This recent study led by Prof. Yong Sik Ok—President of the International ESG Association (IESGA), President of the International Society of Trace Element Biogeochemistry (ISTEB), Director of the Korea Biochar Research Center (KBRC), Full Professor at Korea University, titled “Sustainable biochar: Market development and commercialization to achieve ESG goals,” the comprehensive analysis lays the groundwork for the large-scale adoption and commercialization of biochar as a carbon-negative technology. This is aligned with corporate ESG strategies, the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and global initiatives such as Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and voluntary carbon markets. The findings were published online and will appear in Volume 217 of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews in July 2025. This study marks another benchmark in ESG research by Prof. Ok’s team.
Traditionally applied as a soil amendment, biochar is now gaining momentum across a range of industries—including renewable energy, construction, textiles and waste management. The study explores the rapidly evolving market potential of biochar and its scalability as a carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) solution.
“Biochar presents one of the most promising carbon-negative technologies available today. To meet ESG and sustainability commitments, we must move beyond laboratory-scale innovation and advance toward full-scale commercial deployment—supported by smart governance and international collaboration,” remarked Prof. Ok.
Our study focuses on global market dynamics while stressing the urgency of coordinated policy reforms. Critically, it provides a strategic blueprint for industry players—including major firms like Microsoft—for integrating biochar into their climate portfolios and ESG strategies, aligning with TCFD disclosures and Net Zero pathways. For instance, Microsoft has signed a six-year carbon credit offtake agreement with “The Next 150,” a climate solutions provider, to purchase 95,000 tons of carbon removal credits sourced from a newly established biochar production plant in Mexico. Similarly, Royal Dutch Shell, a global energy and petrochemicals company, is incorporating biochar into its soil enhancement initiatives, complementing their hydrolysis and hydro-conversion technologies.
“At KBRC, with support from IESGA, our mission is to transform biochar from a promising research concept into a cornerstone of industrial sustainability. Our latest study advances that goal by synthesizing evidence across economics, policy, and technology, while offering actionable guidance for governments, industry leaders, and research institutions,” concludes Prof. Ok.
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References
Title of original paper: Active Learning-Based Guided Synthesis of Engineered Biochar for CO2 Capture
Journal: Environmental Science & Technology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c10922
Author(s) Affiliation: Korea University
Title of original paper: Waste-derived biochar for water pollution control and sustainable development
Journal: Nature Reviews Earth & Environment
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-022-00306-8
Title of original paper: Prediction of soil heavy metal immobilization by biochar using machine learning.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c08302
Title of original paper: Applied machine learning for prediction of CO2 adsorption on biomass waste-derived porous carbons
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c01849
Title of original paper: Sustainable remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-023-00404-1
About Professor Yong Sik Ok
Professor Yong Sik Ok serves as the President of the International ESG Association (IESGA) and the President of the International Society of Trace Element Biogeochemistry (ISTEB). He was recognized as the only Highly Cited Researcher (HCR) in three distinct fields: Environment and Ecology, Engineering, and Biology and Biochemistry in 2022. Notably, Prof. Ok was the first Korean scientist to receive HCR recognition in Environment and Ecology in 2019. Adding to his remarkable achievements, Prof. Ok was ranked first in the world in Environmental Sciences by ScholarGPS and first in Asia in Environmental Sciences by Research.com in 2025. His remarkable citation record includes an h-index of 177, over 20,000 annual citations, and more than 114 highly cited papers, with a total of over 118,992 citations according to Google Scholar. As Korea's most cited scientist across various disciplines, his contributions to research are exceptional. He maintains an extensive global professional network and serves as the Editor-in-Chief for CleanMat (Wiley). His research focuses on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ESG principles to create a more sustainable future with green and sustainable climate technologies such as biochar. In addition to his research, Professor Ok teaches MBA and EMBA courses on business and the environment at the Korea University Business School, and has delivered numerous lectures at leading organizations including Samsung Electronics, the POSCO Forum, and Shinhan Bank.
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Sustainable biochar: Market development and commercialization to achieve ESG goals
1-Jul-2025