What CharLine GmbH does

CharLine GmbH is an Austrian specialty producer of biochar products headquartered in Riedlingsdorf, Burgenland, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sonnenerde GmbH (Dunst family). Founded as a legal entity in 2011 with full-scale commercial operation beginning in 2016, the company operates what it describes as the only carbonization plant in Austria, using a Pyreg screw-reactor pyrolysis system running at 7,000 hours per year to convert regionally sourced biomass (wood, bio spelt husks, cellulose fibers — within a 70 km radius) into high-purity plant biochar certified to EBC standards.

The company sells three product families: (1) Futterkohle (feed charcoal) — species-specific blends for dogs, cats, horses, cattle, calves, pigs, poultry, sheep, and fish, available as meal or pellets; (2) Bio Güllekohle — fine, dust-free biochar for livestock manure treatment that binds nitrogen, eliminates odor, and improves fertilizer efficiency, sold in 1.2 m³ BigBags at €589 and 2 m³ BigBags at €949; and (3) Terra Preta / Bio Pflanzenkohle / Bodenaktivator — soil-enrichment products sourced from sister company Sonnenerde. A fourth revenue line offers toll carbonization trials (Pyrolyseversuche) for third-party biomass substrates. CharLine monetizes via direct factory sales at its Riedlingsdorf outlet, e-commerce, and a channel network exceeding 25 retail points across Austria, Germany, Switzerland (Futterscheune pet retail, Raiffeisen-Lagerhaus agricultural cooperatives, veterinarians, farm shops, agricultural distributors), plus a dedicated Australia operation.

CharLine's customers split into five segments: pet owners (horses, dogs, cats), livestock farmers, agricultural operations needing manure treatment, gardeners / home growers, and research / industrial buyers commissioning toll pyrolysis work. Distribution is B2B2C-heavy through specialty retailers and agricultural cooperatives, supplemented by event-driven B2C demand (agility events, horse racing partnerships including Trotter-of-the-Year Orlando Jet), and the company's go-to-market blends product-led content marketing (Kohlen-Stoff blog with 100+ articles), certifications-led trust signaling, and cooperation partnerships with high-profile stables and veterinarians.

Name

CharLine GmbH

Legal name

CharLine GmbH

Website

https://char-line.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CharLine GmbH is an Austrian producer operating Austria's only carbonization plant, manufacturing EBC-certified biochar-based feed additives for pets and livestock, manure-treatment biochar for agriculture, and Terra Preta soil products distributed across DACH and Australia via specialty retail and agricultural cooperative channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biochar Products for Agriculture and Animal Nutrition

NAICS

Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Biochar Production & Soil/Material Applications (EUABAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biochar & Carbon-Based Soil Conditioners (AFABADAD), Biochar & Carbon-Based Soil Builders (AFABAKAG), Organic & Bio-based Fertilizers (Manure/Compost/Biochar) (IMAEAEAF), Bio-based Carbon Products & Advanced Bioproducts (Biochar, activated carbon, carbon black alternatives) (EUAAAIAM)

Keywords

• Biochar production
• Feed charcoal supplements
• Pyrolysis carbonization
• Agricultural biochar
• Animal feed additives

Headquarters

HQ city

Riedlingsdorf

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. FeedChar (Feed Additive Biochar) Sales: CharLine manufactures and sells specialized biochar-based feed additives (Futterkohle) for pets (dogs, cats) and livestock (horses, cattle, calves, pigs, poultry, sheep, fish). Products are sold in buckets, sacks, and big bags through direct sales, online ordering, and channel partners. This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Bio Güllekohle (Bio Manure Charcoal) Sales: Sale of biochar for agricultural manure treatment, sold in BigBag units. Used for nitrogen binding, odor reduction, and improving fertilizer efficiency in agricultural settings.
3. Bio Pflanzenkohle & Terra Preta Products Sales: Sale of biochar and Terra Preta (black earth) products for soil enrichment and gardening applications, sourced from sister company Sonnenerde.
4. Pyrolysis Toll Processing Services: CharLine offers carbonization trial services where third-party customers can have their raw materials processed in CharLine's pyrolysis plant. Customers receive their biochar product, analysis report, and application recommendations for a fee.
5. Bodenaktivator (Soil Activator) Sales: Sale of biological fertilizer for gardens, designed to create Terra Preta (black earth) over time with long-term application. Distributed through Sonnenerde partnership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CharLine GmbH manufactures and sells biochar-based products including feed charcoal (Futterkohle) for companion animals and livestock, bio manure charcoal (Güllekohle) for agricultural nitrogen binding and odor reduction, and Terra Preta soil amendments sourced via sister/parent company Sonnenerde. Production uses a proprietary screw-reactor pyrolysis system at Austria's only carbonization plant, with all products certified to the European Biochar Certificate (EBC) standard. The company also offers toll carbonization/ pyrolysis trial services for third-party biomass substrates.

