Tuttlingen – “Sustainability” has long since become a forward-looking term in medical technology too. Although the question arises: How can the topic be tackled in concrete terms? There are two options: externally with the help of an organization such as "Click A Tree" - or internally through new procedures and processes, for which the Innovation Forum Medical Technology in October will provide impetus.
In the east of Ghana, not far from the Volta reservoir, lies the village of Zongo Macheri. Fields that are flat as a pot draw the eye into an expanse that is only occasionally broken up by trees or bushes. It is hard to imagine that there was once a forest here. The fact that he comes back, on the other hand, is. The start-up “Click A Tree” runs one of its reforestation projects in the Oti region. Within three years, more than 16,000 saplings have been planted on around 63,000 square meters. This will soon also include those who are financed by MedicalMountains GmbH: For every 20th feedback at further training events, the cluster organization has a tree planted.
“I actually never intended to make a business out of it”
Radolfzell is located in the south of Baden-Württemberg, not far from Lake Constance. This is where Click A Tree GmbH is based. "I never actually intended to turn it into a business," thinks founder and CEO Chris Kaiser ten years back. About his time as a tourism manager, the work in Thailand, about dwindling habitats for elephants. The initial thought: "I'll go and plant a few trees." The action did not go unnoticed. Gradually companies were added, giving money and using the commitment to retain customers; further reforestation projects in Ghana and the Philippines followed. Until then, the start-up had managed almost without marketing, but in 2020 Chris Kaiser entered the big media stage. After the pitch on the “Lion’s Cave” show, four potential investors expressed interest. “Click A Tree” can get over the fact that no deal came about in the end. Sustainability is not only its goal, but also its essence. It doesn't necessarily need more resources than are created on its own - it grows more slowly, but is stable in itself. In this respect Baum and Business are very similar.
Trees are the basis of life
Where others may only pay attention to CO2 binding and climate protection, Chris Kaiser has thought ahead from the start. Trees are the basis of life. Around 1,000 hectares of land lie fallow around Zongo Macheri. "People lack the opportunity to start farming the land," says the 34-year-old. "Click A Tree" gives this impulse. Seedlings are grown in our own nursery. Full-time workers take care of the plantings. The business school in neighboring Kyinderi teaches the basics of entrepreneurship. The harvest contributes directly to nutrition; the excess of papaya, banana, guava or lime is sold. Vegetables thrive in the shade of the trees. Animals are gradually returning to their original habitats.
Sustainability as a Service
Chris Kaiser describes the business model of "Click A Tree" as "Sustainability as a Service". Ultimately also for MedicalMountains GmbH, as a service provider, he takes on the sustainability issue. At least to a certain extent, because the responsibility of the individual undoubtedly goes beyond that. This is also the case in medical technology. Britta Norwat is certain that “the question of sustainability will be of great importance in the industry in the future. The head of department at MedicalMountains GmbH is responsible for the Medical Technology Innovation Forum, which will take place on October 20th. As in the previous year, an entire session is dedicated to the topic - and this time even a keynote. Frank Dzukowski talks about how the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf anchors sustainability strategically and operationally. Britta Norwat reminds us that there are many good innovative approaches, because "sustainability is no longer a 'nice to have', but a component of economic thinking". If energy and raw materials are saved, this is reflected in the balance sheet. No longer just in the form of saved CO2, but increasingly in euros - an investment in a future worth living in, in the preservation of a functioning world. Which in turn confirms Chris Kaiser's assessment: "Sustainability works best when everyone benefits from it." Be it in Africa or Europe.
Further information
to the Innovation Forum Medical Technology at https://innovation-forum-medizintechnik.de,
to Click A Tree at https://clickatree.com.
