At Sealand, we believe in making better choices - and helping others do the same. We know that better isn't about being perfect, it’s about showing up. One thoughtful choice at a time.
Born between mountains and oceans, our brand is for adventurers who care. Whether it’s a road trip, a weekend flight, or a daily cup of coffee, our choices have an impact. BetterNow gives you a way (to offset) make up for some of that impact by investing in projects that aim to remove carbon from the atmosphere through empowering local communities, putting the power to change in your hands!
BetterNow exists to:
- Engage with change makers in a playful and informative way
- Educate our community about the carbon cost of everyday activities
- Enable action by supporting local, verified carbon removal projects across South Africa
Whether you’re offsetting your own footprint or giving someone else a nudge to rethink theirs, BetterNow does more than just inform - it affects real change.
Give it, Share it, Use it
- Buy it for yourself - join Sealand’s journey towards a more responsible future. Because together, we make our planet better - now!
- Gift it to your travel buddy - empower your friends to be BetterNow
- Share it online and inspire your friends and family to think BetterNow
- Pair it with our gear to strengthen your impact and feel BetterNow - and later
Together We Make Our Planet BetterNow.
This isn’t a lecture. It’s an invitation. To pause. Rethink. Change that which you can, and support those making the difference in the areas you can’t .
Note: This should not enable guilt free consumption - the solution comes from real reductions and change, but offsets such as these can help us understand our emissions, and support incredible projects working to decarbonize our world and atmosphere.
All references are reputable, from peer-reviewed LCA studies, NGO/UN/FAO sources, and global life-cycle averages tailored to the South African grid and lifestyle.
FAQ
What is a carbon offset?
A carbon offset is a way to compensate for your greenhouse gas emissions by funding projects that reduce or remove emissions elsewhere. Think of it as balancing the climate scales.
What does "kg CO2e" mean?
"kg CO2e" stands for "kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent." It’s a universal unit used to sum up all greenhouse gases (like methane and nitrous oxide) in terms of their global warming potential compared to CO2. It helps us compare apples with apples.
Why should I offset my footprint?
Because nearly everything we do (from commuting to consuming) releases carbon emissions. Offsetting is a way to take responsibility, reduce harm, and support projects that actively fight climate change.
Isn’t it better to reduce than offset?
Absolutely. Offsets don’t replace reductions. They are the next best thing for unavoidable emissions. We encourage both: cut what you can, offset what you can’t.
What’s the average carbon budget per person?
To stay under the 1.5°C global warming target, each person should aim to emit no more than 2 tonnes (2,000 kg CO2e)per year. Right now, the global average is 4-5 tonnes, with high-income countries averaging 10-20 tonnes per person. The massive disparity between the emissions of the top 10% vs the bottom 50% - and the difference in how the negative effects of climate change will be experienced by these two different socioeconomic groups - is a really big cause for concern. Those who emit the most are also those least likely to experience any negative effects, whilst those who emit the least are also most vulnerable to the pressures of climate change.
Why is there a gap between rich and poor countries?
Because emissions are tied to consumption. High-income individuals travel more, use more energy, and buy more stuff - and are responsible for up to 79 tons of carbon per year per person for the top 1%. Low-income countries often contribute less but suffer more from climate impacts. Offsetting is one way to address this imbalance. Our offset programs support poverty alleviation alongside carbon removal, another way of trying to address this gap.
How do offset programs work?
Sealand partners with certified, local offset projects that contribute to poverty alleviation too! Your contribution helps fund these efforts. You receive a certificate and clear info about what was offset, how, and where.
Can I trust these offsets?
Yes! We only use verified offset projects that have been independently audited. Transparency and accountability are key. Our focus is on programs that work locally, within our communities, to affect real carbon removal, savings and create livelihoods at the same time.
What can I offset?
Surf trips, flights, commutes, daily coffee runs, your brain addiction - we’ll help you estimate it all.
Will I get a certificate?
Yes! You'll receive a digital certificate that details the impact of your offset and the project it supported.
How much does it cost?
Offsetting a tonne of CO2 can cost anywhere from R100 to R500, depending on the project. Most daily activities cost less than a coffee to offset.
Is this greenwashing?
No. Greenwashing is when companies mislead consumers about their environmental efforts. Sealand is upfront, accountable, and action-driven. We’re not hiding emissions, we’re owning and addressing them.
What makes Sealand’s offset system different?
We connect offsetting to real, local behaviour. We also offer visibility into where your impact goes and encourage you to offset regularly, not just once. We try to keep it fun and engaging too, not just dry calculations and carbon shaming. This program is simply a bridge to connect change makers with projects that require funding to continue enacting their change and carbon reduction efforts!
What are carbon budgets?
And why do I only get 2,1 tons?
There are several types of carbon budgets. Most often, the term refers to the total net amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that can still be emitted by human activities while limiting global warming to a specified level (e.g., 1.5°C or 2°C above pre-industrial levels). This is referred to as the ‘remaining carbon budget’. If we split this amount of carbon by every human on earth we get a maximum amount that each person can emit per year and still allow us to keep total carbon concentrations in our atmosphere low enough to limit warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius.
Emissions of CO2 from human activities are the main cause of global warming. A remaining carbon budget can be defined because of the specific way CO2 behaves in the Earth system. That is, global warming is roughly linearly proportional to the total net amount of CO2 emissions that are released
into the atmosphere by human activities – also referred to as cumulative anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Other greenhouse gases behave differently and have to be accounted for separately. The concept of a remaining carbon budget implies that, to stabilise global warming at any particular level, global emissions of CO2 need to be reduced to NET ZERO levels at some point - where the total inputs and removals (or sinks of carbon) are equal.
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