What Carbuna AG does

Carbuna AG is a privately held German stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) founded in 2015 and headquartered in Memmingen, Bavaria, that operates as a multi-producer biochar (Pflanzenkohle) platform. Rather than owning pyrolysis assets, the company aggregates biochar from multiple production facilities and processes/refines it into certified, application-specific products sold under the CARBUNA brand. Its underlying technology is high-temperature pyrolysis of plant biomass into stable carbon, yielding biochar alongside renewable heat and power, with Carbuna adding value through blending, formulation, and certification rather than primary production.

The product catalog is organized into four horizontal verticals: agricultural inputs (organic and mineral biochar-based fertilizers such as ATS, BAK, CPK 5, AHC, AND; feed charcoal TFK; and biological soil improver BAM); urban greening and landscape substrates (KPK 50, KPK 100) aligned with the Stockholm System; construction and industrial biochar (CPK 1) for use in concrete, plastics, paints, and filtration; and metallurgical biocoal (MBS) with over 85% carbon content for foundries and steel producers. The portfolio is supported by a comprehensive certification stack — EBC and EBC C-Sink, GMP+ B3, QS, ISO 9001:2015, SURE, FiBL inputs listing, and EPD under DIN EN ISO 14025 — which is unusual for an 8-person company and is the core of its regulatory moat.

Carbuna generates revenue through three streams: unit-priced sales of branded biochar products via its own Shopify-based e-commerce shop (carbuna.com), with small packages shipped via DHL up to 29 kg and palletized freight for Big Bags (~500 kg) and IBCs (1000–1300 kg); B2B consulting and long-term off-take marketing partnerships with pyrolysis plant operators; and carbon sink certificate trading via an integration with Carbonfuture GmbH (CO2-Bonus). Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer and small-business across Germany and most EU member states, with enterprise and industrial customers served by a phone/email sales team. The company has no external funding rounds, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed revenue. Governance rests with Executive Board member Dr. Claus Möllmann and Supervisory Board Chairman Hansjörg Lerchenmüller.

Name

Carbuna AG

Legal name

Carbuna AG

Website

https://carbuna.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Carbuna AG is a German biochar platform founded in 2015 that aggregates, refines, and sells certified Pflanzenkohle products across agriculture, urban greening, construction, and metallurgy, distributing them via its own e-commerce shop to SMB and industrial buyers across the EU.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biochar Products

NAICS

All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (325199), Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (32519)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Biochar Production & Soil/Material Applications (EUABAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biochar & Carbon-Based Soil Builders (AFABAKAG), Bio-based Carbon Products & Advanced Bioproducts (Biochar, activated carbon, carbon black alternatives) (EUAAAIAM), Biochar Carbon Projects (Biomass to Biochar & Soil Application) (EUABABAH), Organic & Bio-based Fertilizers (Manure/Compost/Biochar) (IMAEAEAF)

Keywords

• Biochar products
• Soil amendments
• Carbon sink certification
• Pyrolysis technology
• Agricultural fertilizers

Headquarters

HQ city

Memmingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Biochar Product Sales: Sale of biochar products across multiple application categories including agricultural products (fertilizers, soil amendments, animal feed), urban green products (compost-biochar mixes, substrate solutions), construction industry products (biochar for concrete, cement, plastics), and metallurgical biocoal. Products sold in various packaging from small sacks (10-20kg) to big bags (500-800kg) and IBC containers (1000kg+).
2. Carbon Sink Certificate Trading: Trading of certified carbon sink potentials through partnership with Carbonfuture GmbH. Option A allows purchase of carbon sink potential alongside biochar products with refund upon verified permanent application. Option B provides immediate price discount on biochar products in exchange for commitment to non-combustion use.
3. Consulting Services: Technology consulting for potential biochar producers including plant planning, development, quality qualification, and certification support. Also offers marketing partnership services for existing pyrolysis plant operators with long-term purchase contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Carbuna AG operates as a biochar (Pflanzenkohle) platform that sources certified biochar from multiple production facilities and processes it into branded products for agriculture (fertilizers, soil amendments, animal feed), urban greening (tree planting substrates, sponge city applications), construction (concrete and composite additives), and metallurgy (reduction and carbonization agents). The company sells directly through its e-commerce shop at carbuna.com and via direct sales for bulk and industrial orders, combining product sales with EBC C-Sink carbon sink certificate trading through Carbonfuture GmbH.

