THE CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY
Climate change and biodiversity loss are no longer future risks – they are current business liabilities. In response, Julius Baer sought a high-integrity, nature-positive solution to help achieve its net-zero commitments while contributing to ecosystem restoration and social impact.
At the same time, I4N Award finalist 2024 Vlinder, a climate startup focused on mangrove restoration, was seeking strategic partners to validate and scale its innovative blue carbon model. Their alignment of goals led to a transformative collaboration – grounded in rigorous due diligence, shared values, and long-term commitment.
MEET THE INNOVATORS FROM VLINDER
Mangroves are ‘superhero ecosystems’ – they store up to five times more carbon than terrestrial forests, protect coastlines, and support fisheries and biodiversity. Yet 35% of mangroves have been lost since 1980.
Vlinder was founded in 2019 to change that: they make mangrove reforestation inclusive, scalable and investable. Their model scales high-quality, community-based mangrove restoration by offering investors market-rate returns and transparently sharing 25% of carbon revenues with local communities. It’s a solution that regenerates nature, builds climate resilience, and creates sustainable livelihoods.
“Vlinder’s vision is to make mangroves the world’s first fully restored and thriving ecosystem, sustainably managed by local communities and recognised as a global model for nature-based resilience.”
MEET CORPORATE PARTNER JULIUS BAER
As part of its climate strategy, Julius Baer has implemented an internal carbon price on business air travel and committed to net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. The firm sought direct, high-quality carbon removal projects – avoiding intermediaries and ensuring additional biodiversity and social benefits.
After reviewing dozens of options, Julius Baer selected Vlinder for its transparency, local implementation model, and scientific rigor. The partnership reflects the bank’s philosophy of integrating sustainability into its core operations – not as a side project, but as a strategic pillar.
Partnering with Vlinder allowed Julius Baer to support a tangible, regenerative project based in Indonesia that reflects both its regional presence and global climate commitments.
"Julius Baer has defined a solid, science-based climate strategy and concrete actions to mitigate our impact. To remove the remaining hard-to-abate emissions, we wanted to select and support projects that demonstrate the same level of excellence and passion at the heart of our values."
A REGENERATIVE COLLABORATION
How the partnership works
The 15-year partnership focuses on restoring 500 hectares of severely degraded mangroves in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Julius Baer applied rigorous due diligence to evaluate Vlinder’s model and ultimately committed to purchasing carbon credits as part of its net zero strategy.
The project not only contributes to Julius Baer’s climate goals but also provides an inclusive income stream to local communities and NGOs.
“High-quality reforestation has the power to reverse damage, support livelihoods, and leave a legacy that truly matters – for the climate, communities, and generations to come.”
“When Julius Bär decided to invest in our Indonesia project, it sent a powerful signal: Vlinder is investable. Their in-house sustainability team applied rigorous scrutiny, which validated the quality of our model. This partnership has already accelerated our mission and serves as a proof point for others looking to back high-integrity, scalable blue carbon solutions.”
The steps leading to the agreement
Vlinder was introduced to Julius Baer's sustainability team through their investor network.
Vlinder connected with Julius Baer in the right moment: the bank had already developed a solid climate strategy and decided on using nature-based solutions to remove their residual emissions, giving Vlinder the opportunity to pitch their portfolio, which fit right in.
Vlinder underwent a rigorous due diligence process, and the right project was selected that fit with Julius Baer's targets and location requirements. To seal the deal, the Vlinder and Julius Baer teams visited Aceh and North Sumatra together to allow Julius Baer to make their final assessment.
Julius Baer selected Vlinder as part of their portfolio of high-quality decarbonisation initiatives.
Impact at a glance
~300,000 tCO₂ expected by 2037
Goal to restore 500 ha of degraded mangroves within 15 years
Local income via 25% revenue share and over 1,000 community members actively engaged
Long-term carbon procurement secured
Challenges and lessons learned
In 2024, the project was hit by flooding that damaged planted mangroves. However, the groundwork of transparency and mutual trust enabled both teams to respond quickly and with confidence.
Lesson: Investing in due diligence and ongoing communication pays off when navigating nature’s uncertainties.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Vlinder is now scaling to restore 30,000 hectares of mangroves globally by 2030.
Julius Baer has extended the partnership to allow employees to offset their personal carbon footprint – deepening engagement and expanding impact. The bank is also working with other partners and airlines on decarbonisation strategies, building a diverse portfolio of climate-positive solutions.
This collaboration is not just a project – it’s a proof of concept for how nature-positive investments can scale responsibly and sustainably.
WORDS OF ADVICE
