Biochar production
Biochar is one of the world's oldest materials and one of its most versatile - used for more than two thousand years, and today a proven tool for building healthier soils and storing carbon. Biochar production is certified worldwide according to the European Biochar Certificate (EBC) standard, as are the processing and use of biochar.
Established in 2012, the EBC is widely considered the industry benchmark for biochar quality.
The EBC ensures that feedstock is sustainably sourced, emissions limits are met, and storage is environmentally sound. Every aspect of quality is monitored and documented, and all thresholds for each usage class (agriculture, materials, and other) are met in line with the applicable regulations. Certified biochar can be used as a soil improver, as animal bedding, as an additive in fermentation substrates, in effluent treatment, and in construction materials, plastics, paper, textiles, and storage batteries.
Biochar produced to EBC standards meets the full requirements of sustainable production, with a positive climate and environmental footprint. Certification demonstrates compliance with the applicable rules for protecting the environment, users, and soils - and guarantees that biochar used in agriculture is safe and environmentally sustainable.
Here you will find the current version of our standard:
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Related documents:
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Registration Process
After an initial contact via the email address [email protected], the next step is to register your interest in beginning the certification process.
Certification process
The Certification Process involves a Technical Pre-Audit of the biochar production company including material process flows and emissions, a review of the pyrolysis technology and the resulting biochar as well as a review of the production company’s sampling plan. The customer is also being prepared for the upcoming on-site inspection by the certifier. Following a successful pre-audit, companies may register their first-year production batch. A third-party on-site inspection is the final step in the certification process. Once all steps have been successfully completed, the sale of EBC-certified biochar can begin.
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Technical Pre-Audit
In the technical pre-audit, Carbon Standards will review the pyrolysis technology against the specifications in the guidelines and, if necessary, offer advice on improving the biochar production process. Carbon Standards also checks whether the EBC guidelines for the sustainable production of biochar have been thoroughly understood by the biochar producer with all necessary processes in place to implement them.
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Representative Sample
Producers must take a representative sample for each batch and have it tested in an endorsed laboratory.
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On-going Production
Biochar production batches are valid and certified for up to one year. Producers will be required to register new production batches of biochar made from the same feedstock and processing parameters annually. Each new batch will require new biochar samples to be analyzed before they can be certified. New batches will also be required when new feedstocks or feedstock mixes or new processing parameters (e.g. heating temperatures) are utilized.
An on-site inspection is carried out every year.
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This document explains how producers initiate new production batches using Carbon Standard’s Biochar Tool (and for legacy clients the EBC Tool).
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All endorsed laboratories and subcontractors take part in an independent biochar ring trial every year, which is organized and evaluated by DCC Delta Coal Control. Our goal is to set up an international network of laboratories for biochar analysis that work using the same analysis methods and regularly take part in the biochar ring trial testing to ensure accurate and consistent results across all endorsed facilities.
For testing laboratories interested in becoming endorsed by Carbon Standards, please review the following documents:
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This document outlines the steps required to participate in a 3rd party controlled ring trial to become an endorsed laboratory for certifying biochar under the EBC/WBC standards.
This document should be used to request biochar reference samples (#1017) to begin the ring trial process. (Note: Dates on the form are related to the annual testing period.) New labs will be sent reference materials upon request and payment of the invoice.
A list of currently endorsed laboratories can be found below.
Freiberg Branch
Freiberg East industrial estate
Lindenstraße 11
D-09627 Bobritzsch-Hilbersdorf
Germany
Phone: +49 3731 2076 - 500
E-mail: [email protected]
Technology Park Münster
Wilhelm-Schickard-Strasse 5
D-48149 Münster
Germany
Tel.:+49 251 384415-12
E-Mail: contact(at)mas-tp.com
Laboratory at KW Scholven
Glückaufstrasse 56
D-45896 Gelsenkirchen
Germany
Phone: +49-152 268 760 15
E-mail: service(at)ruhr-lab.de
Find here a list of the System Providers endorsed so far:
Endorsed System Providers can offer several benefits and advantages for new system buyers that want to get an EBC/WBC certification or C-sinks through EBC C-Sink or Global Biochar C-Sink standards including:
If you are interested in becoming an endorsed system provider, you will find the necessary information in the following documents.
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On the way to become an endorsed system provider, CSI offers the option to get a Letter of Conformity (LoC) before three EBC-certified facilities are reached. More information you find in the documents.
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EBC or WBC Certified biochar producers can utilize Carbon Standards’ Biochar Tool to manage all aspects of production including initiating and renewing batches, managing annual sample requirements and monitoring production volumes. The Biochar Tool can also be used during the technical pre-audit to share relevant documentation related to the pre-audit and certification process.
CERES-CERT AG is the third-party auditing body for the standards owned by Carbon Standards.
With the experience in the certification of biochar, CERES-CERT AG has the necessary expertise to certify biochar production and processing companies and to validate and verify your climate projects.
If you would like to have Carbon Standards review potential modifications or amendments to the standard, please review the following:
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Standard updates
Here you find the old version of the standards including a marked version with the changes to the current version of the European Biochar Certificate.
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Please refer to our Design Manual for the correct use of the label.
Contact
To register for a certification service, please use the registration form.
