans that enable people
 to fund the most impactful species protection and habitat restoration
 
 
 
 For a livable climate, we need to rapidly scale up our investment in long-term
 carbon removal. That requires moving beyond our current compensation mindset
 and instead focusing on making the biggest contribution possible. Pinwheel will
 be at the forefront of that mission – allowing our users to make the biggest
 contribution they can.

Carbon offsetting as compensation for past emissions is not enough to repair the planet. Contribution to highest quality projects is required.

The Problem With Carbon Offsetting

Beyond carbon offsetting

Going beyond carbon offsetting: why we must move from compensation to contribution

If we continue emitting greenhouse gasses at our current rate humanity risks going extinct and our planet will be destroyed. We have known this potential fate is awaiting us for decades but have yet to deliver a meaningful approach to limiting global warming. In fact, emissions have risen almost every year since climate change was first identified, causing destructive and often lethal extreme weather to become increasingly commonplace.
 
 
 
 A lasting and transformative approach is therefore needed to address the climate crisis. In some form, this will involve removing carbon from the air and burying it deep underground. If implemented at the necessary scale, this offers the potential to revolutionise how we are tackling climate change and help us to forge a path away from disaster.
 
 
 
 Below we explore what this process involves and how Pinwheel is helping to fund these game-changing projects.
 
 
 
 <h2>How have we reached a point where carbon removal will play such an important role?</h2>
 Despite alarm bells being loudly sounded for decades, we have made almost no progress in tackling climate change. In 2021 alone, worldwide emissions are predicted to surge by <a href="https://www.iea.org/news/global-carbon-dioxide-emissions-are-set-for-their-second-biggest-increase-in-history">1.5 billion tonnes</a>, the second-largest increase in history and erasing any gains made during the global pandemic.
 
 
 
 We are already seeing the effects of this inability to curb global warming play out in real-time. Deadly flooding tore through Germany in 2021 at the same time as temperatures in Greece topped 50 degrees Celsius. This offers a small but terrifying glimpse into our planet&rsquo;s future if we continue on our current trajectory.
 
 
 
 As a result, we have reached <a href="https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/sgsm20847.doc.htm">code red</a>, meaning that emissions reduction alone will no longer be sufficient to restore the health of our planet. Any strategy looking to effectively tackle climate change, therefore, will have to involve removing excess carbon from the air and locking it away underground.
 
 
 
 The carbon can then no longer contribute to global warming, helping to keep our planet at a livable temperature and giving us a chance to reverse our fortunes. This has to happen on a global scale and address both past and current emissions. Extreme weather will still be a feature of our future but adopting this approach will help to curb its intensity and frequency.
 
 
 
 There is already debate as to whether the landmark Paris Agreement is now all <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/15/report-claiming-global-temperature-rise-will-top-15c-by-2030s-divides-scientists">but impossible to achieve</a> and that global temperature rise will exceed 1.5 degrees by as early as the 2030s. Such a precarious position requires the bold and exciting approach that scaling up and enhancing our carbon removal efforts can deliver - but how does this process work?
 
 
 
 <h2>How can we remove CO2 from the air?</h2>
 Carbon is removed from our planet&rsquo;s atmosphere either by specially designed machinery or accelerating existing natural processes. Machinery is more efficient to set up and will have a far greater impact in a shorter period, so will play a larger role than nature-based approaches in securing the future of our planet.
 
 
 
 There are two main forms of technological approaches to removing carbon: direct air capture and carbon capture and storage. Both involve using bespoke equipment to take CO2 out of the air, after which it is transported to a storage site and then locked away deep underground in rock formations.
 
 
 
 The only difference is that carbon capture and storage focuses on removing CO2 before it even hits the atmosphere, whereas direct air capture can account for historic emissions. Both will play a crucial role in cutting down the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere.
 
 
 
 Whether on submarines or spaceships, this kind of technology has been in use for decades. The challenge we are currently facing in ensuring it can play a potentially course-altering role on the scale required, is lack of funding.
 
 
 
 For carbon removal technologies to have the necessary impact, they have to be deployed globally in a relatively short space of time. This will be an expensive process but will deliver undisputable benefits. Increased early funding and widespread adoption will lead to more efficient technology and economies of scale, meaning that more carbon can be removed at lower cost. Removing the barriers to growth could unlock our escape from the climate crisis, and by subscribing to the Pinwheel New Horizons plan you can help make this a reality.
 
 
 
 <h2>The ways we can all support carbon capture and storage&nbsp;</h2>
 It&rsquo;s clear that governmental support and cooperation at a global level will be crucial to ensuring the success of carbon removal technologies. Determining how to contribute on a personal level, however, can often seem difficult, especially given the scale of the task at hand.
 
 
 
 New Horizons provides funding to game-changing approaches to tackling global warming, such as carbon removal technologies. The need for these to play a highly prominent role in the coming decades is abundantly clear, so we want to make sure they have the necessary funds. This is what you will be contributing to by subscribing to New Horizons.
 
 
 
 We can save ourselves from this self-inflicted climate crisis, but time is rapidly dwindling. Extinction does not have to be our legacy, and approaches such as carbon removal are showing us a way out. Let&rsquo;s work together to make these possible.

Emissions reduction will no longer be enough, and we must now scale-up removal of carbon from the atmosphere. But what will this process involve?

How long-term carbon removal could save our planet

Long-term carbon removal

Businesses have often been blamed for sluggish progress on climate change – yet at COP26 it was the progress that governments made that felt frustratingly slow. A significant feature of COP was businesses joining with activists to demand faster progress. 
 
 
 
 
 The talk of Glasgow being “the last best chance” to avoid the worst consequences was always going to be overblown and that turned out to be the case. Instead, what we got was some progress that keeps 1.5C – the likely limit that global heating can get to before we risk awful consequences – alive, but on life support. 
 
 
 
 
 In fact, based on the current commitments we are still on track for an alarming 2C of warming. It is a cliché, but whilst states can negotiate with each other, they can’t negotiate with physics. 
 
 
 
 
 The risk now is that, having placed so much focus on the build-up to COP, businesses take their foot off the pedal and fail to move as quickly as they might have done had we seen even stronger signals from our world leaders, with both ecological and economic opportunities missed. 
 
 
 
 
 If we are to close the gap and have a liveable planet and a thriving economy, then businesses large and small will need to take a major step up and lead us towards 1.5C. 
 
 
 
 
 The good news is that the economic case for climate action gets stronger and stronger. Not only do consumers and employees increasingly demand the organisations they engage with do the right thing, but the cost of decarbonising business has rapidly come down. 
 
 
 
 
 Across almost every area of business, there are financial benefits to be found in choosing a less resource hungry option. It is routinely the cheaper option for businesses to convert their company cars to electric vehicles, with the whole life cost of an EV beating that of an internal combustion engine almost every time (subject to availability of course). Installation of on-site renewables has got cheaper and will lead to cost savings while supporting the overall decarbonisation of the grid. 
 
