What is Biochar?

Biochar is formed when organic material is carbonised at very high temperatures, in the absence of oxygen. This process (pyrolysis) turns it to charcoal that is at least 80% carbon, known as Biochar.

Because it retains much of the open structure of the original material, Biochar provides conduits for air, water and nutrients in soil, improving soil structure, aeration and the retention of moisture and nutrients. The porous nature of Biochar provides spaces for growth of beneficial soil microorganisms whose presence enriches soil health and plant growth.

Biochar’s porosity also makes it an excellent filter of liquid contaminants and means it can be used to absorb odours from waste. 

A Carbon Negative Product

Because of its high refractory stability, Biochar takes between centuries and millennia to decompose.

In this way, Biochar stores or sequesters carbon, meaning it is not released into the atmosphere as greenhouse gasses.

Biochar that is made from materials that would otherwise decompose naturally (such as the arboriculture trimmings used to make Demeter Biochar) prevents this release of carbon dioxide by locking it into this incredibly stable form.

Biochar can further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by absorbing methane and nitrous oxide from compost heaps.

Learn more about Demeter Biochar and sustainability