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BrewDog has announced that an adventurous programme of peatland restoration is underway at its flagship moorland restoration initiative.

The progress follows the brewery and pub chain unveiling just 10 months ago that it had purchased a former grouse moor, the Kinrara Estate, for rewilding as part of efforts to offset its carbon footprint.

In a move welcomed by Wild Moors, the company is harnessing the power of nature to lock large amounts of carbon in the ground and woodlands as part of what it describes as the BrewDog Lost Forest.

BrewDog CEO James Watt shared an update on the company’s social media about how rewilding is progressing:

“Work is well underway on peatland restoration. Peatland restoration is a very effective form of carbon sequestration.”

“We have also now lodged our application with Scottish Forestry for the first phase of tree planting.”

Evidence suggests nature-based climate solutions could provide a third of greenhouse gas mitigation globally between now and 2030. This follows consensus being reached at the UN Climate Conference (COP26) that there is no pathway to keep global temperatures below 1.5°C without changing how land is managed.

BrewDog was the first company to invest in land to rewild it as part of its carbon net-zero strategy. Where they have led, others have followed with Standard Life Aberdeen and Sumo Group having since also done the same.

Climate solutions like offsetting carbon through peatland restoration and tree planting are fast becoming an important income stream for alternative, nature-friendly land management, which seeks to replace intensive practices that damage the environment.

Luke Steele, Executive Director of Wild Moors, which works with businesses to regenerate nature in the uplands, welcomed the progress being made:

“Three cheers for BrewDog for restoring nature on a degraded former grouse moor to help the company reach carbon net-zero.

“With the UK’s peatlands storing more carbon than all the forests in the UK, France and Germany combined, BrewDog has set the bar high for other climate-conscious companies to follow in its footsteps. Sustainability strategies embracing land-based climate solutions will continue to grow in 2022.”

ENDS

Notes for editors

For more information or interview requests please contact Wild Moors on info@wildmoors.org.uk

Wild Moors campaigns to unlock an area of uplands the size of Greater London from grouse shooting for nature restoration by 2030. By working with communities, companies and governments to solve challenges facing the upland environment Wild Moors acts as a catalyst for creating effective and lasting change.