Biochar has fascinated us. Period.

From being considered as the holy grail of agriculture ages back to being used in metal making, even its historical uses fascinate us. However, multiple new uses are popping up over news and how. A couple of fascinating ones which caught our eye, right here - 

1. In countries where wildfires are becoming a menace, biochar finds an application. Hazardous biomass acts as fuel for the fire in most cases. Decaying branches, leaves and other plant materials accumulate in forests and grasslands, creating a substantial hazard. The buildup of this biomass is often the result of insufficient land management. California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has recognized biochar as a  tool in managing hazardous biomass. Recently, they invested nearly $800,000 in two mobile pyrolysis units designed for on-site forest waste disposal. These units enable large-scale conversion of the forest residues into biochar, thereby reducing wildfire fuel. Also, this is a carbon-negative solution. Processing biomass directly at the site reduces waste disposal costs while generating a soil-enhancing product. 

2. Another emerging application of biochar - sustainable architecture. Swiss construction giant Holcim, in collaboration with renowned architect Alejandro Aravena, has introduced a pioneering housing prototype at the Venice Architecture Biennale’ 2025. Known as the Basic Services Unit, it  incorporates biochar into cement and mortar, thereby resulting in a carbon-negative building material. The prototype is showcased at Marinaressa Gardens and Palazzo Mora in Venice, highlighting biochar’s potential to revolutionize construction practices. This approach not only addresses housing challenges in developing countries but also enhances environmental sustainability.

3. Yet another cool application of biochar is in the beauty and skincare industry. Known for its detoxifying, oil-absorbing, and exfoliating properties, biochar has been used for a while in products like facial masks, soaps, cleansers and a handful more. To think of it, biochar's porous structure can be utilised to enhance the stability of beauty products. A Korean patent also discusses the incorporation of biochar-based biocarbon tubes with hexagonal pores into cosmetics. These structures can encapsulate functional cosmetic ingredients that are prone to oxidation, thereby improving their storage stability and extending shelf life. Additionally, biochar's ability to adsorb ethylene has been demonstrated in food preservation. Ethylene is a compound that accelerates aging and degradation. This property could be used in cosmetics to slow down the degradation of certain ingredients, although it is more theoretical now than anything. 

4. Unexpected but biochar in animal care is actually a thing. The Zanzibar red colobus monkey is the only primate, aside from humans, known to eat charcoal in the wild. They have adapted stomachs that allow them to feed on leaves. They eat charcoal to detoxify the poisons (mainly phenolic compounds) they obtain from their diet from tree leaves. The process of Biochar supplementation in feed has been known to improve growth, performance and intestinal function of terrestrial and aquatic animals (Mekbungwan et al., 2004; Ven et al.2006; Thu et al., 2010) and adding biochar derived from rice husk in animal feeds is an agriculture/animal husbandry practice. 

Well, there is a lot more to biochar. We will speak about them soon because as quite evident now, we are bullish on biochar.