News and Insights

At Karmanterra, we’re proud to be a member of ResponsibleSteel, the world’s leading sustainability standard and certification initiative for the steel industry. Together, we share a commitment to advancing transparent, measurable, and impactful decarbonization across the global steel value chain. Our recent feature on ResponsibleSteel.org explores how biocarbon, produced from renewable biomass, offers a natural and scalable pathway to reduce the industry’s dependence on fossil carbon.

The science is clear: biochar works. But with Karmanterra’s acidic, biostimulant-enhanced biochar, Middle Eastern governments, NGOs, and agribusinesses now have access to a product engineered specifically for the region’s saline and alkaline soils. It’s not just remediation—it’s a pathway to long-term agricultural resilience, food security, and sustainable growth.

As the global steel industry faces increasing pressure to decarbonize, new renewable carbon solutions are entering the conversation. Two terms often come up—biochar and biocarbon—but they are not interchangeable. While both are derived from biomass and offer carbon-negative pathways, their properties and applications differ significantly.

Karmanterra is proud to be the first U.S.-based company to achieve certification under the Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) for its biocarbon and biochar. By providing SBP and REDII-compliant biomass, Karmanterra enables businesses to align with international carbon reduction strategies while meeting stringent sustainability requirements. With this accreditation, European steel makers now have access to cost-competitive biogenic alternatives to traditional fossil sources at scale.

At Karmanterra, we are committed to developing innovative, sustainable solutions that help hard-to-abate industries transition toward a net-zero future. That’s why we are excited to announce our membership with ResponsibleSteel™, the leading global standard and certification initiative dedicated to improving the sustainability of the steel industry.

The global steel industry faces immense pressure to meet ambitious net-zero emissions targets. With approximately 7% of global CO2 emissions attributed to steel production, finding effective solutions is critical. While emerging technologies like hydrogen-based steelmaking and carbon capture garner significant attention, these innovations often require substantial capital expenditure (CAPEX) and years to implement. Biocarbon, however, offers a practical, scalable, and cost-effective pathway to reduce emissions in steel production today.

When it comes to making biochar, bamboo's most impressive characteristic is probably its astonishing growth rate. If carbon sequestration is your goal, few things can rival a forest or plantation of mature bamboo. More recent research, published in Science Direct, suggested that bamboo biochar has especially great potential for use in batteries for renewable energy storage.

One of biochar's most significant contributions to ecosystem resilience lies in its ability to enhance soil health and fertility. By embracing the potential of biochar, we will take significant steps toward building a more resilient and adaptive future for our planet.

Karmanterra is pleased to announce a series of significant milestones that advance the deployment of novel biocarbons and combat desertification in the Middle East including partnering with a leading research institution in the United Arab Emirates and commencing afforestation pilot projects in Saudi Arabia.

In a new groundbreaking study entitled "Biomass residue to carbon dioxide removal: quantifying the global impact of biochar," the authors shed light on the tremendous impact biochar can have as a sustainable carbon dioxide removal strategy. The results are nothing short of astounding, over a 100-year timeframe, biochar has the potential to remove ~6.2% of total greenhouse gas emissions.

Desertification is an alarming global issue with severe implications for the environment, economies, and the quality of life of affected communities. In regions like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates where arid landscapes dominate, desertification poses a particularly significant threat but fortunately, there is a solution, biochar.

Maui, the mesmerizing jewel of the Hawaiian archipelago, is facing a pressing ecological challenge that demands immediate attention: drought conditions, a consequence of historical deforestation has now caused one of the most devastating fires in US history and may well happen again if nothing is done.

The world is at a crossroads when it comes to energy. As the global population continues to grow and urbanize, the demand for energy is skyrocketing and we also find ourselves facing unprecedented environmental challenges, including climate change and resource depletion. To address these issues while meeting future energy needs, it's crucial to embrace circular solutions.