Product overview

Carbuna AG operates as a biochar (Pflanzenkohle) platform offering certified biochar products for multiple application areas. The product portfolio is organized into four main categories: (1) Agricultural products (ATS, BAK, CPK 5, TFK, AHC, AND, BAM) for fertilization, soil improvement, and animal feed; (2) Urban green/landscape products (KPK 50, KPK 100) for urban greenery, tree planting, and sponge city applications based on the Stockholm System; (3) Industrial/construction products (CPK 1) for building materials, composites, and filtration; (4) Metallurgical products (MBS) for reduction and carbonization in metallurgy. The company also enables carbon sink certificates (EBC C-Sink) linked to product sales, offering buyers climate protection benefits through CO2-Bonus programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Carbuna ATS Pflanzenkohle mit organischem Dünger Organic N-K fertilizer combining biochar with organic nutrients for gardens, beds, and agriculture. Stimulates soil life, promotes humus formation, and reduces nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions. Targeted at farmers and agricultural users.
• Carbuna BAK Bioaktive Pflanzenkohle mit Mikroorganismen Organic soil amendment with biochar and microorganisms for application in soil and stalls. Promotes natural microbiome, reduces nitrate leaching, decreases nitrous oxide emissions, and improves stall hygiene. Used in agriculture and animal husbandry.
• Carbuna CPK 5 Pflanzenkohle, mittelkörnig Carbon-rich, chemically stable charcoal with medium grain size, low dust and water content, and over 87% carbon content. Used across agriculture, horticulture, and industrial applications.
• Carbuna TFK Tierfutterkohle Certified quality-monitored feed charcoal for livestock feeding. Binds harmful substances, neutralizes mycotoxins, improves stall hygiene, and reduces ammonia emissions and nitrate leaching. Targeted at livestock farmers and feed producers.
• Carbuna KPK 50 Kompost-Pflanzenkohle-Mix Biochar-compost mixture for urban greenery, tree planting, landscaping, and sponge city applications. Stores water and nutrients in soil. Used by landscape architects, municipalities, and urban green space managers.
• Carbuna KPK 100 Kompost-Pflanzenkohle Pure biochar for urban greenery, tree planting, landscaping, and sponge city applications. Foundation for skeleton substrates according to the Stockholm System. Used by landscape architects and municipal green space managers.
• Carbuna CPK 1 Pflanzenkohle für Baustoff-Anwendung Carbon-rich, chemically stable charcoal for use as pigment, filler, or additive in concrete, plastics, paints, anodes, and filtration media. Low heavy metal and sulfur content. Targeted at construction material manufacturers and industrial producers.
• Carbuna MBS Metallurgisches Biokoks Carbon-rich, chemically stable charcoal for metallurgical use with over 85% carbon content. Serves as a climate-neutral reducing and carbonizing agent in various furnace types, available as powder, pellet, and briquette. Targeted at metalworking companies, foundries, and steel producers.
• Carbuna AHC Pflanzenkohle mit mineralischem Dünger Nitrogen-rich mineral fertilizer combining urea, ammonium, and nitrate nitrogen with biochar in one application. Used in agriculture to combine nitrogen fertilization with soil-building biochar benefits.
• Carbuna AND Amino-Nährstoff-Dünger, flüssig Liquid organic fertilizer for specialty crops and supplementation of biochar-based fertilizer products. Made from purely plant-based raw materials with high nitrogen efficiency. Targeted at specialty crop growers.
• Carbuna BAM Bioaktive Mikroorganismen, flüssig Ready-to-use soil improver containing naturally occurring bacteria and fungi. Stimulates soil life and accelerates fermentation in slurry, stables, and fields. Suitable for organic farming.
• Biochar Technology Consulting Services Consulting services for potential biochar producers covering plant planning, development, quality qualification, and certification support, plus marketing partnership services with long-term purchase contracts for existing pyrolysis plant operators.
• EBC C-Sink Carbon Sink Certificates (CO2-Bonus) Certified carbon sink certificates traded through Carbonfuture GmbH partnership. Option A allows purchasing carbon sink potential alongside biochar products with refund upon verified permanent application; Option B provides immediate price discount in exchange for commitment to non-combustion use.

