Press Release: Restord announces first carbon removal pre-purchase agreement with Bennetts Associates
Restord, a UK biochar startup, has signed its first pre-purchase agreement with Bennetts Associates, one of the UK’s leading architectural practices known for its pioneering approach to sustainability and drive to achieving Net Zero Carbon. Under the new agreement, Bennetts Associates will purchase 50 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from Restord’s pilot biochar project over one year.
This agreement marks a pivotal moment for both Restord and Bennetts Associates, showcasing their joint commitment to pioneering CDR strategies and sustainable practices, contributing to global carbon removal efforts. It also supports Restord’s mission to scale up its biochar operations, with initial production set to begin in the third quarter of 2024.
The agreed funds will be allocated towards pilot site setup and is subject to Restord achieving critical milestones, including the full delivery of initial tonnage with third-party measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV).
Tom Previte, Founder of Restord Ltd, said:
"We’re thrilled to be working with Bennetts Associates as our first customer. Their support is more than a pre-purchase, it’s catalytic funding that's helping get our project up and running in the UK."
Peter Fisher, Director at Bennetts Associates, said:
“We are now into our third year of buying durable carbon dioxide removals (CDR) and this year we’re excited to be buying most of our CDR directly from Restord. We feel that this partnership represents a major step towards UK carbon removal solutions and underscores Bennetts Associates' dedication towards net zero carbon.
“Operating in the built environment we see many potential benefits and synergies with CDR. Academics speculate that biochar could be a useful additive to construction material. This is something we’re keen to experiment with further, to see if biochar can be used within the earth blocks we’ve been pioneering.”
This partnership and Bennetts Associates’ involvement have been uniquely documented on Restord’s podcast, “Grounded: A Climate Startup Journey”. Listen here.
Key Details of the Agreement:
Type: Biochar
Total Purchase Amount: £10,000
Service Quantity: 50 metric tonnes
Price: £200 per metric tonne of CO2
Delivery Schedule: 25 metric tonnes by Q4 2024, and 25 metric tonnes by Q1 2025.
Future Purchase Conditions: Bennetts Associates has outlined conditions for potential future purchases, emphasising the need for:
Full delivery of initial tonnage with third-party MRV evidence.
Completion of a third-party lifecycle analysis (LCA) confirming net tonnes removed.
Ongoing responsible community engagement and adherence to high standards of safety and environmental compliance.
About Restord Ltd
Restord Ltd is a UK-based company specialising in biochar production for long-term carbon removal. By converting biomass into biochar and applying it to UK soils, Restord not only sequesters carbon but also enhances soil health and productivity. The company's mission is to scale up biochar technology to address climate change, improve agricultural sustainability, and promote environmental stewardship.
About Bennetts Associates
Bennetts Associates is one of the UK’s leading architectural practices, known for its pioneering approach to sustainability and dedication to achieving Net Zero Carbon. A founding member of the UK Green Building Council, the practice is the first in the world to secure Science Based Target approval and commit to the UN’s Climate Neutral Now campaign. Other firsts in the UK include the publication of LETI carbon ratings for projects, and certification under the NABERS scheme.
Bennetts Associates is responsible for numerous prominent projects, such as the Royal College of Pathologists and the Meta Office in London, the Edinburgh Futures Institute, Storyhouse in Chester, and the JLR Global HQ in Warwickshire. An employee-owned trust and certified B Corp, Bennetts Associates operates from studios located in London, Edinburgh, and Manchester.
@BennettsAssocs