 
 
 
 Equally, the risks to business in a globally heated world are increasingly well understood in the boardroom. 
 
 
 
 
 In meetings with the finance community, I saw clear signs that the tide is starting to turn, and money to support the transition to net zero will go from a trickle to a roar. Through the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), over $130 trillion of private capital has been committed to transforming the economy for net zero. That figure feels inherently fantastical but could be utterly transformational if we move quickly enough. 
 
 
 
 
 There is a vast array of ways businesses can both show leadership and generate value. With consumers increasingly choosing to spend their money with ethics in mind, companies that stand out for doing the right thing will flourish. 
 
 
 
 
 The best approaches will have some common features, all of which place quality at their heart. The most successful businesses will shift beyond thinking of sustainability simply as a way to avoid things deteriorating, towards action that aims to repair our planet. The future belongs to the businesses that move fastest to become truly planet positive.
 
 
 
 
 The most forward-thinking are taking a rounded approach by ensuring that they are not just looking at carbon, but also tackling interdependent issues. We hear most about the climate crisis, but our waste – plastics and e-waste – and biodiversity crises are shocking too. Not only that, but they’re linked problems, with linked solutions. 
 
 
 
 
 Take plastic – not only is it derived from fossil fuels, but it is filling our oceans, causing distressing harm to wildlife. It also risks limiting the effectiveness of vital carbon sinks like mangrove forests. And as the effects of climate change worsen, storms and floods will spread plastic further and faster than ever before. If we restore our oceans, its seagrass, kelp, whales, and other wildlife, we will be restoring the earth’s capacity to stabilise our climate. Helpfully, fixing the plastic and electronic waste crises, while tackling the carbon budget can be the route to inspiring actions that engage employees and customers, and build brand value. 
 
 
 
 
 Ultimately, it is in engagement where the best outcomes for planet and industry live. Giving staff and consumers meaningful choices about where to focus efforts not only creates buy-in and loyalty, but also acts as a catalyst for further action. It is that catalyst effect, when added to businesses taking rapid action on their own emissions and investing in planet repair, that can lead us to a stable, liveable climate.

Following COP26 it is clearer than ever that businesses must lead the repair of our planet. How best can they do that?

Businesses must lead the repair of our planet post COP26

Business leadership post COP26

Following COP26 it has become even clearer that businesses must lead the repair of our planet

After a two-year build up and pandemic-related postponement, COP26 has finally happened. 200,000 people from around the world are on their way home. Glaswegians have their city back. The world will now prepare for the next ‘ratchet’ in 2022, which means a tightening of each country’s NDCs (nationally determined contributions) in an attempt to get the world on track for no more than 1.5c warming. With all these legal pledges, talk of planetary boundaries, climate science, and so many interest groups shouting to be heard both at COP and online, it’s easy to get lost and confused.
 
 
 Honestly, being physically at COP was no different. From every corner, every venue, every screen, a different group was speaking about what meaningful climate action means to them. The climate issue is complex and different issues, albeit all interwoven, will affect some groups more than others. Hearing from marginalised groups, especially Indigenous Peoples and parties from the Global South was beautiful, vital and intense in equal measure. As a business, launching at COP and being able to absorb all the information, all the emotion and all the energy has given us that supercharged fire in our bellies to repair our planet.
 
 
 For individuals though, that complexity and intensity can be anxiety-inducing, and it can be extremely hard to understand how you can make a difference. There are two elements to this that Glasgow has shown to be true. Firstly, the magnitude of the problem means that it is crucial that governments and businesses make the seismic change within their own systems, over individual action. Secondly, that it is passion that drives action. If you believe in a particular strand of sustainability enough, you can and should make your voice heard. As <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/Saving-Us/Katharine-Hayhoe/9781982143831" target="_blank">Dr Katherine Hayhoe</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/climate-change-yes-your-individual-action-does-make-a-difference-115169" target="_blank">Steve Westlake</a> both have said, your individual actions by themselves may not make a huge difference, but communicating those actions does. Just look at the Greta Thunbergs and Vanessa Nakates of this world.
 
 
 For those of you a little more introverted than those prominent climate activists, what would we suggest is the next step for you, after COP? Well, firstly we suggest that you see how you can reduce your own carbon emissions and environmental impact year on year. Can you fly less? Can you eat less meat? Can you use the car less and maybe ride a bike to work? Perhaps you can reduce your plastic consumption or buy more second-hand products. Be sure to choose those actions that you are passionate about and don’t worry about perfection. Secondly, amplify your choices and get yourself heard - this could be by joining a group, posting on social media or writing to your MP to tell them about it.
 
 
 Thirdly and finally, where there are gaps in your ability to reduce your environmental impact, let Pinwheel help. We’ve organised the most powerful planet repairing projects we could find into four passion-based projects. Can’t decide whether you want to put your money towards removing carbon or protecting sea animals? The Ocean Rescue plan packages together super carbon-capturing seagrass planting with ocean plastic clean-up so that your subscription supports both. Want to fund initiatives that will absorb carbon from our environment but don’t know where to start? Our in-house experts have used Pinwheel’s project rating system to choose the projects with the most planet-saving promise for you to help fund through the New Horizons plan.
 
 
 By working out what means the most to you and working to protect it, you’ll be able to make so much more of a difference than you think, and we hope that we can help you get there.

What do the results of COP26 mean for you as an individual? Pinwheel offers tips and assistance

COP26 - What does it all mean for you as an individual?

COP26 - What does it all mean?

Do you ever stop to think what happens to your old electronic devices? Chances are they end up dumped in landfills halfway around the world for some of our planet’s poorest people to scour through by hand. The same cocktail of highly toxic chemicals they inhale while doing so has probably already seeped into the surrounding water and soil. While the technological boom of the last few decades has revolutionised our existence, it has created this human and ecological crisis: e-waste.
 
 
 
 Tackling our planet’s e-waste problem will require a global mindset change in our relationship with electronics. But this may take generations - so what practical advice can we all adopt in the meantime, and just how badly does e-waste affect our planet and its inhabitants? We explore this and more below.
 
 <H2> What is e-waste? </H2>
 
 E-waste is any discarded electronic device. It has existed since the 1970s, but we are currently living through an explosion of e-waste. Whereas it was once commonplace to keep the same TV for a decade, it’s now hard for many of us to imagine owning an electronic device for more than a couple of years. 
 
 
 
 Consumer demand has played its part, but manufacturers must ultimately shoulder a large portion of the blame. Electronic devices are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/mar/02/apple-iphone-slow-throttling-lawsuit-settlement">now built to fail and impossible to repair</a>, with this ranging from software updates that slow down older models to batteries that are glued in place and designed to have artificially short lifespans.
 
 
 
 If our device stops working, then, we are faced with no choice but to discard and start over. While this has led to enormous revenue for manufacturers, frequently disposing of electronic goods means our planet now produces enough e-waste in a single year to cover an area the size of Manhattan. By 2050, this could double in size.
 
