Addendum – Adapted certification process for C-sinks

Good day

A week ago, we informed you about planned changes to the certification processes for C-sinks. Thank you very much for the feedback we have already received in this short time and during the first two webinars. This motivates us to provide you with further information and to offer additional webinars and support from our experts.

Market development

The market for carbon dioxide removals (CDR) is currently growing strongly and biochar carbon removals (BCR) are already playing a key role in this. BCR is the most important CDR technology of all, particularly because it can also be used to produce long-term carbon sinks at fair prices. The EU has now also recognised BCR as a long-term carbon sink as part of the "permanent basket". Together, we are on the right track to help the product biochar and its associated carbon sinks achieve a breakthrough.

Market requirements

With a growing market, the requirements for qualified carbon sinks are also increasing. With the adapted certification processes, our aim is to be able to fully cover the requirements of international accreditation organisations such as ICROA, CORSIA, the EU Commission and others with your valuable carbon sinks in the future. These external accreditations are becoming increasingly important for buyers of carbon sinks, which motivates us to continuously adapt our standards and processes in line with these requirements. We are actively preparing for these approvals. This requires additional documentation of the C-sinks at the production and processing stages.

Simplification and automation

With our IT tools and together with our software partners, we are working every day to simplify and further automate your work processes. In the new Biochar Tool, the producer of biochar will soon be able to create the necessary monitoring report automatically, and it will also be possible to create the project description (PDD) online in future. Processors and traders will also be able to record and document their data completely online; our software partners are preparing the necessary platforms for this. The C-sinks can then be entered in the Global C-Sink Registry together with the complete documentation using electronic interfaces (API).

Webinars and support

We will be happy to assist you with the gradual introduction of the customised certification processes and the associated documents, which currently still need to be prepared manually. However, you should already have all the data for this.

Producers

For producers of biochar, we will be offering further webinars in the coming weeks to discuss the work processes in detail and also take on board feedback from the local biochar associations. The content of these webinars partly overlaps with the content of the webinars already organised. Creating the project description should not usually take much time. We will be happy to help you with this.

Processors

For biochar processors, the correct recording and allocation of emissions to the various products can be challenging. We will be happy to prepare the necessary documentation and calculations together with you. For example, if biochar is added to animal feed in an existing mixing process, no additional emissions need to be taken into account because the mixing process takes place anyway.

Transition periods

As usual, we will of course grant you the necessary transition periods for the introduction. The registration and certification of C-sinks will continue without interruption. As part of a continuous improvement process, we will continue to simplify and automate workflows and optimise them to meet your requirements.

We look forward to developing the CDR market together with you and setting the standards for it.

Carbon Standards International AG

Ueli Steiner
CEO