Why certifications are crucial in the biochar industry

From A for application to Z for certification: REACH registration, European Biochar Certificate, C-Sink certificates - confirmed quality against climate change?

Our SYNCRAFT Reversepowerplants generate renewable energy as well as our valuable green carbon. We have known for a long time just how valuable this green carbon really is, as its properties and longevity make it suitable for a wide range of applications in numerous industries and technologies. However, as with any innovative technology, trust is the be-all and end-all - and trust is created through transparency, quality and, above all, certification. We were one of the first system manufacturers to be recognized as an "Endorsed System Provider" by Carbon Standards International (CSI) in 2024. But what does this mean in concrete terms, which certifications are important and why are they so essential in our industry?

The foundation: REACH registration as a legal basis

Before we get started, it must be said that this blog article only deals with a small section of possible certifications and the processes have been broken down to the essentials in order to provide an insight into this topic. Now let's start with the mandatory program: the REACH regulation. REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) is not a voluntary certification, but a legal obligation for all manufacturers of green carbon in Europe.

Why REACH for green carbon?

From a technical perspective, Green Carbon is thermo-chemically modified biomass and is therefore subject to the European Chemicals Regulation. Regardless of its subsequent use, every producer of green carbon must register it under REACH.

The 5-step process for REACH registration

1. Create a REACH-IT account: The central platform for all REACH processes
2. Substance identification: EBC analyses are recognized for identification; an XRD analysis is also required
3. Request procedure: Official request to ECHA with analytical data
4. Letter of access: Conclusion of contract with the first COALSTER registrant
5. Registration: Data transmission and receipt of the registration number

This process is considerably simplified for SYNCRAFT customers because, as a system-certified manufacturer, we have already created the technical basis.

Quality assurance: The European Biochar Certificate (EBC)

The European Biochar Certificate (EBC) is the core of the voluntary quality certification for Biochar or our green carbon. Developed by Carbon Standards International, it defines strict quality categories and areas of application.

The EBC quality categories at a glance

• FutterPlus & AgroBio: Highest quality levels for animal feed and agriculture
• Feed & Agro: Standard qualities for agricultural applications
• Urban: Especially for urban applications
• Utility material & raw material: For industrial processing

Why EBC is important for operators

• Market access: Many retailers and processors insist on EBC certification
• Quality assurance: consistently high product quality thanks to standardized testing procedures
• Legal certainty: clear assignment to areas of application
• Competitive advantage: Differentiation in the market through proven quality

CO₂ certification: C-sink and the climate impact

This is where it gets particularly exciting: the C-sink certificate certifies the CO₂ sequestration potential of our green carbon. It is based on an EBC analysis plus detailed information on process emissions.

SYNCRAFT as Endorsed System Provider

As an endorsed system provider of CSI, we have a decisive advantage: the basic parameters of our Reversepowerplants are already stored in the C-Sink system. This means for our customers:

• Simplified certification process: less effort, faster processing
• Prefabricated data sets: Technical parameters are already validated
• Consistent quality: system certification guarantees consistent standards

From certification to the CO₂ certificate

The path to tradable CO₂ certificates leads via specialized platforms such as CarbonFuture:

1. Registration with CarbonFuture
2. Upload of EBC and C-Sink certificates
3. Enter the key data (tonnage, intended use, user confirmation)
4. Generation of Carbon Removal Credits

Why certifications are critical to success in our industry

1. credibility in the CO₂ market

The international carbon market is based on trust and measurability. Only certified systems can:

• Confirmation: Prove reliable CO₂ sink performance
• Security: offering investors and partners security
• International: Enabling access to international carbon markets

2. financing basis for projects

Banks and investors are increasingly demanding verifiable climate impact. Certifications are often a prerequisite for:

• Green financing
• Subsidies
• Long-term purchase agreements

3. regulatory protection

The EU is continuously tightening the requirements for sustainable technologies. Certifications offer:

• Legal certainty in the event of changing regulations
• Compliance with ESG criteria
• Protection from greenwashing accusations

4. market differentiation

In a growing market, certifications ensure clear differentiation:

• Quality promise to customers
• Premium positioning on the market
• Protection from inferior competition

Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR): The future of negative emissions

The combination of EBC and C-Sink enables Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) - the international terminology for CO₂ sequestration using green carbon. In simple terms, this means the removal and permanent storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere or industrial emissions. BCR is considered the most important negative emissions technology available - we have already reported on BCR and BECCS here several times. This is because the combination of both core technologies can be found in our reverse power plants.

BECCS: Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage

Our Reversepowerplants also realize BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) - the combination of sustainable energy generation and permanent CO₂ storage. This dual strategy of defossilization and decarbonization makes our technology a key technology in the fight against climate change.

Conclusion: Quality creates the climate turnaround

In the green carbon industry, certifications are not just "nice to have" or a clever marketing move - keyword: greenwashing. They are the foundation for credible climate protection. As a CSI Endorsed System Provider, we at SYNCRAFT already received our quality seal in 2024. For us, this was just the beginning, because even the best quality needs to be regularly reviewed and reconsidered in order to give innovation the space it needs for real change. So we continue to optimize, but what makes us particularly happy? That our customers benefit from the decorative certification: simplified access to their own certifications, confirmed quality and a direct route to CO₂ certificates.

One thing is clear to us: the climate transition will only succeed with transparent, measurable and certified solutions. And above all #together.