 
 
 We are, therefore, in the grips of an e-waste crisis that shows no signs of slowing. Given that highly toxic chemicals are an essential part of the manufacturing process for almost all electronic goods, this is disastrous for our planet and its environment. We look at these impacts below. 
 
 
 <H2> The human cost of our e-waste crisis </H2>
 
 
 Although labelled as ‘waste’, e-waste is far from worthless. Metals including gold, silver and palladium are present in almost all electronics, meaning that the global pile of e-waste is valued at <a href="https://www.weforum.org/reports/a-new-circular-vision-for-electronics-time-for-a-global-reboot">$62.5 billion</a>, more than the GDP of 120 countries. 
 
 
 
 After typically originating from the West it is then illegally dumped in some of the poorest parts of the world. It is here that the shocking human impact of our e-waste crisis unfolds. Hoping to recover even the smallest amount of a precious metal, men, women and even children sift through these old electronic goods by hand. 
 
 
 
 They inhale toxic quantities of mercury, lead and lithium in the process, unaware of the severe and lasting damage this has on their bodies. Mercury, for example, can cause your entire nervous system to shut down.
 
 
 
 Mining these precious metals and minerals in the first place also brings with it disastrous human consequences. Cobalt, a key component of electronic batteries, is routinely gathered <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2016/06/drc-cobalt-child-labour/">by children</a>. As a result, nearly all of us are currently sat with a device in our pockets that is powered by child labour. 
 
 
 
 Planned obsolescence and the subsequent consumer desire to always upgrade may have resulted in the world’s first trillion-dollar companies, but it has also created a world in which children are being routinely exploited. Demand has created this supply of e-waste, so only by reducing this demand can we start to address our e-waste problem. 
 
 
 
 If we can transform our relationship to electronic goods at the same time as manufacturers placing the environment above profits, there is hope. Our legacy on this planet does not have to be the creation of a system in which armies of young children place their lives at risk just so we can have a device with fractionally faster processing power, but we must act now. 
 
 
 <H2> The negative impacts of e-waste: environmental impact </H2>
 
 The same toxic chemicals that are routinely being inhaled are also in water supplies and soil. This is because e-waste is typically left to sit in landfills, rather than being properly stored, meaning any harmful chemicals present leak out.
 
 
 
 As a result, the e-waste crisis has led to people around the world with lead and mercury in their drinking water. Landfills don’t even have to be near water sources for this to happen, as chemicals can enter smaller streams and soon flow into much larger lakes and reservoirs.
 
 
 
 Polluting the land and water with toxic chemicals like this also wreaks havoc on biodiversity. Entire swathes of nature can become uninhabitable nearly overnight, the effects of which can be felt for decades and even never entirely reversed. Existing wildlife, such as plants and fish, are also immediately wiped out.
 
 
 
 But producing electronic goods, especially at the rate we now demand them, also takes an enormous toll on our environment. The plethora of precious metals and minerals that make up each device have to be mined, scarring the landscape forever and replacing the natural wonder of nature with desolate canyons. Just as with informal recycling, this disproportionately affects the poorest regions in our planet, as entire communities are forced to destroy their natural surroundings to fuel a system created several thousand miles away from which they will never benefit.
 
 <H2> How can you help tackle e-waste </H2>
 
 As we are the architects of the e-waste crisis, but we can correct it. For this to be effective, it has to start with the manufacturers. Planned obsolescence and devices that cannot be repaired have to become a thing of the past. Any system that allows people to exchange several thousand pounds in exchange for an item that may not even last two years is a deeply flawed one. 
 
 
 
 Contributing to this level of structural change through personal action can seem like a tall order. Fortunately, there are changes to our behaviour we can all implement to play our part in the fight against e-waste. These are:
 
 
 
 Reusing: Before deciding whether to buy a new kettle, maybe take a look at the one you currently own and think, ‘does this really need replacing?’. If it can be mended then it's far better for the environment to repair and reuse items you already have lying around in the house, rather than buying more. When the manufacturer says repair is not an option, always push them to find out if this is really the case. 
 
 
 
 Quality products: Buying something will last longer, even if it costs a little more, is a great way to reduce your personal e-waste production. Spending ten pounds more could be the difference between a toaster that lasts for five years and one that lasts for two. But this approach will also require involvement from the manufacturers. The goods they produce at these higher price points have to stand the test of time and not just be another attempt to maximise revenue.
 
 
 
 E-waste recycling: If your electronic device has finally reached the point where it is unusable, then you will have to dispose of it correctly. In order to prevent it going to landfill and having a disastrous effect on the environment and human health, you will have to recycle it safely. See where you can recycle your e-waste properly <a href="https://www.recyclenow.com/dont-bin-it-bring-it">here</a>.
 
 
 
 We're also launching the Clean Tech Plan. It's been created in part to help people tackle the e-waste crisis. Signing up allows you to fund e-waste recycling in Africa, whilst creating local jobs in developing economies. This will start to alleviate this crisis, helping to reduce waste and recycle valuable components.

Discarded electronic goods are wreaking havoc on our planet and its inhabitants. So, how can we tackle this e-waste crisis? What exactly is e-waste?

How E-Waste is Destroying Our Planet

Why e-waste is destructive

How E-Waste is Destroying the Environment

Pinwheel&rsquo;s mission is to secure the future of our planet. We want to achieve this by making it simple for people to fund high-quality projects that protect and restore the Earth, whether that&rsquo;s providing solar cookers to refugees in Chad or saving the British hedgehog from the brink of extinction.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 All of our projects are placed into one of the four Pinwheel plans, each of which focuses on a specific aspect of planet restoration. This means that as soon as our plans have launched you can fund multiple initiatives in the cause that means the most to you. But what does each plan entail? How should you go about choosing? Let&rsquo;s take a look below.
 
 
 
 <h2>Wilderness: high-quality reforestation and species protection </h2>
 The Wilderness plan is centred on restoring nature to the state of awe-inspiring wonder it should always occupy. Biodiversity has been hit acutely hard by human activity in the past two centuries, with species disappearing at an unprecedented rate from our planet. Not only does this mean we are slowly losing the ecosystems that sustain life on earth, but our planet is being stripped of its natural beauty,
 
 
 
 Largely through our own doing, we would lose the chance to see majestic elephants roaming African plains or stealthy tigers prowling through rainforests. This doesn't have to be our legacy. In Wilderness we're working with Brian May's Save Me Trust to rewild Britain and protect one of our most iconic species. The hedgehog. 
 
 
 
 Through Wilderness, we also want to ensure our planet is prepared for the future. Even if we hit our most ambitious temperature increase targets, extreme weather events are going to increase in frequency. Human activity strips our planet of its natural defences against these.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 <h2>Ocean Rescue: protecting vital marine species while scaling up seagrass planting</h2>
 Our planet&rsquo;s oceans are home to an endlessly captivating array of biological wonders, ranging from the graceful majesty of whales to the intricate colour palettes of reef-dwelling fish. We are, however, at risk of losing this forever and leaving in its place overfished expanses of plastic-filled water depleted of biodiversity. Restoring and protecting our oceans and its inhabitants is one way we can ensure this doesn&rsquo;t become a reality. As a result, this is the ethos behind our Ocean Rescue plan.
 
