EBC

The EBC was the world's first biochar standard, built on the principle that only controlled, high-quality biochar should enter soils where it may persist for thousands of years. To the best of our scientific knowledge and practical experience, we helped regulators, producers, and users prevent hazards to health and the environment in the production and use of biochar.

The European Biochar Certificate was first published in January 2012 as the world's first independent certification system for the sustainable production of biochar. It was developed by the Ithaka Institute in collaboration with researchers from Agroscope, the University of Geisenheim, the University of Halle, ENS Paris, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, and others. The standard has been revised continuously since then — now in its 12th version (v10.5, July 2025) — reflecting advances in biochar science, analytical methods, and regulatory developments. Shortly after the EBC was published, the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) released an analytical standard for biochar characterisation. While the IBI standard remained focused on analysis, the EBC developed into a comprehensive production, material, and application standard with third-party certification. From 2012 to 2020, the EBC was operated by the Ithaka Institute. Since 2021, certification is managed by Carbon Standards International (CSI). The Ithaka Institute remains responsible for standard development and scientific curation.

The EBC defines what biochar is, what it may be made from, how it must be produced, and how its quality is verified. The standard covers the full chain from feedstock to final product: sustainable biomass sourcing (governed by a positive list of permitted feedstocks), pyrolysis process requirements including emission limits and energy efficiency, batch definition and sampling protocols, laboratory analysis by endorsed laboratories, and documentation of storage, processing, and handling. Biochar properties that must be tested and declared include organic carbon content, H/Corg and O/Corg molar ratios, heavy metal concentrations, PAH levels, nutrient content, pH, electrical conductivity of the solid biochar, bulk density, and water holding capacity.

The EBC distinguishes six application classes — EBC-FeedPlus, EBC-AgroOrganic, EBC-Agro, EBC-Urban, EBC-Materials, and EBC-Basic — each with specific threshold values tailored to the requirements and regulatory frameworks of the intended use. The contaminant limits, particularly for PAH and heavy metals, were among the first science-based thresholds for biochar and have since been adopted as reference values by regulators and industry worldwide. The analytical methods specified in the EBC were validated through the first international biochar inter-laboratory comparison (COST Action TD1107, 2013) and are regularly updated to align with current ISO standards. Country-specific annexes for Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, and Denmark accommodate stricter or additional national requirements.

The EBC is the benchmark for biochar quality certification globally and served as the scientific and regulatory basis for the inclusion of biochar into the EU Fertilizer Products Regulation (EU 2019/1009).

Link to EBC Guidelines v10.5 (PDF) 

Link to Carbon Standards International for further information