Locking Carbon in Stone to Build a Better Planet

Swedish company ProCarbon Bio AB has developed a game-changing innovation that tackles two huge global issues at once: carbon emissions and waste. Their solution? A sustainable building material called bio-carbon stone, created using charcoal (or biochar) and a natural binder derived from waste material from food production.

Here’s how it works: biochar captures carbon from the atmosphere, while the waste material from food acts as a natural glue to bind the material together. The result is a strong, carbon-rich composite that can replace traditional concrete fillers. In fact, ProCarbon’s bio-carbon stone is strong enough for structural use, matching the strength of standard concrete.

What makes this innovation so exciting is its potential impact. Concrete is one of the most widely used materials in the world, and one of the most carbon-intensive to produce. By replacing just 1% of global concrete with bio-carbon stone, up to 2.7 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions could be offset annually.

Even better, the raw materials used are waste products.  By turning this waste into a valuable construction resource, ProCarbon not only reduces landfill but also supports economic growth in developing regions, creating jobs and new revenue streams.

Long-lasting and potentially carbon-negative, ProCarbon’s solution locks atmospheric carbon into solid form, literally building carbon out of the air and into our homes and cities.

It’s a perfect example of turning waste into a resource and innovation into impact, one stone at a time.

Chris Goddard, Patent attorney, Dehns added:

“Only a few times in a career do you get to help protect a technology that could genuinely help not only individuals, but the climate itself. The world is in desperate need of technologies of this sort and the EarthShot Prize is a fantastic initiative for supporting companies that can make a real difference. We are delighted and privileged to be working with ProCarbon on their Bio-Carbon Stones technology and with CIPA on their EarthShot nomination”