 
 
 Eight million tonnes of plastic enter our ocean in a single year. Every single piece has the potential to kill or injure marine life, representing an entirely manmade and unavoidable loss to the natural world. Plastic is now even being found in human stomachs, transferred via the fish we eat and impossible to digest. By working to take plastic out of the ocean, we can turn the tide on this epidemic and slowly put an end to stunning marine creatures choking on discarded carrier bags and food containers.
 
 
 
 To support this, Ocean Rescue includes high-quality plastic recovery and recycling projects. These offer every single actor in the supply chain, from the local communities employed to gather the plastic to waste management company owners, value from what was previously harmful waste. This creates jobs and provides a financial motivation to recycle, leading to much greater adoption and more plastic being taken out of our oceans.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Alongside this, Ocean Rescue also includes projects that directly work to protect marine life. Human activity, for example, is now listed as the leading cause behind six of our seven species of sea turtle being endangered. It would be unthinkable to lose creatures as vital and beautiful as these from our seas - by subscribing to Ocean Rescue, you will be funding the projects working tirelessly to ensure this is never the case.
 
 
 
 There is, however, one ocean occupant that could play the biggest role of all in the fight against climate change. Seagrass captures carbon an astonishing 35 times faster than tropical rainforests, as well as providing a home for endangered species, such as seahorses. Our planet was once home to an abundance of these vast ocean meadows, but many have been destroyed in the last century, including 92% in the UK alone. As a result, Ocean Rescue includes seagrass replanting projects, ensuring this wonder-crop and its many benefits can once again flourish.
 
 
 
 <h2>Clean Tech: ensuring technological advancements don&rsquo;t come at the expense of our planet</h2>
 Clean Tech includes projects that address how technology in all forms impacts our planet and its inhabitants. This can range from encouraging e-waste recycling to delivering sustainable cooking equipment to local communities in lower-income countries.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Of all the Pinwheel plans, Clean Tech has the greatest focus on restoring the lives of people. Over 80% of the world&rsquo;s e-waste, for example, is shipped from the West and dumped in landfills, where it is picked apart by hand by some of the world&rsquo;s poorest people. Informal recycling, as the practice is known, leaves these men, women and children exposed to a cocktail of toxic chemicals, including mercury and lead.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 This tragic situation has been fuelled by a combination of manufacturers maximising profits through techniques like planned obsolescence and unprecedented consumer demand. These may take decades to address, but in the meantime, we are using the Clean Tech plan to promote and fund formal e-waste recycling, preserving our planet&rsquo;s natural resources while ensuring people are not placing themselves in danger just to support their families.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 But while the e-waste crisis has come off the back of the many technological advancements that are now part of our daily lives, not all our planet&rsquo;s inhabitants have been fortunate enough to benefit from these. For example, in many parts of the world, entire communities still rely on open fires to heat their homes and cook. Not only does this mean carbon is released into the atmosphere, but that life-sustaining trees are routinely felled. Nowhere is this felt more acutely than in refugee camps, where venturing outside the camp to collect firewood can expose women to being attacked or sexually assaulted.
 
 
 
 One way to start to address this is by providing biogas and solar powered cooking equipment. This is what you will be funding by subscribing to Clean Tech, a simple change that can protect extremely vulnerable lives and our planet&rsquo;s environment and ecosystems.&nbsp;
 <h2>New Horizons: game-changing projects that could save us from extinction</h2>
 Through the New Horizons plan, we are funding projects with the potential to change the world. For decades, we have been aware of global warming and its ability to spell the end for humanity, and yet have still made almost no progress in tackling climate change. Emissions are rising year on year and global demand for coal is increasing, with the extreme weather that gripped Europe in 2021 serving as a warning for what this future may hold.
 
 
 
 Such a precarious problem can only be solved by bold and decisive solutions, an example of which is rapidly scaling up our carbon capture and storage capabilities. This means we will be able to take harmful CO2 out of the air and lock it away for thousands of years, stopping it contributing to global warming. Doing so will help us keep the planet at a liveable temperature and avoid the very worst effects of climate change
 
 
 
 Through New Horizons, we want to make sure initiatives such as this have the funds needed to deliver on their immense promise to save our planet and humanity from extinction.

At Pinwheel we have created four plans, each of which focuses on a different aspect of planet restoration from wilderness, to oceans, to technology, to game-changing innovation.

The Four Pinwheel Plans

Four Pinwheel Plans

The UK’s home gas boilers emit <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/29/uks-home-gas-boilers-emit-twice-as-much-co2-as-all-power-stations-study" target="_blank">twice as much CO2</a> as all power stations combined. Therefore, any meaningful action in the fight against climate change must involve rapidly decarbonising our heating network. Air source heat pumps can heat our homes without burning fossil fuels, meaning they represent a one of the most important pieces of personal action in this decarbonisation effort.
 
 
 
 But making the switch from a traditional gas boiler is bound to throw up questions – is my home suitable for an air source heat pump? What is the installation process? Will I still receive the same level of heat? What about my gas cooker?
 
 
 
 We answer these questions below, meaning you are fully informed before making this change with the potential to result in a big difference.
 
 
 
 <h3>Your home is likely to be most suited to a heat pump if...</h3>
 
 1.	It uses electric heating
 
 Heat pumps use the external heat from outside air, making it much more efficient and therefore cheaper than solely electric heating.
 
 
 
 
 2.	You have underfloor heating
 
 Underfloor heating not only retains heat well but covers a much larger area of the house than a radiator. As a result, it does not need to get as hot to reach the same level of warmth in the home.
 
 
 Heat pumps also have a lower flow rate than gas boilers, meaning that heat is more consistently supplied and therefore stays trapped for longer. This is the opposite of a gas boiler, which fires on and off as required, delivering heat in bursts. As a result, your heating will be running more efficiently and at a lower temperature while still providing a similar level of heat and comfort.
 
 
 
 
 3.	You are off the gas grid
 
 If you are currently off the gas grid or live in a rural area where you may rely on oil - an air source heat pump acts the perfect environmentally friendly alternative. Switching away from your current heating method to a heat pump will not only bring financial savings but reduce your impact on the environment as oil is both expensive and produces greenhouse gases when burnt.
 
 
 
 
 4.	Your home has solar panels
 
 If you have installed solar panels then you are already making great strides towards a low carbon home. The addition of heat pumps can have even more of an impact. They complement each other well, as there will be times when the electricity input for your heat pump is being generated by yourself, for free.
 
 
 
 <h3>Key things to bear in mind before installing an air source heat pump</h3>
 
 Make sure you have enough space for the heat pump
 
 This won’t be a big problem if you have a garden or back yard. Heat pumps are roughly the size of a small suitcase so you will need to find a space for it to be fitted along an outside wall. This is most likely to be at the back of your house, meaning the heat pump will sit like an air conditioning unit.
 
