+ What is your name?

Christina

+ Where are you located?

Greece

+ In one sentence, tell us about your idea.

My idea is to encourage tourists to plant their own tree (eg. in Greece it can be an olive tree), helping in this way the greening of areas and involving local communities with the production of their products (eg. olives, olive oil, etc.) which can be sold and produce revenue that can support economically disadvantaged families.

+ My ideal collaborative partner or partners would be...?

My ideal collaborative partner or partners would be people who have launched similar ideas before or know about similar projects but also they are passionate about social- environmental entrepreneurship and sustainability.

+ What is it about your idea that makes you feel good?

The implementation of this idea embraces sustainability and could have multiple benets for the environment through tree plantation, for the local community through jobs' creation and the support of people in need and the economical development of the area if a local product association is formed. Also, the idea that tourists will have their own tree might bring them back to the same place to explore the impact they created and enhance the image of that destination, while representing a form of tourism responsibility.

+ Who will benefit the most from your idea?

The idea is innovative as it contributes to all three aspects of sustainability (people, profit, planet) and can bring several benefits which were described before. It can also be implemented in different places in the world by choosing the appropriate kind of tree in each area with the condition that they produce sub-products tο be processed/ sold. The idea of tree plantation exists but it has not combined with all the social benefits described, as it involves many actors to cooperate and the effectiveness and profitability of the project can be achieved and noticed in the long term.

+ Ideally, when would you launch this idea?

Two years from now

+ At Sigmund, we are interested in ideas at the intersection of People, Planet, and Profit. How does your idea support these three categories?

As I mentioned before the idea involves are three elements. Tree plantation is related to the "planet" and can offer green areas while enhancing the air quality. The support of local communities with job creation, formation of products associations, help of the disadvantaged, education of children and tourists are contributing to "people". Last but not least, the production and selling of the products, as well as the attractions of tourists back to the destination can bring economic development ("profit"). Regarding the original profitability of this business, the idea is that tourists will pay a generous amount to buy a package for tree plantation. The target will be tourists that are sustainability-conscious and would like to "compensate" in a way for the environmental harm their vacation might have caused to the destination. Also, other donors can help the idea grow. In this way, the initial costs and salaries can be covered and later with the production of more goods the business will become more financially sustainable. In general, the goal is to encourage and develop all three elements, as well as involvement and collaboration of many different stakeholders that could benefits as the idea and the destination grows in a responsible manner.

+ Indicate which UN goals your idea relates to?

Zero Hunger Quality Education Climate Action Decent Work and Economic Growth Sustainable Cities and Communities Responsible Consumption and Production Life on Land No Poverty Partnerships to achieve the Goal