Product overview

CharLine GmbH operates as a carbon solutions company offering a portfolio of activated charcoal and biochar products for agricultural and animal husbandry applications. The core product line is Futterkohle (Feed Charcoal), available in species-specific formulations for dogs, cats, horses, cattle, calves, pigs, poultry, and sheep. The Terra Preta line includes Bio Schwarzerde, Bodenaktivator, and Bio Pflanzenkohle for soil improvement and carbon sequestration. Bio Güllekohle addresses agricultural slurry management needs. The company also provides pyrolysis testing services through its parent company Sonnenerde, which received the Austrian Climate Protection Prize in 2012.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CharLine Futterkohle: Feed charcoal product line for pets and livestock including dogs, cats, horses, cattle, calves, pigs, poultry, and sheep.
• CharLine Güllekohle
• Sonnenerde
• Kohlen-Stoff

Products and services

• CharLine Futterkohle (Feed Charcoal) A blend of high-purity plant biochars, available in meal and pellet forms and formulated per species (dogs, cats, horses, cattle, calves, pigs, poultry, sheep, fish), used as a feed additive to bind toxins in the gastrointestinal tract, support digestion, and improve coat quality. Calf variant is milled below 1.6 mm grain size to prevent clogging of automatic feeders. Sold for both companion animals and livestock.
• CharLine Bio Güllekohle (Bio Manure Charcoal) A fine, dust-free biochar meal made from pure wood, designed to be mixed into livestock manure to bind nitrogen, eliminate odor within hours, prevent ammonia volatilization, and improve nutrient efficiency when the manure is applied to fields. Promotes humus formation (Terra Preta effect) and protects building structures from corrosive manure gases. Sold by volume (1.2 m³ BigBag at €589.00; 2 m³ BigBag at €949.00).
• Terra Preta (Bio Pflanzenkohle / Bio Schwarzerde) Biochar-based "black earth" soil amendment for gardens, balcony plants, vegetables, and soil improvement, sourced and formulated in collaboration with parent company Sonnenerde. Aimed at hobby gardeners and home growers in the DACH region, it builds long-term humus and improves soil water retention and nutrient storage capacity.
• Bodenaktivator (Soil Activator) Biological fertilizer / soil activator distributed in combination with CharLine's Terra Preta line to support the long-term build-up of stable humus and to enhance soil microbial activity in gardens and hobby farming applications.
• Pyrolyseversuche (Pyrolysis Toll Processing / Carbonization Trials) Toll carbonization service using CharLine's proprietary screw-reactor (Pyreg) pyrolysis plant. Customers supply raw biomass (e.g., rice husks, paper fiber residues, sewage sludge, or other feedstocks) and receive their biochar sample, laboratory analysis, a detailed report (carbonization parameters, mass balance), and application recommendations. Batch-wise processing with no cross-contamination between materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nitrogen saving of approximately €1 per kg of biochar used in manure treatment
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sonnenerde GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSonnenerde GmbH is the parent company of CharLine GmbH. Sonnenerde developed the pyrolysis technology and transferred operations to CharLine. Sonnenerde has won multiple awards including the Austrian Climate Protection Prize (2012), TRIGOS (2014), and Houskapreis (2016). Sonnenerde also produces Terra Preta and biochar products for gardening/soil applications, which CharLine distributes alongside its own product lines.
• Familie Höfler (Höfl er family farm)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Höfler provided the ideal trial conditions for the GEFKO project — a nearly 2-year study to replace coccidiostatics with CharLine feed charcoal in poultry fattening. Three identical barns were compared: one with CharLine feed charcoal and no medications vs. two control barns with conventional feed containing coccidiostats. Höfler's farm achieved equal or better results with feed charcoal, proving coccidiostats can be fully replaced.
• Firma Gsellmann (feed supplier)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeed supplier Gsellmann (Gnas, Austria) collaborated in the GEFKO poultry trial, providing specially formulated feed配合 for the CharLine feed charcoal group in the comparison study.
• Dr. vet. Ziegerhofer (veterinarian)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterinarian Dr. Ziegerhofer served as the supervising veterinarian for the GEFKO poultry trial, providing independent clinical oversight of the study comparing feed charcoal-supplemented feed against conventional coccidiostat-containing feed.
• RollArt GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with RollArt GmbH at the Agility Junior European Open 2019 (JEO 2019) in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland. CharLine actively supported and documented the Junior Agility Team Austria at the event, with Stefanie Raschbauer and her dogs Toni and Vinny representing the team.
