SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE CHANGE

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In December 2012, the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) released the Guiding Principles for a Sustainable Biochar Industry. Developed with input from scientists, farmers, entrepreneurs, environmental advocates, and various stakeholders, these principles aim to offer direction for establishing a sustainable, vibrant, and ethical biochar industry. Recognizing the diverse array of biochar projects worldwide, ranging from community development cookstove initiatives with smallholders to large-scale commercial enterprises, IBI and its global network of members and stakeholders endorse the following principles. These principles aim to foster an economically viable, socially responsible, and environmentally sound biochar industry. 

Soil Health:

• Biochar utilization should focus on maintaining and improving soil fertility, especially in marginal or degraded agricultural soils.
• Practices should prevent soil degradation, ensuring no nutrient export through feedstock removals or other management methods.

Climate Stability:

• Biochar systems must aim for at least greenhouse gas (GHG) neutrality, preferably striving for GHG negativity.
• Utilization should contribute to drawing down atmospheric carbon, creating and enhancing stable soil carbon sinks.
• Alleviation of GHG emissions related to biomass residuals' decomposition and combustion, along with offsetting fossil fuel use through bioenergy production, is essential.

Energy Efficiency & Conservation:

• Biochar production systems should result in neutral or net energy export.
• When suitable, the recovery and utilization of process heat, syngas, and/or bio-oil byproducts for energy production should be prioritized.

Feedstocks:

• Priority in biochar systems should be given to utilizing biomass residuals for biochar production.

Biochar Production:

• Biochar production systems should adhere to safety, cleanliness, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency.
• Compliance with environmental standards and regulatory requirements of the deployment regions is paramount.

Biochar Quality:

• Biochar should undergo characterization to demonstrate carbon stability.
• Identification of properties for matching biochars to complementary cropping systems is essential.

Biological Diversity:

• Biochar should actively promote above- and belowground biodiversity, enhancing ecological conditions locally and at the landscape level.
• Biochar systems must steer clear of converting native ecosystems and high conservation-value habitats.

Water:

• Biochar systems should avoid pollution or degradation of water resources.
• Promotion of efficient water resource utilization in agricultural production and respect for customary water resource rights, where applicable, are imperative.

Food Security:

• Biochar systems must avoid compromising food security by displacing or degrading land designated for food production.
• Efforts should align with and complement established local agro-ecological practices.

Local Communities:

• Involvement of stakeholders in planning and implementation should be comprehensive and transparent.
• Respect for local land use rights is imperative.
• Biochar systems should not contribute to the displacement of people from their ancestral lands.

Biochar Knowledge Societies:

• Continuous improvement of biochar operations and the industry is vital.
• This improvement should be driven by ongoing research, education initiatives, and the open sharing of scientific and traditional knowledge.

 Labor Rights:

• Biochar systems must uphold and not violate labor rights.
• Commitment to safe and fair labor practices, encompassing equitable compensation, benefit-sharing, and opportunities for training and development for workers, is essential.

Economic Development:

• Biochar systems should actively contribute to the economic development of local communities, particularly in regions facing poverty challenges.