UNDO is a nature-based carbon removal company that develops and deploys enhanced rock weathering (ERW) at scale to permanently remove atmospheric CO₂ and deliver co‑benefits to agriculture and oceans[3][5]. [3] [5]
High‑Level Overview
- Concise summary: UNDO builds an end‑to‑end ERW project and technology platform that sources reactive silicate rock fines, coordinates spreading on agricultural land, and measures and issues carbon removal credits using a custom data platform called NEWTON[3][5]. [3] [5]
For an investment firm (not applicable): UNDO is a portfolio company / project developer rather than an investment firm; the following bullets therefore describe UNDO as a portfolio company. [3]
- What product it builds: Permanent carbon removal projects based on enhanced rock weathering plus a data and operations platform (NEWTON) to record, validate and manage removal delivery and credits[5]. [5]
- Who it serves: Corporates and buyers seeking permanent carbon removal (examples include Microsoft, Stripe and other corporate purchasers), and farming partners who receive rock inputs and operational support[3][4]. [3] [4]
- What problem it solves: Provides large‑scale, lower‑cost, nature‑based carbon dioxide removal with permanence and agricultural co‑benefits (soil nutrients, potential crop benefits, and downstream ocean bicarbonate formation)[4][5]. [4] [5]
- Growth momentum: UNDO has moved from lab and field trials into multi‑country spreading operations (UK, US, Australia, Canada and trials in East Africa), has raised institutional funding and corporate partnerships, and has developed an industry ERW methodology approaching ISO alignment[3][1][5]. [3] [1] [5]
Origin Story
- Founding & background: UNDO was founded to scale enhanced rock weathering as a permanent carbon removal pathway; the company positions itself as a science‑driven project developer and technology provider working with leading researchers and industry partners[3][5]. [3] [5]
- How the idea emerged: The company accelerates the natural geological weathering process by spreading crushed reactive silicate rock on soils to speed CO₂ uptake into bicarbonates and eventual carbonate minerals — an idea rooted in geochemistry and soil science and implemented at operational scale via agricultural partnerships[4][5]. [4] [5]
- Early traction / pivotal moments: UNDO progressed from laboratory and field trials to thousands of tonnes of rock spread across multiple countries, development of the NEWTON data platform, inclusion in corporate carbon portfolios (e.g., Microsoft and Stripe), nominations and awards (e.g., Earthshot Prize nomination), and contributions to an ERW methodology being advanced toward ISO 14064 conformity[3][5][2]. [3] [5] [2]
Core Differentiators
- Science + operations integration: Combines lab and in‑field trials with an operational model that leverages by‑product rock from aggregates/mining and existing agricultural infrastructure to scale spreading efficiently[5][4]. [5] [4]
- Proprietary data & MRV platform: NEWTON — a custom data platform with mobile apps and in‑field hardware — provides traceability, operational data capture and the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) backbone for issuing high‑quality removal credits[5]. [5]
- High carbon efficiency and permanence claims: UNDO reports high carbon efficiency for its ERW process and emphasizes permanence via transformation of CO₂ into stable bicarbonates and eventual mineral sinks[1][3]. [1] [3]
- Partnership model and buyer traction: Early commercial partnerships with large corporates and inclusion in prominent corporate portfolios signal buyer demand and commercial validation[3][4]. [3] [4]
Role in the Broader Tech & Climate Landscape
- Trend engaged: UNDO sits at the intersection of nature‑based carbon removal, agricultural decarbonization, and climate MRV technology — a fast‑growing segment of climate tech focused on delivering permanent removals at scale[4][5]. [4] [5]
- Why timing matters: Growing corporate net‑zero commitments and an increasing focus on scalable, verifiable permanent removal solutions create demand for approaches that combine lower cost, permanence and co‑benefits, aligning with UNDO’s value proposition[3][4]. [3] [4]
- Market forces in their favor: Availability of silicate rock by‑products, existing farm equipment/infrastructure for spreading, and rising corporate demand for high‑integrity removals support rapid scaling potential[5][4]. [5] [4]
- Influence on ecosystem: By developing an industry ERW methodology and integrated MRV tooling, UNDO helps standardize ERW practice, which can reduce buyer uncertainty and accelerate wider adoption of mineral‑based removal pathways[5][3]. [5] [3]
Quick Take & Future Outlook
- What’s next: Expect scale‑up of large field trials, continued geographic expansion (existing operations in UK, US, Australia, Canada and trials in East Africa), further refinement and approval of ERW MRV methodology, and deeper commercial off‑take agreements with corporates[3][5]. [3] [5]
- Trends that will shape them: Progress in standardized MRV frameworks, regulatory treatment of removals, crop/farming adoption rates, supply logistics for rock feedstocks, and price discovery in the carbon removal market will determine the pace and economics of scaling[5][4]. [5] [4]
- How their influence may evolve: If UNDO delivers robust, verifiable large‑scale removals with cost‑competitive pricing and strong co‑benefits, it could become a leading supplier in corporate removal portfolios and a reference player for ERW MRV standards[3][5]. [3] [5]
Quick reminder: UNDO is a project developer and technology provider focused on enhanced rock weathering and MRV; it is not an investment firm[3][5]. [3] [5]
