What They Do

Carbon Cell is rethinking plastic foam. Their new material uses biochar and natural binders to create a carbon-negative, plastic-free alternative to conventional polymer foams. Delivered as an expandable pellet, the material drops seamlessly into existing foam manufacturing lines while outperforming traditional options on strength, sustainability, and cost.

By embedding carbon in a durable product and eliminating fossil-based inputs, Carbon Cell turns foam into a carbon removal solution: each kilogram of material removes up to 1kg of CO₂, while remaining fully compostable at end of life.

Why it Matters

Foams, from packaging to insulation, is a persistent source of plastic waste and emissions. Over 10 million tonnes of expanded polystyrene (EPS) was produced in 2024 alone and it is challenging to recycle. Alternatives like moulded pulp or mycelium exist, but they’re expensive, fragile, or hard to scale.

Carbon Cell changes that. It offers a drop-in replacement that’s up to 4x stronger than EPS, competitively priced, and entirely free from plastics or synthetic binders. Making it a more practical alternative for industries under rising pressure to eliminate EPS under tightening regulations and climate mandates.

We’re especially excited by Carbon Cell’s creative new use of biochar. The biochar market, which is quickly emerging as the only durable removal solution that is ready to scale today, is also dependent on new use cases for the physical biochar product. Creative yet deeply practical solutions like these will support the scaling of the biochar industry.