Bentley Motors has pledged funding for a major marine restoration initiative off Southeastern Australia, marking the latest expansion of its environmental efforts through the Bentley Environmental Foundation. The project will focus on restoring Phyllospora comosa, or “crayweed,” a kelp species that disappeared from Sydney’s reefs during the 1980s.
Since 2023, Bentley’s collaboration with Seatrees, a launch partner of the Foundation, has supported environmental projects across Kenya, Spain, Portugal, and the United States. The new Australian project will build on this global work, aiming to revive vital underwater forests that provide food, habitat, and oxygen for coastal marine life, while also supporting carbon sequestration and biodiversity.
The restoration will take place at South Bondi’s subtidal rocky reef, where two sites will be rehabilitated to create 12,000 square feet of kelp forest. Local partners, including Operation Crayweed and the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, will transplant adult crayweed from existing populations onto cleared reef areas using biodegradable mesh mats. These transplanted adults are expected to reproduce and establish self-sustaining populations, with divers monitoring the sites to ensure the return of marine species.
Wayne Bruce, Bentley’s Chief Communications and DEI Officer, highlighted the project’s alignment with the company’s sustainability agenda. “Our award-winning Foundation is a key aspect of Bentley’s Beyond100+ strategy,” he said. “With this latest project in Sydney, we hope to bring life back to an ecosystem that has been lost for decades.”
Michael Stewart, Co-Founder and Director of Seatrees, described the initiative as “a powerful next step” in the organisations’ ongoing collaboration. He noted that Bentley’s support has enabled the expansion of kelp, mangrove, and seagrass restoration projects worldwide.
Established to partner with innovative charities and NGOs, the Bentley Environmental Foundation operates under three strategic pillars: Protect and Regenerate Nature, Enable Changemakers, and Drive Innovative Solutions Towards Decarbonisation. Since its launch, the Foundation has supported more than 20 projects across 14 countries, benefitting over 636,000 people and delivering over 1,600 targeted environmental activities.
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