The potential and impact of bamboo-derived biochar

Bamboo forests in Indonesia are well-known biodiversity supporters, providing habitat for a variety of wildlife, including insects, birds, and small mammals. It is an efficient carbon sequester, helping to mitigate climate change by capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This characteristic is essential for building resilient ecosystems and reducing the impacts of climate change.

Bamboo also holds the potential to develop the national economy. In 2016, this commodity contributed export revenue worth IDR 6 trillion and placed Indonesia as the third largest bamboo exporter in the world.

The cultivation and utilisation of bamboo on one hand result in bamboo-based waste, and the abundance of existing but unutilised bamboo groves on the other hand results in cutting down and destruction because they are considered less useful and frightening.

Bhetochar’s Focus

Bhetochar focuses on the production of premium bamboo-derived biochar through pyrolysis using bamboo-based waste and unutilised bamboo. Bhetochar’s biochar contributes to:

Soil Improvement: Enhances soil fertility and water retention, particularly in degraded or overworked soils.

Environmental Restoration and Remediation: Assists in removing toxins and contaminants, particularly in industrial and mining areas.

Carbon Sequestration: Captures and stores carbon, helping to mitigate climate change.

Strategic partnership

A key strategic partner in Bhetochar is the Environmental Bamboo Foundation (EBF). This foundation has implemented bamboo-based restoration economy programs, designed to reforest degraded lands and turn them into sustainable resources for the community and planet. Furthermore, EBF’s bamboo agroecology programs have already reached numerous villages in East Java (Mojokerto) and 21 villages across seven districts in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, impacting hundreds of women in protecting the environment and improving their family’s economy (including the Bamboo Mamas)

Partnership with Bhetochar will provide EBF’s program beneficiaries access to additional income sources such as sales of unutilised bamboo and bamboo-based waste. Furthermore, Bhetocar’s biochar will also be available for application on the beneficiaries soil to improve its agricultural productivity.