Raw Sport is accepting eco-friendly cryptocurrency XRP for online payments, following concerns over Bitcoin’s carbon footprint.
Plant-based nutrition brand Raw Sport is now accepting the cryptocurrency XRP for payments on online orders, citing environmental reasons.
The Dean Howell-owned company has made the move following growing concerns around the world about the carbon footprint of Bitcoin, which currently stands at 707 KWh. The energy demands for XRP, which is employed by the US-based technology company Ripple Labs, is 0.0079 KWh.
This makes XRP approximately 90,000 times more environmentally friendly than Bitcoin. In comparison, a single transaction using flat currency like paper money consumes 0.044 KWh.
XRP explains that one of the reasons the cryptocurrency is more eco-friendly than its other cyber counterparts is because all of its tokens currently exist, which means no additional energy is required to make more of this asset.
Raw Sport’s move into accepting XRP on its website is to ensure its goal of being a sustainable nutritional brand. In February, it partnered with tree-planting and climate action funder Ecologi, which ensured that a tree was planted with every product sold, instead of each transaction. In three months, the collaboration has led to the planting of more than 25,000 trees.
Howell, a former footballer, said: “Cryptocurrencies will continue to grow in popularity across the world thanks to the convenience, transparency and anonymity they provide. As they grow, we must take steps to ensure the environmental footprint is minimised. Caring for the planet and keeping emissions to a minimum is a responsibility for every brand — we take this seriously and have chosen XRP as a result.”
He added that XRP was the most sustainable cryptocurrency in the world, calling its difference with Bitcoin “stunning”. “It’ll be a triple win when you buy from us with XRP,” he said. “You’ll be using a sustainable currency, buying a healthy, sustainable product, and you’ll plant a tree with every product purchased thanks to our ongoing partnership with Ecologi.”