 
 
 
 Installation takes one to two days, so plan ahead
 
 Installing a heat pump is not as straightforward as replacing a boiler. It will require installing a water tank, then the heat pump and then connecting the two. Sometimes access to the loft is required. As a result, it can be great to combine installing a heat pump with wider home improvement works. If this isn’t possible, be mindful of some disruption to your home and plan accordingly. 
 
 
 
 
 Don’t wait for your boiler to break before installing a heat pump
 
 Swapping a gas boiler for a heat pump is always going to reduce your carbon emissions, so you don’t need to wait for the boiler to stop working to make the switch. It can happen right now if you want to.
 
 
 You also need to bear in mind that there can be a lead time for getting a heat pump, so you don't want to wait for the boiler to pack up before getting one. If you do, then you could be without heating during the transition period (meaning you could even end up buying a gas boiler to get you through, which would be a huge shame).
 
 
 
 
 You may need to install larger radiators
 
 To deliver the same amount of heat and comfort that you have become accustomed to you might need larger radiators in some rooms. A good installer will check all of this for you, using precise calculations to recommend the right size for you. If someone gives you a quote without giving you a proper survey of which rooms need new radiators to maintain a good level of heating, avoid them! Depending on the size of the room, some radiators won't need to change at all, others a small amount and in some cases, they may need to be up to two times bigger to deliver the same amount of heat as a traditional gas boiler.
 
 
 
 <h3>How to get an air source heat pump</h3>
 
 Now that you know why you should get a heat pump, (to reduce your carbon emissions and, in many cases, save money on your electricity bill), it's time to find out how. The key thing is to choose an <a href="https://mcscertified.com/find-an-installer/" target="_blank">MCS installer</a> (you can search using the ‘find the installer‘ tool in the link). This is the gold standard body for renewable energy installation, and therefore comes with all the necessary protections.
 
 
 An option that is likely to become available in the future is getting your heat pump from an energy supplier that is providing heat pumps. We’re excited by the ambition shown by <a href="https://octopus.energy/blog/heat-pump-revolution/" target="_blank">Octopus Energy</a>. They’re currently leading the way, having agreed to invest £10m into R&D around heat pumps. Octopus also working to reduce the cost of the installation process and employ 1,000 new heat pump installation engineers. 
 
 
 Alongside this, a series of government grants have been announced to incentivize people to <a href="https://www.edfenergy.com/heating/advice/air-source-heat-pump-grants" target="_blank">switch to heat pumps</a>. From April 2022 onwards, there will be a grant available of £5,000 towards the cost of a heat pump. Exact details of how to apply are yet to be announced but will be finalised nearer to the deadline.
 
 
 There is also the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/domestic-renewable-heat-incentive" target="_blank">Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive</a> in which you can receive quarterly payments for seven years based on the amount of renewable energy generated by certain heat pumps. However, this scheme will <a href="https://www.icax.co.uk/RHI_Continuity.html" target="_blank">end in March 2022</a> so be sure to enquire as soon as possible.
 
 
 
 <h3>Instances where an air source heat pump may not be ideal</h3>
 
 Listed properties
 
 Installing a heat pump will require installing the pump on an outside wall, which is not possible for some listed buildings. Even in a non-listed house or protected area, you may not be able to have one if it is visible from the road.
 
 
 
 
 You do not own the property
 
 Altering something as crucial as the heating system can only be sanctioned by the person who owns the property and given the cost, doesn’t make sense if it is not your long-term home. If you are renting, it is almost certain you will not get a say in whether a heat pump is installed.
 
 
 
 
 There is no space for a (reasonably) large water tank
 
 Many homes already have water tanks, typically found in the airing cupboard. If this isn’t the case, you will really have to consider if your property has the room to install one of these. This is especially the case in flats, where the room may already be tight. It’s still worth talking to heat pump providers to see what options you may have. 
 
 
 
 <h3>Air source heat pump myths</h3>
 
 They don’t work in cold temperatures 
 
 This isn't accurate. Heat pumps are commonplace in Scandinavian and Nordic countries, where temperatures are routinely much lower than the UK. There does come a point when a heat pump stops working efficiently, but at temperature levels significantly below those we see in the UK.
 
 
 
 
 Your water will be noticeably colder
 
 Hot water from heat pumps is colder, but never noticeably so. In fact, current gas boilers heat water to an unnecessarily high temperature, which is extremely wasteful, both in terms of money and carbon. The heat from gas boilers is hot enough to pose a risk of blistering the skin.
 
 
 
 
 You can no longer cook with gas
 
 After you have installed a heat pump, you will still be able to maintain a gas hob and oven. Although this is the case, getting a heat pump presents the perfect opportunity to move away from gas cooking. Not only is having a naked flame inherently dangerous, gas particles are bad for your health, and can even lead to issues like <a href="https://theconversation.com/gas-cooking-is-associated-with-worsening-asthma-in-kids-but-proper-ventilation-helps-151591" target="_blank">childhood asthma</a>. Modern induction hobs are as responsive and easy to use as gas hobs – so getting rid of gas once-and-for-all makes sense. 
 
 
 
 <h3>A heat pump is not suitable for me, what steps can I take to reduce my environmental impact? </h3>
 
 If there is no way a heat pump can be installed in your property yet, you can still play your part in helping to decarbonise your heating. There are a few simple things you can do to ensure your home is correctly insulated and not leaking heat and wasting energy:
 
 
 
 
 1.	Cavity wall insulation - Make your brick walls work harder by filling the cavity with an insulating material that helps to keep the heat inside the home. 
 
 
 
 
 2.	Loft Insulation - A well-insulated roof helps to keep the living space warm which can contribute to a lower heating bill, and therefore less energy usage.
 
 
 
 
 3.	Replace windows and doors - If the doors and windows are becoming tired and drafty then it might be worth replacing them, particularly with double glazing, to help keep the home as warm as possible without needing the heating on.
 
 
 
 
 4.	Go smart - Using smart heating controls like Nest and Hive can enable you to only use the energy you need, for example helping you to avoid heating your home when no one is in.
 
 
 
 
 And in the meantime, if you want to help others to decarbonise their energy, you can check out our <a href="https://www.pinwheel.earth/projects" target="_blank">Clean Tech projects</a> that champion alternative, sustainable energy methods. These projects have a positive impact on not only the environment, but people's lives. From <a href="https://www.pinwheel.earth/projects/solar-cookers" target="_blank">Solar Cookers</a> that harness the sun’s natural power to make cooking safer for refugees in Chad, to <a href="https://www.pinwheel.earth/projects/biogas-cooking-equipment" target="_blank">Biogas Cooking Equipment</a> that enables rural homes in India to access renewable energy, our Clean Tech projects are helping communities around the world.

A heat pump is the perfect way to decarbonise your home. But what is involved in the switch and how do you know if your home is suitable?

