Bentley to help the Kelp with support for Californian environmental project

• Bentley Environmental Foundation to fund US kelp forest initiative
• Kelp restoration programme focussed on key coastal sites
• Lab-grown Sunflower Stars project reduces the proliferation of Purple Urchins that feed off living Kelp
• Initiative announced at customer beach dinner hosted by Bentley Environmental Foundation during Monterey Car Week 
• Bentley Environmental Foundation launched in 2023 as part of the company’s Beyond100 strategy
• Californian project driven by Foundation launch partner SeaTrees 

(Crewe/Monterey, 19 August 2024) Bentley Motors today announced funding for major environmental initiatives off the Californian coast supported by SeaTrees – a founding partner of the newly-formed Bentley Environmental Foundation. These projects will help restore and monitor kelp forests across three key sites and will kickstart efforts to reintroduce Sunflower Stars to help save California's declining kelp forests.

The project was revealed during a beach dinner for Bentley customers at Monterey Car Week in California. It was hosted by the Bentley Environmental Foundation, set up last year as part of the company’s Beyond100 strategy as a long-term commitment to support global sustainability issues.

More than 90 per cent of kelp has been lost in California due to climate change, a trend exacerbated by the disappearance of sunflower stars and the proliferation of purple sea urchins. An innovative element of the project will be to grow Sunflower Stars under laboratory conditions. The invertebrates are a natural predator to urchins and, once released into the sea, will help regulate their population and maintain the balance of the trophic food web.

Kelp is critical to climate change as it absorbs carbon dioxide from both the atmosphere and the ocean, and is a natural habitat for hundreds of marine  creatures. The large brown algae also helps protect coastal communities and offers cultural and recreational value.

The Foundation project will support SeaTrees in collaboration with Reef Check California and the Sunflower Star Laboratory. Their marine ecosystem projects create the right conditions for kelp to grow and support research into kelp forest recovery. SeaTrees will also promote the work of both bodies to a wider audience, encouraging others in similar initiatives.

The California project is just the latest step in Bentley’s sustainability journey towards a carbon neutral future. The Bentley Environmental Foundation already partners with the Californian-based non-profit Sustainable Surf, which is the organisation behind SeaTrees, to help regenerate the health of our ocean planet. A project in Kenya has involved the planting of one million mangrove trees, with seagrass and kelp regeneration projects in Portugal and Spain too.

Wayne Bruce, Chief Communications and DEI Officer, responsible for the Bentley Environmental Foundation, said:

"At Bentley, we are committed to driving forward innovative environmental initiatives and solutions. By partnering with SeaTrees and other pioneering organisations, we are bringing to life our long-term commitment to preserve and regenerate our planet for future generations. The Foundation’s support for the kelp restoration project in California underscores this commitment, and will continue to help transform and conserve the world’s vitally important blue carbon ecosystems. This initiative is testament to our Beyond100 strategy and our ongoing commitment to global sustainability, with the Foundation as a key pillar for catalysing positive environmental change.”

Michael Stewart, Co-Founder and Director of SeaTrees, added:

“Partnering with the Bentley Environmental Foundation is a game-changer for our kelp restoration efforts in California. The funding and support from Bentley allow us to tackle the urgent crisis facing our kelp forests with a multifaceted approach. Their support not only aids in the recovery of crucial marine habitats but also underscores the importance of innovative collaborations in addressing climate change and protecting our oceans for future generations."

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