A European project has achieved a market first by issuing verified CO₂ removal credits (CDRs) from asphalt enhanced with biochar, with prices exceeding €300 ($347) per tonne of CO₂ equivalent. The credits were certified under the Finland-based standard Puro.earth, a leading platform for engineered carbon removals.
A mound of biochar seen beside a smooth asphalt forest road, with a blurred car in the background. AI generated picture.
According to the project developer, the initiative combines biochar with asphalt to store carbon permanently within road infrastructure, offering both environmental and material performance benefits. ‘These verified premium credits enable buyers to contribute directly to the decarbonisation of one of the world’s hardest-to-abate industries: construction’, the company said on social media. ‘They originate from our Carbon Removal Park Baltic Sea, where biochar was added to asphalt to permanently store carbon while improving material performance.’
Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from organic residues through pyrolysis, can retain carbon for centuries while enhancing the properties of construction materials. At the Baltic Sea Carbon Removal Park, around seven tonnes of biochar were added to asphalt at a 3% ratio. Following this pilot, a total of 137 CO₂ removal certificates were issued in mid-September. Registry data from Puro.earth shows that 120 units were transferred to UK-based sustainability consultancy Anthesis.
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The developer behind the project, Hamburg-headquartered Novocarbo, said that biochar integration can increase asphalt stiffness, reduce surface deformation, and extend road lifespan. The company secured €25 million in investment last year to expand its European network of carbon removal parks and aims to open around 200 facilities by 2033, targeting up to 1 million tonnes of CO₂ removals per year by 2030. Its operational sites include Grevesmühlen, Lippstadt, and a standalone unit on the Rhine River.
Although still a niche approach, using carbon removal pathways in construction is gaining momentum as a means to decarbonise the built environment. Projects like this demonstrate the potential for everyday materials, like asphalt, to act as long-term carbon sinks while delivering improved durability and performance.
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As carbon removal technologies evolve—from biochar-infused asphalt to large-scale reforestation—the market’s direction is clear: permanence and proven impact now define value. Demand for verified, high-quality carbon credits is rising fast, driven by companies seeking measurable, lasting climate solutions rather than short-term offsets. At Green Earth, we specialise in exactly that—nature-based projects that restore ecosystems, uplift communities, and deliver scientifically validated results. For forward-looking companies and organisations, now is the time to align with solutions that combine credible carbon removal with tangible environmental progress. Are you ready to take part in the next generation of real-world impact?
