Our science: driven by purpose
We’re accelerating nature’s CO2 sequestering processes by using enhanced rock weathering (ERW), bringing co-benefits and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) capability to communities around the world.
From Lab To Field
The effectiveness of enhanced rock weathering has been proven in the lab. Now, we are demonstrating its CO2 removal potential on a global scale through mesocosm and field monitoring sites.
Our Science
What is Enhanced Rock Weathering?
Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a nature-based method of CDR based on a geological process. In the planet’s carbon cycle, this process takes hundreds of thousands of years – we’ve developed an approach that dramatically accelerates it to just decades.
How Does Enhanced Rock Weathering Work?
We take silicate rock, crush it into a fine powder, and spread it on agricultural land. The rock begins weathering straight away, sped up by the increased reactive surface area. Simultaneously, it removes atmospheric CO2 while also enriching the soil with essential nutrients. Because silicate rocks are the most abundant on Earth, ERW has the ability to rapidly scale to permanently remove billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
Pioneering ERW Standards
UNDO collaborated with Puro.earth, the world’s leading carbon removals registry, to make ERW available as an ICROA-accredited carbon removal technology. But we want to go further. We have been working with independent climate scientists and standards agencies to write the first methodology for ERW to be validated under ISO-14064. This pioneering work is underpinning the latest protocols for the quantification, monitoring and reporting of CO2 removal from ERW projects globally.
Mesocosm-Scale Study
Our mesocosms incorporate the complexity of field conditions while allowing us to take a wider range of measurements more often. This bridge between our lab work and full-scale field monitoring sites allows for precise rock application and provides foundational data for our geochemical model.
Our Modelling
We have built a world-class geochemical model that shows us how quickly our rock weathers and how much CO2 we can expect to be locked away over time. This model uses inputs like silicate rock type, climate, soil and atmosphere. It also incorporates the latest real-world, peer-reviewed published data. By improving the model with the best available science, including accurate global climate data, and taking regular field measurements, we can model CO2 removal as we expand and scale our operations around the world.
Understanding our Impact: UNDO's measurement, reporting and verification process
We champion full transparency and rigorous validation of our work, values that drive our approach to MRV – measurement, reporting and verification. We use a breadth of measurement techniques from the lab to the field in this process. Our geochemical model has been extensively peer-reviewed and tested against experimental data to ensure high confidence as to the amount of CO2 we are locking away.
Our Green Jobs Pathway Programme
Our Green Jobs Pathway generates employment opportunities, particularly in scientific fields, within rural communities. It also aids in facilitating the transition towards a green economy. This program shows the significant positive effects ERW can have in the communities we serve. It also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) of ‘No Poverty,’ which is one of seven UNSDGs targeted by our ERW solution.