What is 1% for the Planet?
Founded in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia clothing and outdoor gear company) and Craig Mathews (Blue Ribbon Flies, a US-based angling outfitter), the initiative is built on a simple principle: every business benefits from the earth’s resources, so every business should help protect them.
Business members commit to donating 1% of annual sales to environmental causes, while environmental organisations join the platform to receive these donations directly from participating businesses. The timing, frequency, and amount of donations throughout the year are flexible, allowing each business member to design a giving strategy that suits their business and maximises positive impact.
To date, 1% for the Planet has certified over $823 million in donations worldwide. This model enables businesses to support nature’s recovery beyond their own value chains - helping tackle the climate and nature crises we all face.
1% for the Planet offers a vital opportunity to help nature recover and create a lasting legacy
The UK faces a major funding shortfall to deliver its nature-related goals. In 2021 the Green Finance Institute, estimated that a minimum of £44 - £97 billion of additional investment is needed to deliver the UK’s nature-related targets by 2031.
These targets are based on public policy commitments such as England’s 25 Year Environment Plan and equivalent strategies across the UK.
Private funding through platforms like 1% for the Planet can play a considerable role in bridging this gap.
Businesses increasingly recognise that their commercial success depends on a healthy, biodiverse environment. As climate and nature crises escalate, investing in sustainability is no longer optional - it’s essential for resilience and growth.
Supporting environmental causes isn’t just about managing risk - it’s an opportunity to create a lasting legacy for the planet. The Wildlife Trusts already work with businesses in diverse ways, from large-scale nature restoration projects to forging strategic partnerships.
The Wildlife Trusts’ membership of 1% for the Planet now opens up even more opportunities for organisations of every size to support our vital work to aid nature’s recovery as part of our 30 by 30 mission - to see 30% of land and sea connected, protected and managed for nature's recovery by 2030.
We also join a number of local Wildlife Trusts already benefitting from the generous support of businesses in this way. To find out more about 1% for the Planet, and to see if your local Wildlife Trust is a member, simply search the platform.