Comply Direct invest in pioneering technology business, CSX Carbon, to support UK nature recovery & biodiversity
Comply Direct is delighted to be contributing to the development of CSX Carbon through investment as part of a seed funding round, to further advance creation of a trusted carbon market, via science-led carbon measurement technology
Yorkshire based Climate Solutions Exchange Ltd (CSX) is revolutionising the carbon, biodiversity and Natural Capital marketplace, by providing the technology and trading methods for landowners to access environmental finance through the sale of offset credits to businesses. CSX Carbon’s innovative work provides farmers opportunity to generate carbon credits by planting woodlands and restoring peatlands that can lock up carbon for centuries. These new habitats also improve biodiversity and provide a host of *Natural Capital benefits, such as water and air quality and health and wellbeing.
In September 2022, CSX Carbon announced a successful seed funding round of £2.5million, enabling the technology business to take the next steps in its development and delivery of cutting-edge measurement and audit systems.
The investment round is led by US Family Office, Sage Hill Investors with participation from Richard Moffitt, CEO Urban Logistics REIT, Comply Direct Limited, Swiss based investor The New Frontiers (TNF), Mark Cunliffe-Lister of Swinton Estate, RealTyme, The Freehold Group, Ground Control Limited and Interactive Digital Systems Limited. The investment round has been supported by UK landowners.
CSX is creating a new delivery infrastructure to accelerate the expansion of private sector support for localised **Nature Recovery projects.
By working with both sides of the Natural Capital markets, CSX allows land managers using its platform to monetise delivery of nature-based solutions and businesses the opportunity to access offsets delivering measured rather than modelled carbon and biodiversity.
CSX’s earth observation technology and leading scientific programmes allow land managers to demonstrate their actions (peatland restoration, woodland planting, biodiversity net gain) and measure the outputs, thus providing buyers of credits a transparent and verifiable audit trail.
CSX’s technology is being developed alongside engagement with UK Government’s Environmental Land Management (ELM) Test and Trials, Biodiversity Pilots with Natural England and a Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF) project with the Environment Agency.
This new investment builds on the progress to date in developing innovative monitoring mechanisms for woodlands, and will enable CSX to expand its team and broaden its product range to enable land managers using the CSX digital platform to access additional Natural Capital revenue streams:
- Measuring the carbon balance from peatlands, and marketing the credits resulting from the reduction in carbon losses from peatland restoration
- Measuring the habitat improvements from nature recovery projects and marketing the resulting Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) credits.
The new investment will also support development of CSX’s digital platform to include demand side access for both carbon and biodiversity credits.
Rostam Zafari of Sage Hill Investors, Richard Moffitt, CEO of Urban Logistics REIT and Nick Maughan of Maughan Capital have agreed to join the CSX board.
Andy Howard, co-founder and CEO of CSX Carbon welcomed the investment:
“This investment not only signals a great vote of confidence in our business, but also demonstrates the need for technology solutions to underpin the Natural Capital markets. CSX is developing real market solutions, providing land managers with the confidence to deliver nature recovery and businesses the data they need to make informed purchases of carbon and biodiversity credits.”
Comply Direct Managing Director, Sarah Foster, commented on this important milestone:
“In line with our purpose to lead, inspire and educate for positive environmental and societal impact, the team at Comply Direct are thrilled to be a part of the CSX journey. Nature recovery and biodiversity are at the heart of a healthy environment for humanity and the work that CSX does will complement our environmental consultancy services for businesses across multiple sectors, increasing the positive environmental impacts achievable with our customers.”
Discover more about CSX Carbon and their offering HERE
* Natural capital - comprised of all the ecosystem services that UK natural assets provide; natural assets include soil, air, water and all living things.
**Nature recovery – initiatives to increase, restore and enhance the natural environment