Did you know you can transform your waste into biochar and generate revenue?. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from organic waste through pyrolysis, not only addresses waste management challenges but also opens up new revenue streams.
We will explore the EBC positive list and see the different types of feedstock that can be used to create biochar. Most of the standards are based on this EBC positive list to specify the eligible feedstock eligible to make biochar. (puro.earth, riverse, global c-sink)
This article is a guide for industrial actors looking to innovate and capitalize on this sustainable venture. Whether you’re in agriculture, forestry, textiles, or another sector, discover how turning waste into biochar can benefit both your company and the environment.
Discover the different type of waste to make biochar
1 – Agriculture waste
2 – Forestry and wood processing
3 – Landscape management
4 – Textiles
5 – Water vegetal
6 – Wastewater
7 – Recycling economy
8 – Animal by-products
9 – Food processing residues on vegetable basis
10 – Anaerobic Digestion
Do you know EBC certification classes ?
In this article, some feedstocks must fulfill special requirements according to the intended use of the biochar. These are the EBC Certification classes. Here is a list with their end-use:
- EBC-FeedPlus: meets all EU and EFTA regulations relevant for animal feeding and agricultural soil applications
- EBC-Feed: Suitable for animal feeding but not for agricultural soil amendment due to stricter EU fertilizer regulations.
- EBC-Agro: Compliant with new EU fertilizer product regulations, approved for agricultural use in several EU countries.
- EBC-AgroOrganic: Meets EU regulations for organic production, with specific national certifications for agricultural applications.
- EBC-Urban: Designed for urban applications like tree planting and park maintenance, preventing contamination of ground and surface water.
- EBC-ConsumerMaterials: Intended for products with direct skin contact or food-grade items, ensuring no coal dust is released.
- EBC-BasicMaterials: Ensures safe use in basic industries like construction and electronics, not suitable for agriculture or soil applications.
For more information you can read the EBC Guidelines (v.10.3E of 5th April 2023)
Now let’s discover the eligible feedstock to make biochar
1 – Agriculture waste
Biomass from agricultural farms, including both residues and biomass deliberatly cultivated for biochar production.
Annual & Perenial energy crops
Grown specifically for energy or material biomass use.
Woody biomass
From short rotation plantations. The amount of fertilizer used must be declared.
Tree, vine and shrub pruning
Particular attention to be paid to heavy metals from crop protection spraying
Harvest residues
Particular attention to be paid to heavy metals from crop protection spraying.
Vegetables
Only residual and waste materials that cannot or can no longer be used as animal feed.
Seeds
Particular attention to be paid to heavy metals from crop protection spraying
2 – Forestry and wood processing
Natural bark and wood, untreated or mechanically treated, from forestry operations, sawmills or similar operations.
Sawdust, sawdust shavings
Only from certified, sustainable forestry. Approved are the FSC and the PEFC labels, others on request.
Wood, wood residues from mechanical processing
(waste wood A1). Only from certified, sustainable forestry. Approved are the FSC and the PEFC labels, others on request
Wood chips only from mechanically treated wood
(waste wood A1). Only from certified, sustainable forestry. Approved are the FSC and the PEFC labels, others on request
Bark
3 – Landscape Management
Residues generated by municipalities, landowners, landscaping contractors, NGOs active in nature conservation
Foliage
No road wiping material. Special measures for checking leaves for contamination can be determined.
Root Stocks
The soil content is considered an additive and must not exceed 10% of the DM
Landscaping residues
For EBC-Feed: only from defined, well documented sources, road-side biomass and biomass from municipal collection not allowed.
Biomass from nature conservation
For EBC-Feed: only from defined, well documented sources, road-side biomass and biomass from municipal collection not allowed
4 – Textiles
The content of synthetic fibers must not exceed 1% (10% for EBCConsumerMaterial and EBC-BasicMaterials, individual approval needed). For AgroOrganic, the fibers must not be dyed or otherwise chemically treated.
Cellulose
Sisal
Coton
Plant fiber
Hemp fiber
You want to know more about biochar ?
5 – Water vegetal
For EBC-Feed: only from aquaculture or dedicated collection of aquatic plants to strictly avoid impurities. Special attention must be taken in regard to contaminated water. Systems with no direct control of water quality need a special permit from CSi and proof of origin.
Aquatic plants
algae
6 – Wastewater
Sludge from municipal wastewater treatment ("biosolids")
Includes untreated, aerobically stabilized and/or anaerobically digested municipal sewage sludge. Regular analysis of the feedstock (heavy metals, chlorine etc.) may be specified in the operating manual.
Sludge from other wastewater treatment
Individual approval required upon application to CSi. For this purpose, a dossier must be submitted on the origin and composition of the sludge, as well as any contaminants it contains
7 – Recycling economy
Residual biomass, organic residues and wastes from industrial processes (« defined source ») or from collection/separation by specific recycling companies
Waste Wood
Waste wood A1,A2,A3 & A4 are eligible. Conditions depends according the type of waste wood
Waste paper
Municipal organic waste
Plastic contamination must in total not exceed 10%. More frequent analysis on PCDD/F and heavy metals may be specified in the operating manual if necessary.
Residues from industrial biomass processing organic waste
Each individual feedstock needs to be evaluated by the EBC, and a special permit issued regulating additives, processing, controlling.
8 – Animal by-products
Pyrolysis conditions must exceed 500 °C for 3 min at minimum to eliminate biological hazards and micropollutants.
EU: If the feedstock is still an animal by-product according to Regulation : it did not already pass an end-point, the pyrolysis unit must be approved as an end point for animal by-products.
Non-EU: National annex to the EBC may define further criteria, otherwise a dossier on national regulation on handling of animal by-products must be provided.
Bones
Manures
Other animal by-products
9 – Food processing residues on vegetable basis
from food industry and manufactures, food wholesale, supermarkets, convience stores etc.
Food residues
Molasses residues - Residues from potato, corn or rice starch production - Fruits - Tea & coffee grounds etc.
Food process residues
manufacturing canned food residues (only pure vegetable residues) - Material from washing, cleaning, peeling, centrifuging and separation processes
Alcohol process residues
Fruit, grain and potato mashes, alcohol distillery residues - Malt spent grains, -germ, and dust from beer production
10 – Anaerobic Digestion
Plant-based digestate
Digestate from anaerobic digestion of deliberatly produced biomass, agricultural residues and/or well-defined, non-contaminated residues from biomass processing
Manure digestate
Pyrolysis conditions must exceed 500 °C for 3 min at minimum to eliminate biological hazards and micropollutants. EU: When manure digestate is still considered an animal by-product, the pyrolysis unit must be approved as an end point for of animal byproducts
Animal by-product digestate
Pyrolysis conditions must exceed 500 °C for 3 min at minimum to eliminate biological hazards and micropollutants. EU: If the digestate is still considered an animal by-product, the pyrolysis unit must be approved as an end point of animal by-products. Non-EU: National annex to the EBC may define futher criteria, otherwise a dossier on national regulation or the handling of animal by-products must be provided.
Digestate from secondary plant biomass
Feedstock may contain organic fractions of municipal waste, secondary biomass from public collection places, etc. but must not contain sewage sludge. Contamination of the digestate by plastic must not exceed 1%
To resume : all the feedstocks
Act now before your competitors
Making biochar is an opportunity for your company to become a leader in the Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) ecosystem. According to a recent study by BCG, this market is expected to be valued at $500-1000 billion by 2050. If your organization generates any of these compatible waste types, you can transform them into biochar and develop new revenue sources while contributing to environmental sustainability. For more information or to start your biochar project, contact us to explore how we can help you set up your biochar production facility.
