Marks & Spencer (M&S) has partnered with Black Bull Biochar (BBB) to purchase Biochar Carbon Removal Credits, launching a pioneering initiative to embed sustainable practices into its poultry supply chain. The biochar produced under this agreement will be used on farms supplying M&S to improve bird welfare, reduce emissions, and enhance nutrient retention in poultry manure.
The project, which includes collaboration with one of the UK’s largest poultry companies, Avara Foods, will run from summer 2025 through to spring 2026. The trial is funded under the M&S Plan A Accelerator and aims to showcase how carbon removal can be directly integrated into commercial food production.
“We are excited to share that Marks and Spencer and Black Bull Biochar have signed an agreement for the purchase of Biochar Carbon Removal Credits,” the partners announced. “The biochar produced from the sale will be used on poultry farms in the M&S supply chain to enhance bird welfare and improve nutrient retention in manure.”
Sam Laing, Innovation Manager at Avara Foods, explained that the biochar will be mixed into bedding where chicks are reared, providing a “two-fold benefit—initially in the bedding and then again when the resulting manure is applied to land.” The trial aims to lower ammonia emissions in poultry housing, improve welfare and productivity, and enhance soil fertility.
Christian McKenna, Project Manager at BBB, added, “I am excited to lead this project. This is carbon removal at its best with benefits for nature and farming.”
Hamish Creber, Co-founder and CTO of BBB, explained the science behind the credits: “Forests and crops sequester carbon as they grow, but the carbon is re-emitted when biomass decomposes or is burned. When BBB transforms plant biomass into biochar, the carbon is locked away for hundreds to potentially thousands of years.”
Real-time data will be collected from participating farms, with biochar tracked from BBB production facilities through application in poultry houses to final storage in soil. The carbon stored will be measured to ensure transparency and verification.
Alex Clarke, Co-founder and CEO of BBB, said the project offers a template for others to follow. “We are proud to bring carbon removal to UK retail and demonstrate a replicable model for large organisations across the sector.”
