At Sunbucks (referred to as "we," "us," or "our"), we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. Our platform enables users to contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing their carbon footprints and to earn stable, long-term profits from renewable energy projects by purchasing a portion of the profits generated per installation /project. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal data in compliance with applicable laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for users in the European Union and similar regulations elsewhere.
By using our website, mobile app, or services (collectively, the "Platform"), you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information to provide, improve, and personalize our services, facilitate purchasing of Sunbucks, and ensure secure transactions. The types of information we may collect include:
- Personal Identification Information: Name, email address, postal address, phone number, and date of birth, provided when you create an account, subscribe to our newsletter, or participate in funding activities.
- Financial and Funding Information: Bank account details, payment information (e.g., credit card numbers via secure third-party processors), funding preferences, and transaction history, necessary for processing purchases of profit shares in solar installations and calculating profits or carbon offset impacts.
- Environmental and Usage Data: Information related to your carbon footprint goals (e.g., self-reported energy usage or location data if you opt-in), device information (e.g., IP address, browser type), and Platform usage data (e.g., pages visited, time spent on features like project browsing or profit calculators).
- Automatically Collected Data: Through cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies, we collect data on your interactions, such as referral sources, session duration, and preferences for eco-focused or profit-focused content.
- Third-Party Data: Information from partners, such as solar project developers or verification services, to validate funding or environmental impacts.
We only collect data that is necessary for our services and with your consent where required.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to operate the Platform effectively and deliver value to our two primary user groups: those seeking easy environmental impact and those focused on earning from profit shares. Specific uses include:
- Account Management and Services: To create and manage your account, process funding transactions for solar installations, calculate and display carbon footprint reductions or profits from purchased shares, and send bi-weekly newsletters with updates on projects, profits, or eco-tips.
- Personalization: Tailoring content, such as recommending solar projects that align with your environmental goals or profit-earning preferences.
- Compliance and Security: Verifying identities to prevent fraud, complying with legal obligations (e.g., anti-money laundering checks for funding transactions), and securing financial data.
- Analytics and Improvements: Analyzing usage patterns to enhance the Platform, such as optimizing SEO for eco-funding searches or improving SEM campaigns.
- Marketing and Communications: With your consent, sending promotional emails about new solar opportunities, stable profit insights, or environmental impact stories. You can opt-out at any time.
- Research and Aggregated Data: Using anonymized data for reports on global solar funding trends or carbon reductions, without identifying individuals.
We process data based on legal grounds such as your consent, contract performance (e.g., funding agreements), legitimate interests (e.g., security), or legal requirements.
3. Sharing Your Information
We do not sell your personal data. We may share information in limited circumstances:
- Service Providers: With trusted third parties, such as payment processors (e.g., Stripe), solar project partners worldwide, or analytics tools, who are bound by confidentiality and process data only on our behalf.
- Legal and Regulatory Compliance: If required by law, such as for tax reporting on profits from projects or in response to subpoenas.
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred to the new entity.
- With Your Consent: For example, sharing aggregated impact data in public success stories if you opt-in.
We ensure all recipients comply with data protection standards, including GDPR for EU data transfers.
4. Data Security
We implement robust security measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure. These include encryption for financial transactions, secure servers, access controls, and regular audits. However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. In case of a data breach, we will notify affected users and authorities as required by law (e.g., within 72 hours under GDPR).
5. Your Rights and Choices
You have control over your data. Depending on your location, rights may include:
- Access and Correction: Request a copy of your data or correct inaccuracies.
- Deletion: Ask us to delete your data (subject to legal retention requirements, e.g., funding records).
- Objection and Restriction: Object to processing for marketing or restrict use in certain cases.
- Portability: Receive your data in a structured format.
- Withdraw Consent: Revoke consent at any time, though this may limit Platform access.
- Opt-Out of Cookies: Manage preferences via our cookie banner or browser settings.
To exercise these rights, contact us at hello@sunbucks.com We respond within 30 days (extendable under GDPR). For EU users, you can complain to your local data protection authority.
6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies for essential functions (e.g., session management), performance (e.g., analytics via Google Analytics), and marketing (e.g., targeted ads for solar funding). You can manage cookies through our consent tool. For details, see our Cookie Policy.
7. International Data Transfers
As our Platform funds solar installations globally, data may be transferred outside your country, including to regions with varying privacy protections. We use safeguards like Standard Contractual Clauses (under GDPR) to ensure adequate protection.
8. Data Retention
We retain data only as long as necessary: account data for the duration of your use plus legal periods (e.g., 7 years for financial records); newsletter subscriptions until you unsubscribe.
9. Children's Privacy
Our Platform is not intended for users under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from minors. If we discover such data, we will delete it promptly.
10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Policy to reflect changes in our practices or laws. We will notify you via email or Platform notice and update the effective date. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.
11. Contact Us
For questions or concerns, contact our Data Protection Officer at:
- Email: hello@sunbucks.com
- Address: 26/27 Upper Pembroke Street, Suite 10947 Dublin 2, D02 X361 Republic of Ireland
This Policy is governed by the European Union. Thank you for trusting us with your data as we work together to fund a sustainable future.