• Stefanie Holzer (Reitstall HOLZER HOF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerStefanie Holzer operates HolzerHof as a cooperation partner with CharLine, using and promoting CharLine feed charcoal for horses. She has been using the product since October 2015 and provides customer testimonials and testimonials videos. The farm also hosts training events where CharLine products are featured.
• Dr. Marie Lindinger (Pferde Therapiezentrum Aschheim)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeterinarian Dr. Marie Lindinger uses CharLine feed charcoal at the Horse Therapy Center Aschheim near Munich and provides testimonials about observed positive effects in horses with chronic intestinal diseases. Represents an important professional endorsement channel.
• Rudi and Veronika Haller (Orlando Jet training stable)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHorse training stable of Orlando Jet (Trotter of the Year 2016) located near Munich. CharLine documented a full training day with Orlando Jet and the Haller team, featuring the horse powered by CharLine feed charcoal. The horse has achieved top racing results while using CharLine products.
• Calm Horse AcademyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscovered through friends and partners Stefanie Holzer and Christoph Machura, Calm Horse Academy organizes the Calm Horse Summit 2020. CharLine promotes this educational initiative to its customer community as a partner activity.
• Australian New Zealand Biochar Conference (ANZBC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharLine participated in the ANZBC Study Tour 2019 in Australia, connecting with the international biochar research and commercial community. Dominik Dunst authored an article about the conference documenting the biochar scene in Australia.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Novocarbo: German biochar startup producing biochar for agriculture, construction, and carbon removal applications. Comparable to CharLine in pyrolysis-based biochar production and European carbon-removal positioning, though focused more on industrial-scale carbon credits than agricultural inputs.
• Black Owl Biochar: Pacific Northwest US biochar producer focused on premium biochar for agriculture, animal feed, and carbon removal. Comparable to CharLine's multi-species feed charcoal and soil amendment product portfolio with similar sustainability and carbon-sequestration positioning.
• Wakefield Biochar: US-based biochar producer serving agricultural, horticultural, and environmental markets with EBC-equivalent certified biochar products. Comparable to CharLine in product range, certification focus, and emphasis on premium-quality biochar for soil and livestock applications.
• Sonnenerde GmbH: Austrian biochar and Terra Preta producer and CharLine's parent company. Directly comparable in product mix (biochar, Terra Preta, soil amendments) and DACH market focus, with shared Dunst-family leadership and overlapping customer segments.
• Biochar Supreme: US-based biochar producer offering biochar soil amendments for agriculture, horticulture, and livestock feed applications. Comparable to CharLine in product breadth across soil, feed, and environmental uses, though operating in a different regulatory environment.
• Carbofex: Finnish biochar manufacturer producing high-quality biochar via pyrolysis for agricultural and environmental applications. Comparable to CharLine in core production technology (pyrolysis), product categories (soil amendments, growing media), and European certification positioning.
• Carbon Gold: UK-based biochar producer selling biochar-based soil amendments for agriculture and horticulture. Directly comparable to CharLine's Terra Preta and Bio Pflanzenkohle product lines, serving farmers and gardeners with similar sustainability-led positioning and EBC-equivalent certifications.

Others

• Carbonfuture: German-based carbon removal marketplace and registry that helps biochar producers monetize durable carbon removal certificates. Relevant to CharLine as an enabling platform for monetizing its Registered Carbon Sink trademark through voluntary carbon markets.

Broad incumbents

• Pyreg GmbH: German manufacturer of pyrolysis systems, including the screw-reactor technology CharLine uses. While not a direct product competitor, Pyreg operates in the same biochar value chain and could vertically integrate or supply competing biochar producers as the market grows.

Emerging players

• Agolin: Swiss manufacturer of essential-oil based animal feed additives that improve feed efficiency and reduce methane emissions in livestock. Partially comparable to CharLine's Futterkohle as a natural feed additive addressing livestock productivity and emissions, though operating in a different active-ingredient category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/search
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charlinegmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 CharLine GmbH