We’re delighted to announce Water Plus as the first company to sign up to our brand-new corporate supporter scheme, which aims to bring companies together to focus collective efforts and raise awareness about the importance of marine habitats and underwater eco-systems, for a stronger planet in the future. The partnership with Water Plus will mean we can accelerate research in the field of blue carbon capture, with the goal of creating a science-based system for verifying the effectiveness of seaweed in marine carbon capture.
Water Plus, which has a base in Scotland and one in England, will also work with us to raise awareness with communities in Scotland and further afield, around making good use of water each day – and highlight the importance of marine habitats in mitigating rising CO2 levels and climate change.
Water Plus, which provides water and wastewater services including billing, customer service, meter reading, account management and technical water services for over 720,000 customer supply points in England and Scotland, is the first water retailer to support SAMS and is using its voice to encourage further progress and actions for the environment, including cutting water waste at buildings, which also can reduce carbon emissions – and energy use, where hot water’s lost.
SAMS Director Prof Nicholas Owens said: “Not only will having Water Plus as one of our founding corporate members help kickstart this new programme of vital corporate giving, which intends to highlight the impact marine habitats can have in helping the planet thrive, but their support is also contributing to the first steps in a brand new project which could have transformative impact in the future of blue carbon initiatives and accelerate our work in this important area of marine sustainability.”
Andy Hughes, Chief Executive of Water Plus, said: “We’re passionate about protecting and enhancing the environment, and helping the communities we work in. Supporting charities like SAMS allows us to help make environmental innovation, understanding and research happen faster - and gives us the opportunity to encourage other organisations and communities to get involved and help reduce, or prevent carbon emissions to help tackle climate challenges.”
The partnership is an additional part of the action Water Plus is taking under its Cleaner Climate Promise, announced in March 2022, and its support of projects including peatland restoration and re-introducing native oysters into UK coastal waters to improve biodiversity and restore habitats in marine eco-systems.
Blue Carbon is the term for carbon captured by and in the world’s oceans, including coastal and marine ecosystems.
Notes to Editors
The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), based near Oban, is Scotland’s largest and oldest independent marine science organisation, dedicated to delivering marine science for a healthy and sustainable marine environment through research, education, enterprise and engagement with society. It is a charitable organisation (009206) and a partner of the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Water Plus works with organisations large and small, including the public sector along with multi-sites across England and Scotland and is the largest water retailer in the UK. The company, which won nine awards for its work in 2022 with organisations and its employees, including two National Sustainability Awards in October and four Green Apple Environment Awards including Gold for Water Management in November, is taking additional steps to encourage more action by organisations to reduce impacts on the environment. It also won a UK Customer Satisfaction Award in March 2023 for its work with organisations around their water use and has a base in Glasgow, with staff working across Scotland, along with an office in Staffordshire. More details on the additional action by Water Plus, including tree-planting and peatland restoration in Scotland can be found here: www.water-plus.co.uk/about-us/corporate-social-responsibility-sustainability/ .
