The Dorset Charcoal Company has always been passionate about creating high-quality charcoal, but in recent years, we’ve become equally focused on how our product can contribute to tackling the climate crisis.
Since our founding in 1996, we’ve not only produced over 750,000 kg of charcoal, but we've also found a way to use that charcoal to help capture carbon from the atmosphere and lock it away for the long term.
Carbon Capture in Action: 11,076 Kg of CO₂ Sequestered in 2021
Between January 1st and November 1st, 2021, our company helped capture and store 11,076 Kg of CO₂. This is the amount of carbon dioxide that would have otherwise been released into the atmosphere, but instead, it was sequestered within the charcoal we produced and supplied to our customers for various uses.
What makes this particularly important is that the charcoal in question wasn’t used for barbecues or burned, which would release CO₂ back into the air. Instead, it was used in applications like Horticultural Biochar, Cosmetics, Construction materials, and Animal Feed, where it remains locked away, helping to reduce the overall carbon footprint.
Biochar and Charcoal in Sustainable Practices
Biochar is one of the most effective forms of carbon sequestration we produce. It is a type of charcoal that’s used in soil management to improve fertility, enhance water retention, and support healthier plant growth. Beyond these agricultural benefits, biochar also plays a crucial role in carbon capture. For every ton of charcoal produced, and average of 2.83 tons of CO2 is removed from the atmosphere.
When charcoal is used as Biochar, the carbon stored within it remains locked away in the soil for centuries, sometimes even millennia, preventing it from being released back into the atmosphere. Unlike traditional charcoal used for grilling, which releases CO₂ when burned, biochar stays stable, effectively trapping carbon for the long term and helping to reduce global warming.
In addition to its agricultural uses, charcoal is also incorporated into animal feed. It aids digestion and helps detoxify the digestive system by binding to harmful substances like mycotoxins and toxins. This not only improves animal health but also reduces the need for chemical additives, promoting more sustainable and natural farming practices. By using charcoal in both soil and animal feed, we help sequester carbon and support sustainability in multiple sectors.
Sustainable Charcoal Production
The Dorset Charcoal Company has been producing charcoal for over 28 years, much of it used for barbecues, the past decade has seen a significant shift. We’ve made it our mission to promote the use of charcoal in industries that help sequester carbon rather than release it. As a result, in the past ten years, we've seen an increase in demand for sustainable charcoal that’s used in biochar production, as well as other industrial applications.
Currently, we effectively remove over 12 tons of carbon from the CO₂ cycle each year. This is carbon that will remain safely stored in the charcoal for hundreds or even thousands of years. Every year, we’re making a measurable difference in reducing the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere, and we're proud to offer a sustainable, UK-based alternative to the more destructive imported charcoal that often has a significant environmental impact.
We've always been proud to be part of the solution — turning waste wood into charcoal and turning charcoal from a source of carbon emission into a tool for capturing and storing it. It’s just one more way we’re doing our bit to create a more sustainable future for generations to come.
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