Young people are interested in climate protection - and sex. A start-up from Hamburg has developed a business idea from this.

The 34-year-old industrial engineer Bennet Müllem had an idea on a balmy summer evening in 2019 with the prospect of his honeymoon: plant trees by selling condoms. He founded Releaf GmbH in Hamburg and sold the first condoms a year ago. For every condom sold, a tree is planted in developing countries, Müllem reports. It is the only company that plants trees by selling condoms that are also produced vegan and fairly.

The rubber is grown by small farmers in Thailand and processed into latex there. The German company Richter Rubber Technology in Malaysia produces the condoms. Müllem had considered producing the condoms in Germany. "However, the cost of bringing the rubber latex in its raw state to Germany is higher than that of the finished condoms." You can buy the condoms in Germany and in 13 European countries.

Almost 190,000 trees

The reforestation partner is Eden Reforestation Projects from California, which has planted 485 million trees since 2005. In recent years, a large part of the original forest in Madagascar and Mozambique has been cut down. Releaf is counteracting this with around 184,000 trees planted.

A nine-pack of condoms costs 10 euros. "At the moment I can't pay myself fairly yet, but that won't be the case for long because of the increasing numbers," says Müllem. He sells around 22,000 condoms a month, he says. "The fact that there is a profit at all, even though I rely on fairly paid workers and high quality, is also due to the fact that condoms cost quite little in mass production."

The company advertises via social media. Many young people are on these platforms, says Müllem. They are interested in climate protection - and in sex.

Found on: Releaf produziert Kondome und pflanzt Bäume. (faz.net). Der Artikel stammt aus dem Schülerprojekt „Jugend und Wirtschaft“, das die F.A.Z. gemeinsam mit dem Bundesverband deutscher Banken veranstaltet.