Approach
The foundation uses the True Price methodology from the Impact Institute. This calculates not only the market price of a plane ticket, but also the hidden environmental costs of transportation by:
- Climate change (emissions of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases)
- Air pollution (NOₓ, particulate matter, sulfur oxides, VOCs)
The calculation is based on emission data per passenger kilometer from the CE Delft report STREAM passenger transport 2014 and official True Price monetization factors. These convert environmental damage into euros. This creates a transparent estimate of what a flight really costs for the environment and society. Impactinstitute
The calculation only includes the direct environmental effects of transport: climate change and air pollution. Effects such as contrails, biodiversity loss, noise pollution or the production of aircraft themselves are outside the current scope. This ensures a reliable, but not yet complete estimate. The foundation communicates this openly to ensure transparency.
Most ticket prices do not reflect the actual social costs. By making these costs visible, travelers and companies gain insight into the impact of their choices. This encourages more sustainable travel behavior and makes it possible to reinvest money in innovative solutions for cleaner transport.
In addition to CO₂, flying also releases emissions that cause additional warming, such as cloud formation by contrails (airplane stripes), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), water vapor and aerosols.
Contrails can develop into cirrus clouds that mainly trap heat in the atmosphere at night. NOₓ emissions at high altitudes stimulate ozone formation and break down methane; the net effect is strongly warming in the short term.
Because these effects are complex and strongly situated in specific circumstances (altitude, humidity, latitude), it is difficult to accurately calculate them in one uniform measure.
When calculating the true price, the foundation focuses on CO₂ and other greenhouse gases that can be well quantified and reliably mapped. Including contrails and similar non-CO₂ effects would lead to greater uncertainty, possible double counting and reduced transparency effect. This keeps the calculation solid, transparent and responsible.
True price
The Future Friendly Fund supports innovative projects, startups and organizations that contribute to a livable planet. The foundation invests in solutions for biodiversity restoration and the sustainability of aviation. The goal is to help scale up sustainable initiatives, especially when commercial investors are still hesitant.
The initial funding comes from Better Places, which donates an amount of approximately 100,000 euros to the foundation annually. In addition, travelers can contribute via the ‘true price of flying’: they voluntarily pay the difference between what their ticket costs and what it should actually cost for climate, nature and society.
The foundation supports projects that accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy. Consider:
- Emission-free aviation technology, such as hydrogen or e-fuels
- Nature restoration projects, such as reforestation or nature-inclusive agriculture
- Green energy solutions, such as battery storage or hydrogen
These projects must be scalable, have measurable impact and contribute to structural change.
SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) sounds promising, but does not solve the climate challenge of aviation. In 2024, SAF still accounted for less than 1% of all aviation fuel in Europe, and virtually everything came from used frying oils and animal fats, often imported from Asia. This brings risks of fraud and environmental damage.
Moreover, the CO₂ gain is minimal: in 2024, only 0.5% of emissions were avoided, while the total emissions from aviation actually grew.
FFF therefore does not opt for biofuels, but invests in real breakthroughs such as e-fuels and emission-free technologies that structurally contribute to climate-neutral aviation.
With compensation, you pay for the damage, but the emissions are already there and do not simply disappear. Compensation gives the idea that everything will be alright again, while you are not actually addressing the original problem.
Instead, we opt for innovation and reduction: we invest in technologies and systems that prevent or radically reduce emissions instead of “making them good” afterwards.
Projects are carefully selected based on clear investment criteria. They must fit within one of the two main themes:
- Biodiversity
- Emission-free aviation
In addition, the fund looks at:
- The phase of the project (early or catalytic phase)
- The innovative character
- The impact potential (measurable and scalable)
- The quality of the team and the execution
After an initial Quick Scan, a due diligence process follows in which the plans, impact and financial feasibility are assessed. Only projects that demonstrably contribute to a more sustainable future and do not get off the ground without support receive funding.
The Future Friendly Fund supports innovative projects, startups and organizations that contribute to a livable planet. The foundation invests in solutions for biodiversity restoration and the sustainability of aviation. The goal is to help scale up sustainable initiatives, especially when commercial investors are still hesitant.
The board consists of five members with diverse experience in sustainability, entrepreneurship and impact investing:
- Saskia Griep (founder Better Places, anthropologist, social entrepreneur)
- Hans Bolscher (former director of Climate Change at EZ, energy transition expert)
- Freek ten Broeke (social entrepreneur and co-founder Better Places)
- Louise Snel (Aviation in Transition Foundation, communication specialist)
- Saskia Werther (impact investing and circular economy)
They do not receive any compensation for their board work and are fully committed to the common good.
No. The foundation has no profit motive and uses all its resources for the common good. All board members fulfill their role unpaid, so they do not receive a salary or compensation for their work, only a possible reimbursement of expenses if they incur expenses for their position.
The foundation deliberately keeps its overhead as low as possible. Board members work unpaid and only receive reimbursement for expenses incurred. The limited operational costs, such as administration, communication and project evaluation, are covered by a separate contribution from Better Places, not by donations from travelers. This means that every euro contributed by travelers and companies remains fully available for the projects themselves.
Yes. 100% of all contributions from travelers and donors goes directly to sustainable projects and investments that contribute to the green transition. The foundation uses these resources exclusively to finance innovative solutions in the fields of energy, food, biodiversity and sustainable aviation.
The Future Friendly Fund is registered as an ANBI (Public Benefit Organization). This means that the foundation is required to publish its policy plan, annual report and financial data annually on the website
