CARBUNA

What CARBUNA does

CARBUNA AG, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Memmingen, Germany, operates a commercial platform that sources certified biochar (Pflanzenkohle) from multiple pyrolysis operators and resells it as a formulated product portfolio spanning four verticals: agriculture and livestock (ATS, BAK, CPK 5, TFK, AHC, AND, BAM), urban greening and landscape architecture (KPK 50, KPK 100), industry and construction (CPK 1), and metallurgy (MBS metallurgical biokoks). The core technology is pyrolysis-based conversion of biomass into stable carbon with >85% carbon content and surface areas exceeding 400 sqm/g; the business model monetizes this through unit-priced product sales (€41.77 to €892.50 per unit depending on SKUs and packaging from 15kg sacks to 1300kg IBCs) and a differentiated dual-stream "CO2-Bonus" revenue mechanism that links physical biochar sales to EBC C-Sink certified carbon removal certificates verified via the Carbonfuture platform.

Revenue is generated primarily through a Shopify e-commerce storefront serving SMB and consumer customers via DHL parcel shipping (up to 29kg at €9.99), supplemented by freight-shipping direct sales (€129/pallet for Big Bags, €187/pallet for IBCs) and enterprise-level individual quotations for truckload and international B2B orders. A secondary professional services revenue stream covers pyrolysis consulting and marketing partnership agreements with pyrolysis plant operators. The customer base is broad and long-tailed rather than concentrated; named logos are limited to small municipal pilots (Berlin Volkspark Jungfernheide, KIMM Memmingen). CARBUNA holds EBC, EBC C-Sink, GMP+ B3, ISO 9001:2015, SURE, EPD (DIN EN ISO 14025), PEFC, and FSC certifications, and is a member of the European Biochar Industry Consortium and German Biochar e.V. Executive leadership consists of Dr. Claus Möllmann (Vorstand) and Hansjörg Lerchenmüller (Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender); no external parent company, venture capital, or private equity backing has been disclosed.

Name

CARBUNA

Legal name

Carbuna AG

Website

https://carbuna.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CARBUNA AG is a German biochar platform that sources certified pyrolysis-based biochar from multiple operators and resells it as a 10+ SKU portfolio across agriculture, urban greening, construction, and metallurgy, monetizing both physical product sales and EBC C-Sink carbon removal certificates via the Carbonfuture platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biochar Products

NAICS

Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing (325311)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Biochar Production & Soil/Material Applications (EUABAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biochar Carbon Projects (Biomass to Biochar & Soil Application) (EUABABAH), 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), Biochar, Activated Carbon & Soil Amendments (from forest biomass) (IMAMALAH)

Keywords

• Biochar products
• Carbon sequestration
• Soil amendments
• Plant charcoal
• Sustainable agriculture

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Biochar Product Sales: Direct sales of biochar products (ATS, BAK, CPK, TFK, KPK, MBS, AHC, AND, BAM) through e-commerce shop and B2B consulting. Products sold in various packaging (sacks 10-20kg, Big Bags 500-800kg, IBCs 1000-1300kg). Pricing ranges from €41.77 to €892.50 per unit depending on product type and size. Large quantity orders handled via individual quotes.
2. Carbon Sink Certificates (CO2-Bonus): Dual revenue stream from carbon sink certificates. Option A: Customer purchases biochar and additional carbon sink potential, receives refund upon verified carbon sequestration. Option B: Instant price discount with carbon sink rights transferred to CARBUNA. Certificates verified and marketed through Carbonfuture platform with EBC C-Sink certification.
3. Pyrolysis Consulting Services: Consulting services for potential biochar producers including technology selection, planning support, and certification assistance. Also offers marketing partnership for existing pyrolysis plant operators with long-term purchase agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CARBUNA AG operates a biochar platform that processes and distributes certified plant charcoal (Pflanzenkohle/Biochar) products across four verticals: agriculture (fertilizers, soil improvers, animal feed charcoal), urban green infrastructure (compost-biochar mixes for sponge-city and tree-planting applications), industry and construction (biochar as additive for concrete, plastics, paints), and metallurgy (biokoks as substitute for fossil coal). The company sources raw biochar from multiple pyrolysis plant operators and processes it into specialized finished products branded under the CARBUNA name, sold via a Shopify e-commerce storefront and direct B2B sales.