Heat pumps: your questions answered

Air source heat pumps

Air source heat pumps: a guide to decarbonising your heating

How we select our projects
 What activities make the biggest and best contribution to repairing our world? That is the question we seek to answer in everything we do at Pinwheel. It is with that focus that we have set about selecting the projects that Pinwheel users can choose to fund. So, what criteria do we use?&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Pinwheel&rsquo;s project rating system
 We have built a bespoke project rating system for this purpose. For carbon avoidance and removal projects we have built our ratings on the foundation of the Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 The Oxford Principles have most directly informed two of our criteria. Firstly, that we should highly rate projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere, rather than ones that avoid new emissions being generated. Ultimately, we will need to move towards 100% carbon removal to be consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Secondly, that we should shift to long-lived carbon storage &ndash; that is where the carbon is stored for hundreds or thousands of years. Short-lived storage, for example from planting trees, is valuable for buying us time. More importantly, many of the projects provide vital non-carbon benefits, such as providing a habitat for wildlife. However, many short-lived carbon storage activities risk being reversed, for example through forest fires, so over time long-term storage has to be prioritised.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 It is those principles which led us to work with the team behind Enhanced Biomass Sequestration (EBS). Their methodology is potentially game-changing, in that they start with nature, but then use the skillset of mining, to sequester carbon and lock it underground for hundreds of years. Their &lsquo;reverse mining&rsquo; approach is both high-quality and scalable &ndash; if Pinwheel users can together help it get off the ground, it will make a massive contribution to saving our world!&nbsp;
 
 
 
 We also prioritise &lsquo;additionality&rsquo; &ndash; that is, we make sure we are confident that the funding you provide leads to more carbon being removed &ndash; and ensuring that the impact of the project is well monitored, with risks taken into account. We also want to support projects which do their work in the most beneficial way for people, which is why we are working alongside Fair Climate Fund, whose projects provide a fair income for the families it supports.
 
 
 
 Supporting the new and amazing&nbsp;
 A key feature of our search for world leading projects has been to look for the things that remove the greatest amounts of carbon. That&rsquo;s why you will find seagrass and mangrove planting in our Ocean Rescue plan. Taken together, these kinds of projects are often referred to as &lsquo;blue carbon&rsquo;, an emerging area for carbon removal activity. We have decided that it is vital that these projects are supported, because of their incredible carbon removal properties. Seagrass is a true wonder plant. Not only is it vital for supporting the health of our oceans, but it can sequester carbon at up to 30 times the rate of land-based trees! Mangroves can do so at around two-to-four times the rate of land-based trees. Whilst these projects are amazing, they are also newer, so are not yet likely to be fully verified as &lsquo;carbon credits&rsquo; for offsetting. Verification of the impact of projects matters, so we are focusing on working with projects that are working credibility towards verification, where they are not fully verified yet.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Moving beyond carbon to true planet repair&nbsp;
 Restoring our world is more than just thinking in terms of carbon. Our crises our interlinked. The destruction of habitats for wildlife and the harm we are doing to our oceans are driven by the same issues as our carbon crisis. Our plastic waste is not only derived from a fossil fuel, but also does huge harm to ocean life (which some of us then eat). Not only that, but the increase in number and intensity of storms and floods because of climate change means that our plastic waste is likely to get spread further and faster in coming years.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 That&rsquo;s why we have selected projects that support animal life, remove plastic, and tackle our fastest growing waste stream &ndash; e-waste. We have selected high-quality waste removal projects, which also provide income for local communities, predominantly in Africa. The Empower plastic removal platform enables tracking of the volume, type, and provision of photo evidence of the plastic waste, using blockchain technology. Using blockchain means data cannot be altered and we can be confident that the support we all provide makes a meaningful difference.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Whilst climate change is the biggest threat to many animals, including polar bears, human activity has created a range of problems, which is why this era has become known as the Sixth Mass Extinction. The current rate of extinction of species is estimated at 100 to 1,000 times higher than natural background extinction rates. We have looked to support animals that are both in need, but also provide a broad set of biodiversity benefits. Almost all animals are important for biodiversity &ndash; we do not fully understand what the impact of losing an animal will be. There are some &lsquo;keystone&rsquo; species, so we have started by focusing on one of them &ndash; sea turtles. Almost all sea turtle species are endangered or at risk and they make a broad and vital contribution to ocean life.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 We have worked hard to find the projects that, with Pinwheel users&rsquo; support, can make a real contribution to repairing and restoring our world. We want Pinwheel users to be confident that every pound, euro or dollar they provide is contributing to changing the world for the better and hope the above explanation of how we make choices provides that confidence. If you have any questions or comments &ndash; or even suggestions as to where we can find the game-changing projects we should support - please do get in touch with us at <a href="mailto:info@pinwheel.earth">info@pinwheel.earth</a>&nbsp;

What activities make the biggest and best contribution to repairing our planet? It's with that focus that we select the projects that Pinwheel users can choose to fund.

How we select our projects

Our diet not only impacts our health and well-being but has a significant impact on the planet. Food production is responsible for a <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/food-systems-responsible-for-one-third-of-human-caused-emissions" target="_blank">third of human-caused emissions</a>, with the meat industry having the biggest negative impact. The more meat we eat, the more that is produced, and the more emissions we generate.
 
 
 
 
 If we alter our eating habits by switching to a low carbon diet then we can significantly reduce our personal carbon emissions, feeding into the reductions that are needed on a global scale to restore the health of our planet. 
 
 
 
 <h2>Eat less meat and reduce dairy consumption</h2> 
 
 <a href="https://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/197623/icode/" target="_blank">Meat and dairy production accounts for 14.5% of global CO2 emissions.</a> This is because animals produce methane as they digest food, consume huge amounts of water, and require large areas of land to survive. Livestock is a climate double-whammy, as the land they need is often created through large-scale deforestation. As the forests are cleared, they release the carbon stored in the trees into the atmosphere. Its also worth pointing out that the way we treat livestock is appalling – its hard to justify the scale of harm we do, even without accounting for the climate impact. 
 
 
 
 
 Due to the way their digestive systems operate, the main culprits for these issues are sheep and cows. Beef is the worst climate offender by far, with annual global emissions from its production roughly equaling those of India. The biggest and quickest single thing most of us could do to cut our carbon emissions is to cut out beef from our diets.
 
 
 
 
 To combat this issue, we do not need to suddenly become vegetarian or vegan (although you’d have the biggest impact if you did!), but we do need to make sure we’re reducing our meat and dairy consumption. This will dramatically reduce carbon emissions because we are reducing the demand, which in turn reduces the supply. There has been a rise in veganism, vegetarianism and flexitarianism already, with meat and dairy substitutes becoming more readily available, making the switch to a low carbon diet easier than ever.
 
