--- title: "The Mag: Environment" url: https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/mag-environment/ --- 1. [HOME](/) 2. [RESOURCES](/content-hub/) 3. [SEEDSTARS LIFE](/content-hub/life/) 4. THE MAG: ENVIRONMENT GLOBAL • ENERGY ## The Mag: Environment Seedstars Global MARCH 17, 2020 Around [**3.5 billion to 7 billion**](https://www.ran.org/the-understory/how_many_trees_are_cut_down_every_year/) trees are cut down each year, and during 2018 alone, [**3.6 million hectares (8.9 million acres)**](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-25/how-bad-is-deforestation-two-connecticuts-were-lost-last-year) of primary tropical forest disappeared. The numbers are quite frightening. What will be the outcome of this? How can such deforestation and irrational natural resource usage be prevented? There’s no one-size-fits-all solution or an immediate response to those questions. The best way forward is to take one step at a time and try to change the situation from the ‘bottom-up’, as [**Bethlehem Dejene**](https://seedstarslife.com/summit/how-to-save-500-million-trees-per-year-bethlehem-dejene), environmentalist and entrepreneur from Africa, is doing with her unique solution [**Zafree Papers**](https://zafreepapers.com/): paper made with zero trees. Bethlehem’s startup makes this possible by manufacturing a 100% tree-free pulp, paper and paper products using agro-waste from small farm holders. Currently, nearly two-thirds of Africa’s land is degraded, which hinders sustainable economic development and resistance to climate change. As a result, Africa has the largest restoration opportunity of any continent: more than 700 million hectares (1.7 billion acres) of degraded forest landscapes that can be restored. Thanks to solutions such as Zafree Papers, those numbers sound possible to reach. Bethlehem and her team are on a mission to transform the paper manufacturing industry into a 100% tree-free one. The startup became the winner of the [**Land Restoration Prize**](https://www.seedstarsworld.com/summit/seedstars-summit-2020/prizes/?__hstc=255208791.bbcfd0e106d9837009e472c5b65ef1e8.1602852394907.1604310515065.1604321601359.4&__hssc=255208791.9.1604321601359&__hsfp=3884648405) by [**DOEN**](https://www.doen.nl/what-we-do.htm), aimed at finding and awarding the best tech(-enabled) solutions in the land restoration and land degradation space. In our episode, you will have a chance to discover more about environmental issues in Africa, and hear more from Zafree Papers and its way of creating an impact. **Additional resources to explore more on this topic:** [ **Zafree Papers’ 1-min pitch**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm2HORUxbfE) [ **How Zafree Papers work**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P39j2IwD-bA) [ **About DOEN and its impact**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw_ExJNcMOw) PROUDLY PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH [ ![DOEN](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/DOEN.max-350x350.png) ](https://www.doen.nl/home-1.htm) VIDEO THE MAG SEEDSTARS WORLD 2019/20 GLOBAL ETHIOPIA ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE ## More like this [ ![The Migration Entrepreneurship Prize: A startup program with the mission to enhance the economic inc](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_10.max-320x550.png) MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA • OTHER The Migration Entrepreneurship Prize: A startup program with the mission to enhance the economic inclusion of migrants in the Middle East and Africa The Migration Entrepreneurship Prize program is focused on socio-economic rights and reducing the vulnerability of migrants in the Middle East and Africa. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/migration-entrepreneurship-prize-startup-program-mission-enhance-economic-inclusion-migrants-middle-east-and-africa/) [ ![None](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_1.max-320x550.png) CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE • INVESTMENT How to support impact investment in CEE and what chess to do with it | Olena Boytsun Olena leads Luminate's funding activities in Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, Georgia, and the Baltics. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/how-t-support-impact-investment-in-cee/) [ ![Fifteen Tech Startups from Latinamerica Advance to Regionals of Seedstars World Competition 2020](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/f.max-320x550.png) LATIN AMERICA • TECH Fifteen Tech Startups from Latinamerica Advance to Regionals of Seedstars World Competition 2020 Let’s take a closer look at some of the promising startups in the region that have made it to the LATAM Regional Finals of the Seedstars World Competition 2020/21. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/fifteen-tech-startups-latinamerica-advance-regionals-seedstars-world-competition-2020/) [ ![17 Tech Startups from CEE Advance to Regionals of Seedstars World Competition 2020](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/cee-thumbnail.max-320x550.png) CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE • TECH 17 Tech Startups from CEE Advance to Regionals of Seedstars World Competition 2020 Out of the 570 applications we received, we had selected 17 of the most promising startups in the batch to move on to the next stage. