Biochar

Product Standards EBC IBI

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Product Standards (EBC / IBI / WBC)

Hub on product quality standards for biochar — material definition, contaminant limits, and use-class labeling. These are not carbon-credit methodologies; they sit underneath (or alongside) registry methods.

CSI link: CSI Global Biochar C-Sink requires EBC or WBC certification before a Global Biochar C-Sink can be issued (v3.3 §1.3). Puro / Verra / Isometric generally expect laboratory characterization without mandating the EBC/WBC label.

Role vs carbon methodologies

LayerExamples in vaultWhat it does
Product standardsEBC / WBC / IBI (this note)Material definition, H/C_org & contaminant limits, use classes, sustainable production rules
Test methods (U.S.)standardizes biochar lab testing — PDFRecommended laboratory/measurement methods (not eligibility thresholds by themselves)
Carbon methodologiesVerra VM0044, Puro Biochar Methodology Edition 2025, Isometric Biochar Protocol, CSI Global Biochar C-SinkProject eligibility, baselines, MRV, issuance / C-sink registration
Practice standardsNRCS soil carbon amendment in US agFarm conservation practice, not tradable credits

EBC / WBC (Carbon Standards stack)

ItemDetailSource
OperatorSame CSI ecosystem as Global Biochar C-Sinkcarbon-standards.com
EBCEuropean Biochar Certificate — EU-focused product certservice-492 · european-biochar.org
EBC current PDFStandard 10.5E (doc stamp 15.09.2025)4000093EN.pdf
Biomass positive listPermissible feedstocks4000095EN.pdf
WBCWorld Biochar Certificate — parallel track outside/alongside EBC geographyservice-514
ProcessTechnical pre-audit → batch lab analysis (endorsed labs + DCC ring trial) → annual on-site inspection; batches ≤1 yearservice-492
System providersEndorsed equipment vendors shorten pre-audit; default CH₄ factorsfact sheet

Use classes (agriculture, materials, feed-related, etc.) and contaminant tables live in the EBC/WBC guideline PDFs — cite those before quoting numeric limits in other notes. Vault already carries practice thresholds in Properties and Contaminants and Quality.

How CSI C-Sink consumes EBC/WBC

  1. EBC/WBC certificate + QR / Global Biochar Tool batch record
  2. Analytical values for C-sink size (C_org, DM, H/C_org, …)
  3. Optional Ro / HyPy on the same batch sample for upper persistence class
  4. Processor/trader roles also EBC/WBC-certified for chain-of-custody

Deep: CSI Overview · CSI MRV and Emission Portfolio · CSI Global Biochar C-Sink

Guidelines index on the legacy EBC site points to CSI-hosted docs: EBC/WBC guidelines.

IBI Biochar Standards

ItemDetail
PublisherInternational Biochar Initiative
RoleWidely referenced product / characterization framework (esp. North America)
URLhttps://biochar-international.org/
Lab practiceABI Interpreting Lab Reports points to IBI v2.1 — PDF · US Biochar Initiative

IBI is not a CSI prerequisite. US producers often combine IBI-style lab packages with ANSI/ASABE/USBI S668 methods (standardizes biochar lab testing) even when targeting Puro/Verra/Isometric rather than EBC.

ProgramEBC/WBC required?Notes
CSI Global Biochar C-SinkYesExplicit prerequisite
PuroNoCharacterization + eligible-use evidence — Puro Project Cycle and MRV
Verra VM0044NoMethod characterization / eligibility — Verra VM0044 Methodology and Eligibility
IsometricNoProtocol/module lab requirements — Isometric Project Cycle and MRV

Chooser context: Puro vs Other Standards · Verra vs Isometric vs Puro.

What existing notes already say

Gaps / diligence (no invented thresholds)

  • Quote current EBC/WBC grade tables (Agro vs materials vs feed) only from the live PDF version above
  • Confirm WBC version parity with EBC 10.5E on the WBC service page before asserting identical numeric limits
  • Where registries accept vs require certificates — table above is the working model as of 2026-09-16
  • Marketing claims vs certified classes — Risks and Controversies

Graph View

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