Kier has entered into a long-term partnership with the Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT) to support its Blue Meadows project, which aims to protect, regenerate, and restore vital seagrass meadows around the UK coastline.

The partnership will involve funding for seagrass meadows research and the launch of a new eighteen-month post-graduate research project in collaboration with the University of Plymouth. This study will focus on subtidal seagrass beds, those that remain submerged even at low tide, along with the surrounding bare sediment. The groundbreaking research will explore whether seagrass meadows trap microplastics beneath their beds and assess the environmental impact of this process.

Seagrass is widely recognised as one of the UK's most important marine habitats. Its long, dense leaves help slow water currents and capture small particles, playing a crucial role in carbon sequestration and marine biodiversity. The new study will examine the levels of microplastics found in animals that live on and feed from the seagrass, comparing these levels to other marine habitats. One of the key areas of focus will be testing whether seagrass meadows act as a 'sink' for microplastics, potentially trapping these harmful particles in the sediment without them entering the marine food chain.


Alongside the research, Kier will support community engagement efforts by providing officers to run outreach programs aimed at raising awareness of the importance of seagrass meadows. The company will also ensure that the restored and protected meadows are monitored using Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for condition mapping and environmental DNA (eDNA) testing, which helps scientists gather data on marine life, water quality, and bacteria levels.

Kier's commitment to the project extends beyond research and community engagement. The company is also exploring nature-based solutions to tackle microplastic pollution from road networks. Kier Transportation is trialling the use of biochar with partner TerrAffix to remove microplastics from road runoff at source—preventing pollutants from entering waterways via highway drainage systems. Additionally, Kier will repurpose waste concrete from projects like the A417 scheme for National Highways to create sinker blocks for marker buoys, which will help clearly identify seagrass meadows and minimise disruption to the seabed.