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/17-tech-startups-cee-advance-regionals-seedstars-world-competition-2020/) [ ![Expansion Program, Colombia 2020](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumbnail7startups.max-320x550.png) LATIN AMERICA • OTHER 7 startups selected for the final phase of the Expansion Program, Colombia 2020 The MinTIC, APPS.CO and Seedstars, the consortium running the Expansion Program, have selected seven startups with a mission to expand their business to international markets. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/meet-7-startups-selected-final-phase-expansion-program-colombia-2020/) [ ![Moldova startups](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/moldova-thumbnail.max-320x550.png) CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE • OTHER Five startups from Moldova vie for a spot at the Seedstars World Competition 2020/21 Five up-and-coming tech startups from Moldova are set to pitch on November 26th at 16:00 at the Online Seedstars Chisinau Competition 2020/21 __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/five-startups-moldova-vie-spot-seedstars-world-competition-202021/) [ ![UNITEL partnership](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_-_2020-11-05T091332.418.max-320x550.png) AFRICA • EDUCATION & CONSULTING Seedstars Partners with UNITEL for Seedstars World Competition to Grow a Startup Ecosystem in Angola This year, we partnered with UNITEL Angola to make sure more entrepreneurs in the country have access to quality learning and investment opportunities. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-partners-unitel-seedstars-world-competition-grow-startup-ecosystem-angola/) [ ![Applications for Online Startup Competition](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Seedstars_Brings_Its_Startup_Competition_Onl.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Seedstars Brings Its Startup Competition Online: 2020 Applications Are Open We are happy to announce that Seedstars World Competition 2020/21 will be held exclusively online and the call for startups is open until July 31st. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-brings-its-startup-competition-online-2020-applications-are-open/) [ ![Running Events In The Times Of Coronavirus](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Running_Events.max-320x550.jpg) GLOBAL • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER Online Is The New Black: Running Events In The Times Of Coronavirus Event organizers are no strangers to crisis management. Last-minute speaker cancellations, Wi-Fi connectivity issues, missing files… The list goes on __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/learning-resources/online-new-black-running-events-times-coronavirus/) [ ![Seedstars World Competition](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/online-summit.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • OTHER Online Seedstars World Competition 2019/20 How does it feel to compete with the 44 most promising startups from all over the world? And how does it feel when your name is announced as the winner? __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/online-seedstars-world-competition-2020/) [ ![None](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Celeste_Lupe_Solofa.max-320x550.png) OCEANIA • FINANCIAL SERVICES Bringing Online Payments to the Population with 3% Credit Card Penetration | Celeste (Lupe) Solofa __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/bringing-online-payments-population-3-credit-card-penetration-celeste-lupe-solofa/) [ ![The Mag Education](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/the_mag_education.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • EDUCATION & CONSULTING The Mag: Education Living in the era of the ‘technology Renaissance’ as the digital merges with the physical, and robots are capable of executing surgeries on the human brain, requires a completely new approach to education starting in early childhood, continuing throu __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/mag-education/) [ ![The Mag](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/accessiblity.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • HEALTHCARE The Mag: Accessibility According to the World Bank research, one billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, experience some form of disability, with prevalence higher in developing countries. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/mag-accessibility/) [ ![Migration](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/migratiob.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • OTHER The Mag: Migration Everyone is a migrant, and most people are not a native of the place where they are born. So, why is the world divided into migrants and “natives”? __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/mag-migration/) [ ![Marc Berrebi](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/P1.max-320x550.png) MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA • HEALTHCARE From $100 M USD Exit to Street Art Activism | Marc Berrebi It is difficult to present Marc Berrebi in just a few sentences. An entrepreneur since he can remember, but an artist at heart, this multi-exit founder has, what one could say, lived it all. