.jpg "GCash Wins at ESGBusiness Awards 2024 for GForest and Inclusivity")
Transformative Environmental Tech Initiative
The Philippines, known for its rich biodiversity, faces significant environmental challenges due to climate change, including severe weather events like extreme heat and strong supertyphoons. In response, GCash launched GForest in 2019, a pioneering initiative encouraging users to contribute to reforestation efforts and mitigate climate change impacts. This digital eco-movement also supports agroforestry efforts to boost farmers’ livelihoods in various local communities.
“Our goal when we started GForest in 2019 was to make it easier for GCash app users to contribute to environmental efforts through tree planting,” explained CJ Alegre, Sustainability Head at GCash. “Through digital transactions, GCash users reduce their carbon footprint, earning in-app energy points to plant virtual trees.”
GCash, along with its international and local partners, plants actual trees throughout the Philippines at no cost to users. To date, GForest has planted over 2.8 million trees, including mangroves, native trees, and fruit-bearing trees like coffee and coconuts.
GForest’s success is driven by science-based metrics to measure carbon reductions, gamification for user engagement, and partnerships with credible organizations like WWF, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, and Silliman University. These collaborations ensure the selection of indigenous tree species and support community livelihoods.
In 2020, GCash set a goal to plant 2.3 million trees by the end of 2023, surpassing this target by nearly 500,000 trees. Building on this success, GCash now aims to plant a total of 10 million digital trees by the end of 2025. Currently, GForest has 19 million registered users contributing to these efforts.
.jpg "GCash Wins at ESGBusiness Awards 2024 for GForest and Inclusivity")
Empowering Gender Equality and Inclusive Culture
Sustainability, diversity, equity, and inclusion are key pillars of GCash’s strategy. With 55% of its over 90 million Filipino user base being women, GCash prioritizes a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace that actively supports and values women’s contributions.
GCash’s commitment to inclusivity has led to women comprising 47% of its workforce and 49% of its leadership in 2024, well above the tech industry averages. “GCash is committed to gender equality and diversity through several key initiatives. Our DEI Day x Day Training program equips employees with inclusive communication skills and practices, achieving a 99% participation rate and 87% DEI certification,” shared GCash Chief People Officer Robert Gonzales.
The company supports career advancement for women, particularly in tech, through programs like GTalks, which connect employees with women leaders for career insights and leadership journeys. GCash’s no-mandatory dress code policy empowers employees to come to work as they are, dressed comfortably and authentically.
Additionally, GCash fosters an inclusive culture by partnering with Gallup to identify employees’ strengths and facilitate career mobility, leveraging Gallup’s focus on people’s strengths to succeed in their careers.
GCash’s commitment to championing women, diversity, equity, and inclusivity in the workplace earned them the Women Empowerment Award - Philippines honor at the ESGBusiness Awards 2024.
“We are honored to be recognized by the ESGBusiness Awards for our environmental protection and women empowerment initiatives. This recognition inspires us to strive for a better Philippines—where we can help enable more Filipinos to thrive every day, be prepared for a rainy day, and plan for one day,” stated GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon.
The ESGBusiness Awards celebrate companies leading the way in building a sustainable future, honoring businesses demonstrating outstanding commitment and achievement in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
FAQs
1. What awards did GCash win at the ESGBusiness Awards 2024? GCash won the Climate Advocacy and Education Award - Philippines and the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Award - Philippines.
2. What is GForest? GForest is a GCash initiative launched in 2019 to encourage users to contribute to reforestation and agroforestry efforts, helping mitigate climate change impacts.
3. How does GForest work? GCash users earn in-app energy points through digital transactions, which they can use to plant virtual trees. GCash and its partners then plant actual trees in the Philippines.
4. How many trees has GForest planted so far? GForest has planted over 2.8 million trees, including mangroves, native trees, and fruit-bearing trees.
5. What is GCash’s commitment to gender equality? GCash prioritizes a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, with women comprising 47% of its workforce and 49% of its leadership in 2024. The company supports career advancement for women through various initiatives and programs.