 
 
 
 Starting with one meal a week being meat-free can have a positive impact on the planet. There are plenty of meat-free recipes out there, or you can try a meat alternative like Quorn, Beyond Meat, or THIS to help you get started. This kind of action on a mass scale can have a significant impact. If every family in the UK ate one vegan meal a week, the <a href="https://www.livekindly.co/vegan-meal-reduces-uk-ghgs/" target="_blank">UK's emissions would fall by 8%.</a>
 
 
 
 
 To make things really simple there are a great range of veg boxes and meat free meal kits you can try. We recommend Riverford’s organic vegetarian and vegan recipe boxes or Allplants meal boxes. Replacing milk has got easier. Try Minor Figures, Alpro or Oatly milk substitutes. Alpro and Oatly are available in most UK supermarkets.
 
 
 
 
 The money you save from reducing the volume of meat and dairy products you consume can go towards investing in quality, which is better for your health and animal welfare. Buying free range or organic produce ensures that you’re buying top quality produce. Where you do buy meat, changing your shopping habits to purchasing meat from your local butcher or eggs from a local source not only helps to support local businesses and communities but makes you aware of where your food is coming from. That way, you are not supporting produce that has traveled miles, and as result released carbon emissions from delivery trucks and other factors in the supply chain. Instead, you are championing locally grown produce, by local farmers that can go from farm to table in a more environmentally friendly way.
 
 
 
 <h2>Reduce food waste</h2> 
 
 When you do your weekly shop, you usually account for all the meals you’re going to have that week and shop accordingly. But no matter how much you plan, there is always going to be that last minute night out or the days where you just feel like treating yourself to a takeaway. These human aspects of life can result in food being wasted. 
 
 
 
 
 <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/food-waste-emissions" target="_blank">Food waste accounts for 6% of global CO2 emissions</a>, which is around three times the amount from aviation. 9% of the food industry’s total emissions comes from people throwing food away. Not only is the energy it takes to produce food completely wasted when it is thrown away, but rotting food also produces methane, which rapidly contributes to global warming.
 
 
 
 
 The biggest way we can make an impact and reduce these emissions is to find ways to reduce food waste. This starts with the basics like only buying the food you need - it might seem obvious but planning your meals can help make sure you’re only buying the food you need for the week. If you struggle to meal plan, why not try doing a couple of smaller food shops a week?
 
 
 
 
 Another great way to reduce food waste is to use up the food you have before buying more. A seemingly random collection of ingredients could always be combined to make a new dish rather than throwing them away. There are loads of recipes out there that can help you make something magic out of your leftover foods.
 
 
 
 
 Lastly, we need to eat with our stomachs and not our eyes. Discarding produce because it’s not visually appealing is an ongoing problem. So next time you're shopping, pick up the wonky fruits and vegetables that might not be the prettiest. Supermarkets have even started to mark up these ‘ugly fruits and veg’ at reduced prices to encourage consumers to purchase them - great for the environment and your wallet. Furthermore, when your fruit and vegetables are wilted or overripe, they can still be used - especially in soups and smoothies. It’s far more beneficial to the planet (and to you) for them to be turned into something nutritious and delicious, rather than wasting away in landfill. 
 
 
 
 <h2>Reduce packaging</h2>
 
 Part of a low carbon diet is not just about low carbon food, we’ve got to consider what it comes in as well. Food packaging is almost always designed to be single-use and is highly resource-intensive to produce. Most packaging is made up of plastic which is reliant on a variety of polymers derived from petroleum. This is a massive drain on natural resources which is exactly what we want to avoid. 
 
 
 
 
 In addition to this, most plastics cannot be reused, meaning it ends up discarded in our oceans and rivers. This issue is now so severe that <a href="https://www.condorferries.co.uk/plastic-in-the-ocean-statistics" target="_blank">eight million pieces of plastic are entering our oceans a day.</a> This can lead to animals dying when they choke on these plastics and also leads to toxic chemicals leaking into the ocean.
 
 
 
 
 A good first step is to buy foods that are not heavily packaged. The best way to do this is by buying loose fruit and vegetables. There are even several supermarkets now offering reusable plastic-style bags to transport these in, or you could buy your own to take to the supermarket with you.
 
 
 
 
 If you’re left with no other option, then always look for foods that use recyclable packaging. You can check what is able to be recycled in your area and plan accordingly. There has also been an increase in availability of refill tubs and pouches designed to replenish a main container for certain products - mainly with goods such as cereals, washing up liquid and soap. Choosing these products can help you to reduce your packaging consumption and do your part for the planet. There’s also the added benefit of reducing the number of fully packaged products that must be produced and therefore also much more cost effective.
 
 
 
 
 One last way you can reduce packaging is by buying large economy-sized products. These last longer and therefore don’t need to be replaced as often. As a result, you can reduce packaging you consume as well as working out cheaper in the long run. Just make sure that you really will use it all! 
 
 
 
 <h2>Choose seasonal food</h2>
 
 Shopping seasonally reduces the need to transport non-seasonal foods from long distances. They are often shipped from warmer countries where they can be grown all year round. This often means flying food in, which produces <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/food-transport-by-mode" target="_blank">ten times more emissions than purely road transport and 50 times more than shipping.</a> 
 
 
 
 
 Even when the food arrives in the country, it then has to travel to reach our supermarkets which in turn produces even more emissions. <a href="http://www.i-sis.org.uk/FMAS.php" target="_blank">DEFRA estimates</a> that food transport within the UK alone accounts for the same volume of emissions as 5.5 million cars. There is then even more mileage to add on top of that when we consider the distance we personally travel to buy food, which is on average several hundred miles per person a year.
 
 
 
 
 The best way to combat this problem is to prioritise seasonal food that can be bought locally. The first step to eating seasonally is to research what foods are seasonal to where you live and then you can purchase these accordingly. Of course, there are always going to be some anomalies such as coffee and chocolate which are only grown in select parts of the world and don’t follow seasonal patterns. But there are still plenty of other seasonal food groups to focus your attention on.
 
 
 
 
 So, there you have it - our step by step guide on how to achieve a low carbon diet. Small changes can make a huge difference to the environment. When you buy seasonal food, reduce packaging usage, meat consumption and food waste, you significantly reduce your impact on the planet. Better yet, shopping locally can also help you feel more connected to your local community by helping to support local businesses.
 
 
 
 
 You can also start making meaningful changes by signing up to a Pinwheel plan. Together, we can help our planet get on the road to recovery and leave it in the best condition for future generations.

Adopting a low carbon diet can help the planet and your local community thrive as well as keeping you healthy. Find out how you can get started here.

Low Carbon Diet: How can you get started?

Low carbon diet

Planet-positive should be profit positive
 As sustainability claims and corporate net zero pledges proliferate, it is increasingly difficult for us to distinguish between the real deal and the phantom. Yet companies that have put sustainability at the heart of their mission are outpacing their competitors.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Consumers are choosing to spend their money with responsibility in mind, turning away from brands they feel have acted inappropriately, towards ones that they see are part of the solution.
 
