Partanna partners with Government of Bahamas on world’s first carbon-negative housing development

• Manufacturing begins on 1,000 hurricane-resistant and carbon-absorbing homes, that will form the ‘world’s first carbon-negative housing community’ in the Bahamas.

• Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis, announces partnership at COP27, putting The Bahamas on the ‘frontline of carbon solutions.’

• Partanna is now listed by Verra, world’s leading carbon credit verifier, as a building material that can generate carbon credits by absorbing CO2.

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, 7 November 2022 – Partanna Bahamas, Ltd. and the Government of the Bahamas have today announced a partnership to build the world’s first carbon-negative housing development. The partnership was announced by Hon. Philip Davis, KC, Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, at COP27.

The development of 1,000 affordable, sustainable dwellings is comprised of single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and multi-family homes constructed from a building material called Partanna, that’s made of carbon-absorbing brine technology.

Partanna is the world’s first building material that avoids carbon emissions, absorbs carbon from the atmosphere and generates tradable carbon credits.

The new venture will help to ease the housing shortages that the Bahamas is currently facing, as the country continues to rebuild after the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian, in 2019. Partanna Bahamas is on track to deliver the first 30 units in 2023.

Hon. Philip Davis, KC, Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, said:

"Innovation and new technology will play a crucial role in avoiding the worst climate scenarios. I am pleased that Partanna, a Bahamian-led company, is poised to make an important contribution."

Rick Fox, Founder of Partanna Bahamas, commented:

“Extreme weather events in our region are only getting worse, leaving a trail of destruction behind them. This year, Hurricane Ian took too many homes and lives. What will 2023 and 2024 bring, if we don’t start to address the climate crisis in earnest?

“Technology can turn the tide, and at Partanna we have developed a solution that can change how the world builds.”

Partanna’s carbon-absorbing brine technology was co-developed in the US by entrepreneur and three-time NBA champion Rick Fox, and his business partner, architect Sam Marshall. As a Bahamian citizen, Rick realized the potential impact it could deliver for countries on the frontline of climate change, and founded Partanna Bahamas with the intention of building affordable, hurricane-resilient homes throughout the region.

Cement production accounts for 9% of all global carbon emissions. Partanna is an alternative building material that not only avoids significant carbon emissions in the manufacturing process, but also sucks CO2 from the atmosphere – in much the same way that a tree does. This makes Partanna materials carbon-negative over their lifecycle.

Each 1,250 sq ft Partanna home will contribute a negligible amount of CO2 during its manufacturing process – compared to a standard cement home of the same size, which typically emits 70.2 tons. Every 1,250 sq ft Partanna home removes 22.5 tons of CO2 after production, making it fully carbon negative within the product’s lifecycle.

Partanna is made from natural and recycled ingredients, including steel slag and waste brine from the desalination industry, enabling desalination plants to harvest more fresh water per liter processed without discarding brine back into the ocean. It requires no resins or plastics in its manufacturing and contains no Portland cement.

Partanna cures quicker and is stronger in the face of the elements.

Homes made with Partanna are hurricane- and corrosion-resistant, making them ideal for residents of climate-vulnerable areas like the Bahamas and other small island developing states (SIDS). This attribute means homes built of Partanna in the Bahamas can be insured, providing even further potential to reshape the Bahamian economy.

Partanna’s building material has now been listed by Verra, the world’s largest carbon credits certifier, for its verified ability to remove carbon from the atmosphere and generate tradable carbon credits. The revenues generated from the credits will fund various social impact initiatives – including down payment contributions for low-income families, making home ownership more accessible.

Rick Fox, Founder of Partanna Bahamas, concluded:

“Partanna is extremely excited to partner with the Government of the Bahamas to provide safe, affordable housing to thousands of Bahamians.”

The parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in October, and manufacturing efforts are already underway. The development project will provide at least 1,000 direct and indirect jobs for Bahamians over its duration. Partanna will also provide training in the new skillsets required to establish the Bahamas as the global center of a new sustainable building materials industry.

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Notes to editors

Additional Partanna product information:

• Partanna is made from recycled steel slag and brine reclaimed from seawater desalination. The binding components absorb CO2 as they cure in production and continue to do so throughout their lifecycle.

• A standard 1,250 sq ft cement home emits 70.2 tons of CO2.

While a 1,250 sq ft Partanna home removes 22.5 tons of CO2.

About Partanna Global:

Partanna Global is the world’s first sustainable building material that avoids carbon emissions, absorbs carbon from the atmosphere and generates tradable carbon credits. It’s affordable, hurricane-resistant and produced from industrial by-product. Partanna was founded by Rick Fox and Sam Marshall.

Partanna.com