Bentley announces new foundation

Bentley has created a new foundation aimed at creating next-generation solutions to environmental challenges. 

Dubbed the Bentley Environmental Foundation, the new institution will use a distinctive, innovative approach to modern grant-making in the environmental space. 

“Our Beyond100 strategy is amongst the boldest in the industry. We will reinvent Bentley, and create a fully electric car business by 2030, which will already be taking a huge step to reduce our environmental impact,” commented Bentley Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Adrian Hallmark. 

“However, without parallel changes to global renewable energy production, carbon capture and reduction in raw material usage, this benefit will be relatively small – it is not all about the car itself. Therefore, the Bentley Environmental Foundation will fund pioneering, discovery-led initiatives that can make a positive impact beyond our own business needs, engaging customers and innovators to seek out breakthrough technologies and solutions that lead the way on reversing the effects of climate change. The opportunity to act and innovate has never been more exciting than now,” the Chief Executive added. 

Bentley will be making an initial donation of £3 million (approximately P181.68 million) to the foundation this year. According to the storied British automotive brand, the said donation is only the first step to support carefully selected charities and non-profits who will work in partnership with the marque to deliver lasting, effective environmental change.

At the time of writing, the Bentley Environmental Foundation has three partners, namely Project Drawdown, The Biomimicry Institute, and Sustainable Surf. 

Project Drawdown, Bentley said, is the world’s leading resource for climate solutions, has identified staggering disconnects between today’s climate funding and the science-based solutions needed to effectively address climate change.

Meanwhile, The Biomimicry Institute is an organization whose mission is “to help solve humanity’s biggest challenges through the adoption of biomimicry (nature-inspired innovation) in education, culture, and industry.”

As for Sustainable Surf, it is a California-based non-profit that uses the power of surfing to regenerate the health of our ocean planet and reverse climate change.

The Bentley Environmental Foundation is backed by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), a not-for-profit organization with nearly 100 years of expertise in philanthropy. CAF will provide the organization with sound, strategic advice regarding the foundation’s structure, governance, reporting, and the selection of its charity partners. 

“We are very excited to launch the Foundation with these three partners. Co-creation is part of our brand DNA and we’re now applying this approach to implementing projects with real, long-term impacts for the environment. With Project Drawdown we aim to significantly increase the efficiency and effectiveness of billions of pounds worth of environmental donations and investments globally. With The Biomimicry Institute we’re supporting changemakers who are creating and scaling nature-inspired solutions to address our most pressing environmental and social challenges. And with Sustainable Surf we’re helping to strengthen blue carbon ecosystems in Africa and Europe through the massive forestation of seagrass and mangrove trees,” stated Bentley Environmental Foundation Head Christoph Hohmann. 

Photos from Bentley

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