Quantifiable outcome

• 22 tonnes of biochar applied, resulting in 70 tonnes CO₂ permanently fixed in soil
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• European Biochar Industry Consortium (EBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbuna AG is a member of the European Biochar Industry Consortium, contributing to the advancement of biochar as a negative emission technology. The consortium works on standard-setting, industry coordination, and promoting biochar applications across Europe.
• German Biochar e.V. (formerly Fachverband Pflanzenkohle e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbuna AG is a member of the German Biochar Association, which advocates for biochar as a climate protection technology and provides industry representation and standards development in Germany.
• Carbonfuture GmbHcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCarbuna AG partners with Carbonfuture GmbH for carbon sink monitoring and marketing. Carbonfuture provides the platform for carbon sink certificate trading, enabling Carbuna customers to claim refunds for carbon sink potential through digital QR codes or coupon submission.
• Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Stockholm System Handbook project, which Carbuna supports and distributes, is funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU), promoting urban greening and water retention through biochar applications.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Swiss Biochar: Swiss biochar producer and platform focused on EBC-certified biochar for agriculture, horticulture, and industrial applications. Comparable as a German-speaking-region competitor with the same certification-led, multi-vertical go-to-market.
• Pyreg GmbH: German pyrolysis technology provider and biochar producer with EBC-certified output serving agricultural and industrial buyers. Comparable as a Germany-based biochar supplier targeting the same certification-driven, multi-application customer base.
• Sonnenerde: Austrian producer of biochar substrates, compost-biochar mixes, and urban greening products based on the Stockholm System. Direct peer in the urban greening and substrate segment with overlapping product families (e.g., KPK-equivalents).
• Novocarbo: German biochar producer and CDR project developer offering certified biochar for agriculture, construction, and industrial applications. Direct peer because it operates a similar certified-biochar platform with overlapping end-markets in the DACH region.
• Carbofex: Finnish biochar producer using certified pyrolysis with EBC-certified output for soil, feed, and industrial use. Comparable as a European certified biochar producer with similar multi-application product positioning.

Emerging players

• Carbon Mills: Dutch biochar producer with EBC-certified output targeting agricultural and industrial buyers. Comparable as a European emerging biochar supplier building certification-driven multi-application distribution.
• Klim GmbH: German regenerative-agriculture platform distributing biochar and other soil amendments to European farmers, often via cooperative channels. Comparable because it overlaps in carbon-removal-linked soil inputs in the German agricultural market.

Others

• Carbonfuture GmbH: German carbon removal registry and marketplace that partners with Carbuna for EBC C-Sink certificate trading. Listed as a partner in the input data, but also an adjacent ecosystem player that connects biochar producers to corporate CDR buyers.
• Ithaka Institute: Swiss-based institute that developed the European Biochar Certificate (EBC) standard underlying Carbuna's certification moat. Included as an adjacent ecosystem participant because it sets the regulatory framework Carbuna depends on.
• Carbon Standard International: Switzerland-based certification body administering the EBC and EBC C-Sink standards used by Carbuna. Adjacent because it is the certifier enabling Carbuna's regulatory moat, not a direct commercial competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carbuna

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carbuna AG