Climate-resilient cities with biochar
Better plant health and water management for sustainable urban planning
Global warming is actively reshaping urban planning: cities must become climate-resilient to withstand heat waves and heavy rainfall. Enhancing urban greening projects with biochar tackles several environmental challenges at once.
Your benefits:
Better water retention and management
Protection of nearby lakes and rivers
Enhanced plant health and resilience
More biodiversity
Cool-down effect
Transform into a sponge city with biochar
Heavy rainfall can enormously strain urban water cycles, where sealed roofs and streets prohibit excess water from seeping away. Sponge city concepts offer solutions for absorbing water and releasing it safely over time.
Biochar plays a key role in such climate adaptation concepts: Due to its porous structure, biochar acts like a sponge that effectively retains water for plant health while preventing undesired water runoff.
CO2 from the atmosphere will be stored: 1 tn of biochar can store 2.9 tns of CO2
Nitrate leaching is reduced by an average of 13 %
Water storage capacity doubles with the addition of just 10 % biochar (esp. in sandy or loamy soils)
Tree growth accelerates by 40 % on average in the early growth phases
Microbial activity increases and roots receive more oxygen
On average urban green spaces are 1.6°C cooler than non-green areas.
CO2 from the atmosphere will be stored: 1 tn of biochar can store 2.9 tns of CO2
Nitrate leaching is reduced by an average of 13 %
Water storage capacity doubles with the addition of just 10 % biochar (esp. in sandy or loamy soils)
Tree growth accelerates by 40 % on average in the early growth phases
Microbial activity increases and roots receive more oxygen
On average urban green spaces are 1.6°C cooler than non-green areas.
How does biochar facilitate blue-green infrastructure?
Biochar, a 100 % natural product, is best suited for restricted areas where water needs to be stored and controlled, such as in most urban green spaces. The positive effects of biochar are particularly beneficial for city trees, green roofs, facade greening, terraces, rainwater beds and parks.
WoodChar Classic: Pure biochar wood chips
High water retention & customizable
Help your soil breathe, retain moisture and thrive – naturally.
WoodChar Classic is a high-performance biochar made from upcycled wood residues, engineered for maximum water retention and soil vitality. It’s a natural fit for sandy, degraded or filtration-demanding soils – where water and microbial life are critical.
Very high water retention (comparable to vermiculite)
Highly porous which prevents nitrate leaching
Standard particle size is 0-30 mm (custom sizing available)
Stable carbon sink: 2.3 t CO₂ stored per ton of biochar
Sustainable alternative to vermiculite, perlite and other water-retaining additives
NutriChar Pellets: Nutrient-enriched biochar pellets
Ready-to-use substrate enhancement for greener cities.
NutriChar Pellets are a clean, pelletized biochar made from biogas digestate – enriched with essential nutrients and designed for seamless integration into urban soil systems. Its dust-reduced, light form enables fast blending and efficient application, ideal for roof gardens, potting mixes, and planter substrates.
Nutrient-enriched: 1 % phosphorus & 3.5 % potassium
High water holding capacity
Improves soil porosity and supports microbial life
Sustainable alternative to LECA, pumice and other structuring additives
Natural nutrients & easy-to-handle
Novocarbo biochar in blue-green infrastructure projects
Water filtration at Plaine de Plainpalais in Geneva, Switzerland
In 2018, Geneva used biochar-enriched compost to replant trees at the iconic Plaine de Plainpalais. The main goal of the sponge city project was to safeguard the water quality of Lake Geneva. Thanks to its porous surface, biochar can effectively filter pollutants in stormwater runoff while retaining water and nutrients for plants.
Enabling sponge city concepts in Lund, Sweden
The Swedish construction company Skanska has long since made biochar part of its sustainability strategy and a vital material for fostering sustainable projects with a reduced footprint. An example is the 'Nobelparken' in the Swedish city of Lund, which acts as a peaceful green oasis next to the bustling municipality. For this project, biochar was applied as a substrate and mixed with compost. The mixture was used throughout the park and has since contributed to preserving 236 different plant species spread over 3.8 hectares.
Your contact
Lars-Johann Köhler
Key Account Manager
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