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Design+ Designing CO offsets w/personal identity
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commit themselves as catalysts for change. To foster
zealous participation, the automobile buyers’ club will
offer different membership categories based on the level
of engagement each member desires. Those intending
to contribute more significantly will pay higher fees,
embodying a model of participatory licensing at the
club’s core. Incentives for participation will be closely
tied to the issues and activities promoted within the club,
generally crafted and discussed on social media and the
club’s website for public transparency. Additionally, a
localized membership platform will facilitate grassroots Figure 3. Attachment mechanism of a crystal to a plate
localized events and activities shared exclusively among
members within their specific jurisdiction.
The proposed club allows member to select their
membership categories based on the level of participation
they wish to commit to the “think big-do big” endeavors.
This system uses color-coded crystals to denote different
scales of involvement; green represents grassroots, local-
level initiatives, orange signifies participation in country-
level efforts, and purple indicates engagement in global or
world-level activities. Figure 3 shows how single crystal can
be attached to a license plate. Figure 4 shows the license
plate of the grassroot local level of membership. Figure 4. The appearance of the crystal on a license plate (denoted by the
The fundamentals of establishing a club have long been red arrow)
recognized by economists. 12,13 The proposed automobile
buyers/high-quality lifestyle club represents an application For example, the pulp and paper company APP Sinarmas
allegedly generated and supplied carbon credits through
of the various theoretical concepts featured by economists.
The constitution of this club will begin with drafting a legal reforestation and avoided deforestation (REDD+) projects
document locally, and will gradually be revised over time while simultaneously being accused of ongoing deforestation
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to realize a global vision. activities and peatland development activities.
Additionally, for companies like Tesla, supplying carbon
3. Other carbon-credit suppliers credits provides a competitive advantage. This strategy not
In this context, it is essential to understand the motivation only serves as social signaling to sustainability-focused
of carbon credit suppliers. While much of the discourse investors and customers but also provides investors with a
focuses on the demand side, the existence of the market stable return through revenue generated from carbon credit
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fundamentally depends on the suppliers, whose motivation sales. Although Tesla’s tactics may verge on performative,
and commitment warrant closer examination. Are they its strategic positioning as a green company has effectively
driven solely by profit, or do they embody genuine green reinforced its brand and positioned it at the forefront of
visionary principles? the carbon offset market. Tesla enjoys a quasi-monopoly
in this domain by maximizing its carbon credit allocation
Many carbon offset projects, such as those involving as a “pure play” zero-emission company. Despite these
forestry, cookstoves, and renewable energy, often originate dynamics, it is important to acknowledge altruistically
with the intent to protect local ecosystems. However, these driven suppliers of carbon credits. Social enterprises often
efforts have frequently been compromised by profit-driven operate by a genuine desire to effect positive environmental
actors. Creating and supplying carbon credits can be a way change. However, these efforts are often marred by financial
for an organization to demonstrate its commitment to the viability and ecological ineffectiveness of these projects.
environment and thus enhance its brand. Additionally, suppliers sometimes overestimate the impact
Similarly, cognitive dissonance may influence supplier of their carbon offset projects. As an example, South Pole,
behavior; by supplying carbon credits, organizations ease a leading carbon developer, was accused of overstating
their internal conflict between their environmentally the climate benefit of the carbon credits generated by its
conscious values and their emission-intensive activities. REDD+ projects in Kariba. 16

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025) 4 doi: 10.36922/DP025100013