![Turning plant waste into carbon-sequestering bricks to combat climate change](https://www.dailyclimate.org/media-library/image.jpg?id=52823773&width=1200&height=600&quality=85&coordinates=0%2C225%2C0%2C225)
Credit: vectorwin/Big Stock Photo
18 July
Turning plant waste into carbon-sequestering bricks to combat climate change
Graphyte, a startup supported by Bill Gates, aims to fight climate change by burying carbon-sequestering bricks made from plant waste deep underground.
Ramin Skibba reports for Undark Magazine.
In short:
- Graphyte has developed a method to create carbon-sequestering bricks from plant waste, which are then buried to trap carbon dioxide.
- The company's goal is to store 50,000 tons of carbon annually, though experts question if this scale is sufficient to impact global emissions.
- The carbon removal industry faces challenges such as scalability, cost, and potential ethical concerns about diverting focus from emission reduction.
Key quote:
“I’m worried about our scale of deployment. I think we need to get serious fast.”
— Barclay Rogers, CEO of Graphyte
Why this matters:
Carbon removal technologies are important, as cutting emissions alone may not be enough to avoid catastrophic climate impacts. Innovative solutions like Graphyte’s bricks could play a significant role if they can scale effectively and economically.