Product overview

CARBUNA is a biochar (Pflanzenkohle/Biochar) platform offering a portfolio of specialized products across four application domains: Agriculture (ATS, BAK, CPK 5, TFK, AHC, AND, BAM), Urban Greening (KPK 100, KPK 50, ATS), Industry & Construction (CPK 1), and Metallurgy (MBS). The platform is organized around a core biochar trading and processing business, with products ranging from pure biochar substrates to compound fertilizers and microbial preparations. A key differentiator is the CO₂-Bonus system, where certified carbon sink potential is bundled with physical biochar products. Products are available as bags, Big Bags, and IBCs with DHL or freight shipping.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CARBUNA ATS – Biochar with organic fertilizer (N-K fertilizer) Organic N-K fertilizer combining biochar with organic nutrients for gardens, beds, and agriculture. Stimulates soil life, promotes humus formation, reduces nitrate leaching, decreases nitrous oxide emissions, and can be used as a compost starter.
• CARBUNA BAK – Bioactive biochar with microorganisms (soil improver) Organic soil improver containing biochar and microorganisms for use in soil and stables. Stimulates soil biology, promotes humus formation, reduces nitrate leaching from agricultural manure, decreases nitrous oxide emissions, reduces odors, and extends bedding life.
• CARBUNA CPK 5 – Medium-grained biochar (charcoal) Carbon-rich, chemically stable biochar with medium grain size and low dust and water content. Used across agriculture, horticulture, and industry. Contains over 87% carbon and is available with optional carbon sink potential certification.
• CARBUNA TFK – Animal feed charcoal (single feed material) Certified, quality-monitored feed charcoal for livestock. Binds mycotoxins and other toxins, neutralizes harmful substances, increases animal vitality, improves stall hygiene, reduces ammonia emissions and nitrate leaching from manure.
• CARBUNA MBS – Metallurgical biokoks (charcoal) Carbon-rich, chemically stable charcoal for metallurgy, used as a climate-neutral reducing and carburizing agent. Contains over 85% carbon with low heavy metal and sulfur content and high graphite content. Available as powder, pellets, or briquettes. Made from SURE-, PEFC-, and FSC-certified forestry.
• CARBUNA CPK 1 – Biochar for construction material applications Carbon-rich biochar for use as pigment, filler, or additive in concrete, plastics, paints, or anodes. Low heavy metal and sulfur content, free of contaminants, EBC-certified with EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) available.
• CARBUNA KPK 100 – Compost-biochar mix (charcoal) Pure biochar formulated for urban greenery, tree planting, landscape construction (GaLaBau), and sponge-city concepts. Stores water and nutrients in soil and forms the basis for skeleton substrates per the Stockholm System. Can be combined with RAL-certified compost.
• CARBUNA KPK 50 – Compost-biochar mixture (ready compost)

Quantifiable outcome

• Soil can store water and nutrients much better, making them available to plants longer
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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 minor.

• Carbonfuture GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbonfuture provides the monitoring and marketing platform for CARBUNA's certified carbon sinks. The platform handles verification, tracking, and trading of carbon sink certificates. CARBUNA integrates with Carbonfuture for their CO2-Bonus system where customers can submit proof of use via QR code or coupon to receive carbon sink refunds.
• European Biochar Industry Consortium (EBI)coreOthersCARBUNA is a member of EBI, working to advance biochar as a negative emission technology. EBI sets industry standards and promotes biochar adoption across Europe.
• German Biochar e.V. (formerly Fachverband Pflanzenkohle e.V.)coreOthersCARBUNA is a member of German Biochar association, contributing to the advancement of biochar technology and standards in Germany.
• Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)minorOthersDBU funded the Stockholm System Handbook project, which CARBUNA supported by providing the official German translation and publishing the handbook for download on their website.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Carbonauten: German biochar company producing carbon-negative soil amendments and CO2-removal certificates for agriculture and horticulture. Closely comparable to CARBUNA in product mix, market geography (DACH), and reliance on EBC-certified biochar with bundled carbon credits.
• Novocarbo: Germany-based biochar producer focused on agricultural and climate applications, including certified carbon removal. Comparable to CARBUNA as a vertically integrated European peer selling biochar-based soil amendments into similar agriculture and sustainability channels.
• Carbofex: Finnish producer of EBC-certified biochar from forest residues for agriculture, animal husbandry, and industrial uses. Comparable to CARBUNA on certification regime, multi-vertical product strategy, and Northern European market focus.
• PYREG: German manufacturer of pyrolysis plants and operator of biochar production systems for municipalities and agricultural operators. Comparable to CARBUNA as a German/EU biochar ecosystem participant with EBC-certified output, though upstream in the value chain (technology provider vs. trader/platform).
• Sonnenerde: Austrian producer of biochar, terra preta substrates, and organic soil amendments for agriculture and urban greening. Comparable to CARBUNA in DACH market focus, multi-vertical SKU strategy, and use of EBC-certified biochar in compost mixes.
• Wakefield Biochar: UK-based biochar producer selling certified biochar products for agriculture, horticulture, and carbon removal. Comparable to CARBUNA on multi-vertical product positioning and emphasis on certified carbon sinks, though serving a different geography.
• Biochar Supreme: US-based biochar producer offering EBC/USBC-certified products for agriculture, livestock, and industrial applications. Comparable to CARBUNA on multi-vertical SKU strategy and carbon-credit integration, though operating primarily in North America.

Others

• Carbonfuture: German carbon removal marketplace and registry platform that already partners with CARBUNA to verify and trade EBC C-Sink certificates. An ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor, but adjacent in the carbon sink value chain that CARBUNA monetizes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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