 
 
 Employees are seeking out employers that share their values.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 The broad environmental crises are interlinked and urgent, so we can no longer look at carbon emissions alone. If we fail to avoid the collapse of biodiversity or tackle the mountains of electronic waste we&rsquo;re generating, we will also fail to deliver a liveable climate.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Informed business leaders know that the economy cannot thrive unless the planet does. They know we need to stop a meaningful restoration economy becoming a commoditised economy that is dominated by low prices, low impact and low engagement.
 
 
 
 They also see the enormous potential of working to create a positive society and environment. But to drive value, sustainability actions must be made part of the lived experience of customers and employees rather than living in the pages of the annual report.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Microsoft&rsquo;s bold pledge to not only go carbon negative by 2030, but also remove sufficient carbon from the atmosphere to balance all of its emissions since its founding in 1975, showed it is possible to stand out by showing meaningful environmental leadership and driving commercial outcomes.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 The pledge not only burnished its credentials as a leader in carbon reduction, but also provoked investment in vital carbon geological sequestration technologies that have the potential to be a game-changer as we seek to stabilise our climate. The impact of their investment in carbon sequestration will be many multiples of their spend.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 For businesses looking for ways to emulate Microsoft, and do so with a more modest budget, there are ways to make an impact by looking beyond carbon, focusing on quality actions and by offering consumers meaningful choices that bring their actions to life.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Collaboration and partnerships are critical.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 We have created Pinwheel for that very purpose: so that eco-engaged individuals and planet-positive businesses can come together to support the highest-quality actions that will repair our planet.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 We aim to embed sustainability action into the lived experience of those who matter most, consumers and employees.
 
 
 
 We believe the best commercial outcomes are delivered by bringing sustainability choices to life so that a truly impactful coalition for action can be built.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 We do this by:
 Assembling the most impactful planet saving projects into plans themed by passion points &ndash; restoring our wilderness; repairing our oceans; providing clean technology to communities who need it most; and, launching ground-breaking projects that remove and lock carbon away for hundreds or thousands of years
 
 
 
 Focusing on high-quality carbon removal, using the Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting as a basis, to ensure that only projects that will deliver the best outcomes make it into a plan
 
 
 
 Ensuring that we support actions that deliver biodiversity and ecological benefits as well as remove carbon from the atmosphere&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Giving businesses, their employees, customers, and individuals the opportunity to subscribe to plans that match their passions
 
 
 
 What we are doing is part of a paradigm shift from compensating for harm, to making the biggest contribution possible. We want to support engaged environmentalists to go carbon negative and planet positive.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 This paradigm shift can also help business leaders to focus their efforts. Whether it is seeking out mangrove or seagrass planting, which have significantly more carbon removal power than land-based trees, or looking to fund longer-term carbon removal, such as enhanced biomass sequestration (a nature-based &lsquo;reverse mining&rsquo; solution), planet positive businesses can multiply the impact of their investments and build a compelling story of true leadership in repairing our planet.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Pinwheel research found that people are as passionate about, and ready to support, activities that tackle e-waste or support habitats and wildlife as they are carbon reduction activities.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 As consumers we love choice. We love being in control. Providing a choice of actions or projects speaks to this basic human insight. Choice drives engagement. And engagement drives satisfaction and performance, so businesses get more bang for their sustainability buck. Giving consumers choice also helps businesses to build a picture of what motivates customers, so brands can optimise their broader sustainability strategy accordingly.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Paul Polman, former Unilever CEO, and Andrew Meeting, the sustainable business author, put it best: &ldquo;The world&rsquo;s challenges are great, and they cannot be solved without unleashing the vast human, financial, and innovative resources of business&rdquo;. The good news is that meeting these challenges represents the biggest economic opportunity of our time.
 
 
 
 [This article first appeared in the New Statesman, 29 October &minus; 4 November 2021]

Companies can make an impact by looking beyond carbon, focusing on quality actions and by offering consumers meaningful choices that bring their actions to life.

Planet-positive should be profit positive

Planet Positive

Welcome to Pinwheel beta 
 Welcome to Pinwheel beta. We have worked hard to launch at COP26 and will be adding functionality in the coming weeks and months. For now though, please enjoy looking round. And if you find a bug or anything you think may be a mistake, please do tell us!&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Pinwheel isn&rsquo;t about us, it&rsquo;s about the people here: planet conscious consumers, responsible businesses and the planet restorers. But in case you&rsquo;re interested, here&rsquo;s how we came to be.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 The story of Pinwheel starts in 2019 when a few friends and colleagues and I started to talk about how we might play a role in restoring our planet. Having spent much of 2020 exploring different approaches and ideas, we started working on Pinwheel as you see us now at the start of this year.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Our insight is very simple: we can restore our planet if consumers, businesses and on-the-ground planet-repairing projects work together. We want Pinwheel to be the platform that enables and nurtures that virtuous circle. Happily, we are not alone and it is heartening to see many ways in which consumers and businesses can support this vital mission. Our vision for Pinwheel is to offer high quality projects across the spectrum of biodiversity, habitat and carbon action and to do so in an accessible and integrated way. My colleague, Rob, has written a story about the projects and how we&rsquo;ve set about selecting them.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Amongst the founding team at Pinwheel, many of us come from an advertising and marketing background. My previous role was as marketing chief for the British smart meter rollout &ndash; itself a central plank in the Governments net zero strategy. My colleague Mark (our tech lead) has previously been CTO at an energy auto switching startup; Rob (our sustainability lead) is a former civil servant at the Department for Climate Change and a well-known media commentator on energy and sustainability; and Robin (our finance lead) was previously at the advertising agency McCann. We&rsquo;re joined by a great non-exec board of Rupert Howell (our chair), previously MD of ITV; Amber Rudd, previously Secretary of State for Climate Change in the UK; and Shantha Shanmugalingam, previously Dyson&rsquo;s strategy director.
 
 
 
 So what can you expect from Pinwheel? We will soon be launching Pinwheel Plans so you&rsquo;ll be able to sign up to support the planet restoration projects that interest you the most. And in time, you&rsquo;ll be able to add to plans via an employer scheme and by shopping with participating brands. You&rsquo;ll also be able to explore what we hope will be inspiring and helpful sustainability content in the Stories section, where you are now.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Is it enough to support planet restoration projects in this way? No. Whilst your support will be transformational for some of the most impactful planet restoration projects in the world, nothing is more important than taking steps in your own life to reduce your carbon emissions and plastic usage. That inevitably means making some changes to the way we live. If we all take these steps together and use our collective power to support the people on the ground working to restore our planet, we can make a huge difference.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Thank you for visiting Pinwheel. We very much value your input, so if you&rsquo;ve comments, suggestions, questions or corrections, please drop us a line at <a href="mailto:info@pinwheel.earth">info@pinwheel.earth</a>. It&rsquo;s good to be on this journey with you.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 Gavin
 Pinwheel CEO

Who is behind Pinwheel? What are we setting out to do? Why do we believe the tools to restore our planet are within reach?

Inspiration for a healthy happy planet.