CSI Overview
Carbon Standards International AG (CSI) is the Swiss standard-setter behind the Global C-Sink family and the EBC / WBC product certificates. For biochar CDR diligence, treat CSI as a product + C-sink stack, not a Nasdaq-style engineered-CDR marketplace like Puro.earth Overview.
Hub method note: CSI Global Biochar C-Sink. Research: /workspace/biochar-research/csi-c-sink-deep-dive.md (2026-09-16).
Organization
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Carbon Standards International AG, Frick, Switzerland | carbon-standards.com |
| Founded | 2021 — joint initiative of EASY-CERT group AG and Ithaka Institute | ICVCM application |
| Science partner | Ithaka Institute (Arbaz / Goldbach); authors of Global Biochar C-Sink include Hans-Peter Schmidt & Nikolas Hagemann (Agroscope affiliation on imprint) | v3.3 PDF; ithaka-institut.org |
| Governance (application claim) | Board: Hans-Peter Schmidt, Ueli Steiner (President), Michael Stelzl; Management Board led by Ueli Steiner (CEO) | ICVCM application; team page |
| Role | Standard-setting + digital tools (Global Biochar Tool) + Global C-Sink Registry; third-party VVB (CERES-CERT AG) audits | service page |
CSI’s ICVCM programme summary positions the organization for nature-based carbon removal standards with “low-barrier access” and scientifically verified sinks (application PDF).
Biochar-relevant standards family
EBC / WBC product certificates ──prerequisite──► Global Biochar C-Sink (industrial)
│
Global Artisan C-Sink (LMIC / Kon-Tiki) ─────────────┼──► Global C-Sink Registry
│
CS-BCR (EU CRCF draft) ──────────────────────────────┘
Related: Global Cooling; Construction / Tree / Rock C-Sink (excluded from CSI’s ICVCM category ask)
| Standard | What it is | Primary link |
|---|---|---|
| EBC | European Biochar Certificate — product quality / sustainability | service-492 · EBC 10.5E PDF · Product Standards EBC IBI |
| WBC | World Biochar Certificate — parallel product track | service-514 |
| Global Biochar C-Sink 3.3 | Industrial biochar C-sink (GPC/SPC) | CSI Global Biochar C-Sink · PDF |
| Global Artisan C-Sink 2.1A | Artisan / smallholder C-sinks | service-505 · PDF |
| CS-BCR 0.7 | EU CRCF permanent BCR methodology (consultation) | |
| Global Cooling | Time-matched cooling services from temporary + permanent sinks | service-527 |
Legacy name: Global Biochar C-Sink is “also known as EBC Biochar C-Sink” on the v3.3 cover (PDF).
Global C-Sink Registry
All certified biochar C-sinks under the Global Biochar C-Sink standard are registered in the Global C-Sink Registry, owned/run by Carbon Standards (v3.3 §1.2).
Registry holds (per standard): application amount/location, biochar quality, persistence, year of original CO₂ removal, C-sink owner, and the emission portfolio that must be offset before the sink is usable for compensation.
- Public consultation of projects appears as status
Ongoing Validation(service page) - Transfers and retirements: endorsed C-Sink Traders only (same page)
Global Artisan C-Sink (distributed track)
Separate from the industrial EBC→C-Sink path. Key eligibility claims from CSI (service-505; v2.1A PDF):
| Rule | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Geography | World Bank low / lower-middle / higher-middle income countries |
| Technology | Artisan / Kon-Tiki-type low-tech pyrolysis |
| Volume caps | Farmer ≤ 100 m³/year; Artisan Pro ≤ 1500 m³/year |
| Other | Fair compensation / social impact; not dual-certified under other nature-based climate methodologies for the same biomass/SOC story |
Process: CSI endorsement of Artisan C-Sink Manager → VVB validation (PDD) → VVB verification (incl. on-site) → registry. Endorsed dMRV providers and labs listed on the service page.
EU CRCF path (CS-BCR)
In addition to Global Biochar C-Sink, CSI publishes CS-BCR (EU Biochar Carbon Removal Standard) for activities as permanent carbon removals under Regulation (EU) 2024/3012 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/285 (service page; CS-BCR 0.7 PDF; EUR-Lex 2026/285).
CSI states CS-BCR is self-contained: once the Commission approves recognition, compliance with CS-BCR alone is intended to demonstrate Delegated Regulation compliance — aiming for credits comparable to other CRCF units. Public consultation: 26 Aug 2026 – 24 Sep 2026 (service page as of 2026-09-16 research).
Do not conflate live Global Biochar C-Sink 3.3 issuance with unfinished CS-BCR recognition.
ICVCM
| Item | Status (2026-09-16) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Program application | Global C-Sink Standards, Non-CORSIA Program Level Assessment, submitted 1 Apr 2026, status “In Review” on application copy | application PDF |
| Assessment table | CSI row shows submission document; no CCP-Eligible badge in the same style as approved programs | assessment status |
| Methodologies excluded from category ask (CSI request) | Global Construction C-Sink; Global Rock C-Sink | application PDF |
| Biochar CCP-Approved peers | Verra VM0044 v1.2; Isometric Biochar 1.0; CAR Biochar 1.0 — not CSI | assessment status category table |
Practical: treat CSI as integrity-assessment in process, not CCP-labelled. Compare: Puro vs Other Standards · Verra vs Isometric vs Puro.
Ecosystem roles (industrial C-Sink)
| Role | Function | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Endorsed laboratories | EBC/WBC analytics; Ro/HyPy for upper class; annual ring trial (DCC) | service-501 |
| Endorsed dMRV providers | Track packaging units factory→application | 4000162EN |
| Endorsed system providers | Shorter pre-audit; default CH₄ factors per system | service-501 |
| CERES-CERT AG | Endorsed VVB | service-501 |
| Endorsed C-Sink Traders | Transfers + retirements | service-501 |
Primary links
- carbon-standards.com
- Global Biochar C-Sink service
- Global C-Sink Registry
- Artisan service
- Ithaka Institute
- european-biochar.org
- ICVCM CSI application