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/100-m-usd-exit-street-art-activism-marc-berrebi/) [ ![Kenza Lahlou](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/P2.max-320x550.png) MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA • INVESTMENT How Kenza Traveled the World to Find Her Calling and Started an African VC Fund | Kenza Lahlou Kenza was born in Morocco, but has quite a rich international experience: from France and Singapore, all the way to the USA. At some point, she found her calling and decided to go back to her home country. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/how-kenza-traveled-world-find-her-calling-and-started-african-vc-fund-kenza-lahlou/) [ ![People with Disabilities](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_31.max-320x550.png) LATIN AMERICA • HEALTHCARE Transforming the Lives of Millions of People with Disabilities Around the World | Alvaro Rios After watching the US TV show “The Six Million Dollar Man” at the age of 5 in Colombia, Alvaro Rio, founder of Human Assistive Technologies, knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/transforming-lives-millions-people-disabilities-around-world-alvaro-rios/) [ ![Energy Market](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/City_by_night.max-320x550.png) ASIA • ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES Disrupting the One Billion Energy Market, One Household at a Time | Sebastian Groh Sebastian comes from a middle-income family in Germany and originally pursued a career as an investment banker. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/disrupting-one-billion-energy-market-one-household-time-sebastian-groh/) [ ![Advancing Learning for Millions of Kids](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Kukua.max-320x550.png) AFRICA • EDUCATION & CONSULTING Advancing Learning for Millions of Kids Through Entertainment | Lucrezia Bisignani Lucrezia wanted to be an actress and started her entrepreneurial journey when she was 8 years old, selling crafts to give to those most in need. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/advancing-learning-millions-kids-through-entertainment-lucrezia-bisignani/) [ ![Kenneth Katafono](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/P4.max-320x550.png) OCEANIA • FOOD & BEVERAGES From Bait to Plate: How Traseable Is Increasing Food Security | Kenneth Katafono Come with us to the middle of the Pacific, where Kenneth is shaping the future of the fishing industry. Did you know that around 70% of the world’s tuna comes from the Pacific? __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/bait-plate-how-traseable-increasing-food-security-kenneth-katafono/) [ ![Ann Pichestapong](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/P5.max-320x550.png) LATIN AMERICA • TECHNOLOGY Three Continents, One Data-Driven eCommerce Startup and a Baby | Ann Pichestapong In this episode, we meet Ann, founder and CEO of DataCue, who not only launched her own company but did it with her husband as her co-founder whilst travelling across Central and South America for their honeymoon! __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/three-continents-one-data-driven-ecommerce-startup-and-baby-ann-pichestapong/) [ ![Seedstars Summit 2020](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/online-summit.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • EDUCATION & CONSULTING Seedstars Summit 2020 Is Going Online Given the growing concerns around the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe, we’ve decided to redesign the Seedstars Summit and bring it fully online to ensure everyone’s safety. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-summit-2020-going-online/) [ ![Monthly Revenue](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/podcast_thumbnail.max-320x550.png) CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE • EDUCATION & CONSULTING From $300 to $60K Monthly Revenue and Serving 400,000 Students Worldwide | Daria Kroshkina With a passion for learning, growth and continuous development, Dasha turned the knowledge she used herself to secure scholarships. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/300-60k-monthly-revenue-and-serving-400000-students-worldwide-daria-kroshkina/) [ ![Impact Investors](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_28.max-320x550.png) CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE • INVESTMENT Winning Marathons and Advising Billionaire Impact Investors | Tenke Zoltani From a Hungarian refugee family who emigrated to the United States, Tenke Zoltani is running fast as part of the Hungarian national running team. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/winning-marathons-and-advising-billionaire-impact-investors-tenke-zoltani/) --- ## Sitemap - [Sitemap](https://www.seedstars.com/sitemap.md): every public page on this site - [llms.txt](https://www.seedstars.com/llms.txt): what Seedstars does and where to start