Boeing has partnered with startup Charm Industrial to remove 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This deal highlights a growing trend: corporations turning to carbon removal technologies as an alternative to drastically reducing emissions.
How Charm Industrial Works
Charm Industrial collects agricultural and forestry waste – materials that would otherwise decompose and release carbon dioxide. They then use intense heat to convert this waste into “bio-oil,” a complex mixture of hydrocarbons. Unlike simply burning this waste, Charm injects the bio-oil deep underground, often into repurposed oil wells, where it remains permanently sequestered. This process allows them to sell “carbon removal credits” to companies seeking to offset their emissions.
Why This Matters for Aviation
The aviation industry faces significant challenges in reducing its carbon footprint. Transitioning to sustainable aviation fuels is costly and slow. Carbon removal, while not a replacement for emissions reductions, offers a potentially cheaper and faster way for airlines like Boeing to meet net-zero targets.
One study estimates that the aviation industry will need to spend at least $60 billion on carbon offsets by 2050 to achieve net-zero emissions. Companies are increasingly exploring carbon removal as a viable option.
Beyond Carbon Removal: Biochar Potential
Charm also produces biochar, a charcoal-like substance that can improve soil health and boost agricultural productivity. While still in early stages, biochar applications offer an additional benefit beyond pure carbon sequestration.
Cost and Market Dynamics
Two years ago, Charm sold 112,000 carbon removal credits to Frontier, a climate-focused advanced market commitment, for $53 million (approximately $470 per metric ton). Charm aims to drive down the cost to around $50 per metric ton, making carbon removal more accessible for large-scale buyers like Boeing.
Financial details of the Boeing deal remain undisclosed.
This partnership signals a growing reliance on carbon removal technologies as a supplement to – not a replacement for – direct emissions reductions in the aviation sector. The long-term viability of this approach hinges on Charm’s ability to scale its operations and reduce costs
