This global pandemic is totally poop. But ask any green scientist and they’ll tell you:
Poop makes excellent fertiliser. We’re a cleaning brand. So whilst many businesses have struggled to survive, we’ve sold more during COVID-19. But we’re not keeping that all to ourselves.
Instead, we’re pledging over £500,000 to our new initiative: FERTILISE THE FUTURE. Using the crisis of today to help fund the sustainable start-ups and eco-pioneers of tomorrow.
Because as we say in Belgium: When life gives you poop, grow flowers. Let’s live clean.
Supporting Nature-Based Solutions
Our fund aims to provide financial investments to innovative ideas promoting nature-based solutions, including:
- The conservation and restoration of forest and other terrestrial ecosystems
- The conservation and restoration of freshwater resources as well as marine and ocean ecosystems
- Sustainable agriculture and food systems
- Ensuring nature’s systemic role in sustainable development in ways that end the loss of biodiversity and optimise nature’s contribution tor resilient livelihoods, green infrastructure, sustainable settlements and just rural transitions.
What we are looking for
The fund is open to all European organisations, except employees of Ecover, their families, agents or any third party directly associated with administration of the Campaign. The key criteria Ecover are looking for are:
- The idea’s demonstrated proof of concept
- The idea’s alignment with Ecover’s mission for regeneration
- Understanding interconnected impacts on nature, people and climate
- Direct impact on the planet or if aiming for wider systemic change, a credible hypothesis of how this impact will be achieved
- Action orientation
- Desire to work in partnership
- Driven by long-term change
- Commitment to transparency
- Able to measure and report impact
- Ambition to have a disproportionate impact
Selection process
- The opening date for applications is 6th June 2020. The closing date for applications is 1st September 2020. Applications received after this time will not be considered.
- Successful ideas will be selected by a panel appointed by Ecover and comprising both employees of Ecover and external experts in the field of regeneration.
- The selection of successful ideas will be guided by the criteria outlined in the terms & conditions, however Ecover retains absolute discretion in the outcome of the decision-making process.
- The number of successful applicants is subject to Ecover’s discretion but will include at least one successful idea based in each of the United Kingdom, Belgium and Germany, or one successful idea covering all three of these countries.
- The total monetary amount available under the Campaign is at least £500,000. The monetary sum (in British pounds) to be granted to each successful applicant will be dependent on the amount requested in the application and is subject to Ecover’s discretion.
- Successful applicants will be notified by email or telephone (using details provided at entry) by 1st January 2021 at the latest.
- Successful applicants shall be subject to passing financial and legal checks and must enter into a Funding Agreement outlining terms and the process for payment of funds by 1st February 2021.
- All applications are subject to terms and conditions.