News Release 13-May-2025

Landmark study charts biochar’s global potential in ESG and climate strategy

Pioneering study charts a transformative path to scale biochar as a carbon-negative solution aligned with ESG and Net Zero goals

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Cactus Communications

Sustainable biochar: Market development and commercialization to achieve ESG goals — **image:**
A recent study led by Professor Yong Sik Ok, published in *Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews*, highlights the commercial potential of biochar as a key carbon-negative technology supporting ESG strategies, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and global carbon initiatives. Traditionally used in agriculture, biochar is now entering sectors such as construction and energy, with the study urging policy reforms and offering a blueprint for firms such as Microsoft and Shell to meet Net Zero goals.
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Credit: Reproduced from Ok et al. with permission from Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews Image source link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364032125004174

This recent study led by Prof. Yong Sik Ok—President of the International ESG Association (IESGA), President of the International Society of Trace Element Biogeochemistry (ISTEB), Director of the Korea Biochar Research Center (KBRC), Full Professor at Korea University, titled “Sustainable biochar: Market development and commercialization to achieve ESG goals,” the comprehensive analysis lays the groundwork for the large-scale adoption and commercialization of biochar as a carbon-negative technology. This is aligned with corporate ESG strategies, the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and global initiatives such as Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and voluntary carbon markets. The findings were published online and will appear in Volume 217 of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews in July 2025. This study marks another benchmark in ESG research by Prof. Ok’s team.

Traditionally applied as a soil amendment, biochar is now gaining momentum across a range of industries—including renewable energy, construction, textiles and waste management. The study explores the rapidly evolving market potential of biochar and its scalability as a carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) solution.

“Biochar presents one of the most promising carbon-negative technologies available today. To meet ESG and sustainability commitments, we must move beyond laboratory-scale innovation and advance toward full-scale commercial deployment—supported by smart governance and international collaboration,” remarked Prof. Ok.

Our study focuses on global market dynamics while stressing the urgency of coordinated policy reforms. Critically, it provides a strategic blueprint for industry players—including major firms like Microsoft—for integrating biochar into their climate portfolios and ESG strategies, aligning with TCFD disclosures and Net Zero pathways. For instance, Microsoft has signed a six-year carbon credit offtake agreement with “The Next 150,” a climate solutions provider, to purchase 95,000 tons of carbon removal credits sourced from a newly established biochar production plant in Mexico. Similarly, Royal Dutch Shell, a global energy and petrochemicals company, is incorporating biochar into its soil enhancement initiatives, complementing their hydrolysis and hydro-conversion technologies.

“At KBRC, with support from IESGA, our mission is to transform biochar from a promising research concept into a cornerstone of industrial sustainability. Our latest study advances that goal by synthesizing evidence across economics, policy, and technology, while offering actionable guidance for governments, industry leaders, and research institutions,” concludes Prof. Ok.

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References

Title of original paper: Active Learning-Based Guided Synthesis of Engineered Biochar for CO2 Capture

Journal: Environmental Science & Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c10922