Brussels, 10 March 2025 | Monizze is launching a unique feature: the estimation of the carbon footprint of meal voucher purchases. A first in the employee benefits market. This innovation is part of a broader strategy aimed at guiding users’ purchasing power toward more responsible consumption, supporting local businesses, and promoting sustainable food choices.
A company committed to more responsible consumption
With more than one in two Belgians aware of their environmental impact, Monizze continues its commitment by offering a concrete solution to help users better understand their ecological footprint and adjust their consumption habits. The goal is ambitious: to reach 40% active users and encourage them to reduce their carbon footprint by at least 20%.
A transparent and innovative carbon footprint estimation
Developed in collaboration with ecolytiq, this pioneering feature is integrated into the Monizze mobile app. It allows users to instantly view the CO2 emissions associated with each transaction made with their meal vouchers, raising immediate awareness of their environmental impact.
Measurable impact for a more sustainable future
The estimation algorithm is tailored to Belgium’s specific context, factoring in local production and supply chain methods. The tool bases its calculations on:
- Official data sources
- A transparent methodology using the Open Standard Framework
- User-provided consumption profile information
Thanks to this data, Monizze can offer users a reliable and relevant carbon footprint estimate.
How does it work?
Once activated in the mobile app, each meal voucher transaction will automatically display its estimated carbon footprint.
To make the data more tangible, the feature translates CO2 values into relatable everyday comparisons.
A monthly tracking feature allows users to monitor changes in their footprint and adjust their consumption habits accordingly.
For example, the feature shows that 98.4 kg of CO2 emissions per month equates to consuming 42 liters of gasoline.
Measuring the impact of this tool
To assess the effectiveness of this initiative, Monizze will track several key factors:
- Adoption rate
- Usage frequency
- Behavioral changes
An innovation driving responsible purchasing power
As a Belgian SME, Monizze understands the challenges faced by small local businesses and aims to direct purchasing power toward local players with a lower environmental impact. This initiative is part of a broader movement encouraging seasonal consumption and raising awareness of environmental issues.
With this new feature, Monizze strengthens its leadership in ESG commitment among meal voucher issuers in Belgium, reaffirming its concrete commitment to more responsible and sustainable consumption.
“With this pioneering initiative, we continue to fulfill Upcoop’s commitments, taking concrete action towards more responsible consumption and more sustainable food choices.” — Youssef Achour, CEO of the Upcoop Group
“At Monizze, we don’t just innovate in for purchasing power – we shape a more responsible future. With this new feature in the app, we put technology at the service of our users by providing them with a clear estimate of the carbon footprint of their meal voucher purchases. This is a concrete step to help our users better understand the environmental impact of their daily actions and turn every transaction into a conscious choice. Innovation must be a driver for action – and this is just the beginning.” — Jean-Louis Van Houwe, CEO of Monizze
About Upcoop
Upcoop is an international group whose parent company is a Worker Cooperative (Scop) and a mission-driven enterprise advocating for a socially and locally beneficial economy. For over 60 years, Upcoop has been designing innovative payment solutions and services that empower businesses and public institutions to enhance the purchasing power of employees, public sector workers, and citizens. From meal, gift, and culture vouchers to the distribution of social benefits, the solutions developed in collaboration with clients and partners support local economic development. Driven by an ambitious CSR policy, Upcoop facilitates access to healthy food and more responsible consumption through a vast network of restaurants and local businesses. Operating in 25 countries, the Upcoop group has 3,200 employees and achieved a turnover of €760 million in 2023.