• Altitude has committed to procuring more than 360,000 tonnes of CO₂ Removal Certificates from biochar facilities in India and the Philippines, with first deliveries from 2026.
• The credits will be issued on Puro.earth or equivalent registries, reinforcing traceability and high-integrity standards in the engineered carbon removal market.
• The partnership highlights Asia’s growing role in scalable carbon removal linked to waste management, rural value creation, and long-duration climate mitigation.
In Manila and New Delhi, agricultural residues that once posed disposal and emissions challenges are being positioned as long-term carbon sinks. Altitude, a carbon removal financier focused on engineered and durable solutions, has committed to procuring more than 360,000 tonnes of CO₂ Removal Certificates from biochar facilities developed by Alcom in the Philippines and India. The agreement expands Altitude’s supply of high-integrity carbon dioxide removal while accelerating deployment of biochar infrastructure across two of Asia’s most emissions-intensive growth markets.
The CO₂ Removal Certificates, or CORCs, will be issued through Puro.earth or equivalent registries, anchoring the volumes in third-party verification frameworks that are increasingly scrutinised by corporates, investors, and regulators. First deliveries are expected to begin in 2026, aligning with the growing pipeline of corporate net zero and residual emissions strategies coming into force later this decade.
Scaling Biochar As A Durable CDR Pathway
The facilities rely on advanced pyrolysis technology to convert agricultural waste into biochar, a stable, carbon-rich material that can lock carbon into soils for centuries. In addition to permanent carbon removal, the process delivers co-benefits through improved soil health, reduced waste burning, and local supply chain development.
The projects are designed to operate under strict sustainability and verification standards, addressing ongoing concerns in voluntary carbon markets around permanence, additionality, and monitoring. Biochar has emerged as one of the most mature engineered carbon removal pathways, particularly attractive to buyers seeking measurable, long-duration outcomes without the energy intensity associated with some industrial capture technologies.
Altitude said the agreement strengthens its ability to supply corporates with verified, traceable removals at scale, while supporting climate-aligned infrastructure in emerging markets where mitigation finance remains constrained.
“This agreement with Alcom is another step in a collaborative partnership scaling up CDR,” said Daniel Benjamin Schulz, CEO of Altitude. “By sourcing CORCs from high-quality biochar projects in the Philippines and India, we contribute to critical waste management and growth in those highly important regions.”
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Asia’s Growing Role In Carbon Removal Supply
India and the Philippines sit at the intersection of rising emissions, agricultural intensity, and increasing exposure to climate risk. Agricultural residues are often burned or left to decompose, releasing methane and particulate pollution. Biochar facilities offer an alternative pathway that aligns climate mitigation with local economic value creation.
Alcom’s leadership framed the partnership as a catalyst for accelerating high-quality carbon removal capacity in the region. Founder and CEO Prateek Tiwari and Director of Carbon Siddharth Kaul said the agreement advances long-term climate outcomes while embedding economic benefits in local communities. They emphasised that scaling biochar infrastructure can support farmers, reduce open burning, and create durable climate assets suitable for global buyers.
The projects also reflect a broader shift among carbon removal developers toward emerging markets, where feedstock availability, land-use dynamics, and cost structures can support scalable deployment, provided governance and verification frameworks are robust.
Governance, Markets, And Buyer Implications
For C-suite executives and investors, the deal highlights several structural trends reshaping the carbon removal market. First, high-integrity supply remains constrained, particularly for durable removals that meet evolving corporate climate claims standards. Securing forward volumes years ahead of delivery is becoming a strategic necessity rather than an optional hedge.
Second, registry choice and verification rigor are now central to procurement decisions. As regulators in Europe, North America, and Asia tighten scrutiny of voluntary climate claims, credits backed by established methodologies and transparent monitoring are increasingly favoured.
Finally, the geographic diversification of carbon removal supply is emerging as both an opportunity and a risk consideration. Projects in Asia can offer scale and cost advantages, but they also require careful attention to governance, land use, and community engagement to maintain credibility.
As global climate frameworks place greater emphasis on removals to balance hard-to-abate emissions, partnerships like Altitude’s with Alcom illustrate how engineered carbon removal is moving beyond pilot scale. By linking durable climate outcomes with waste management and regional development in India and the Philippines, the agreement positions biochar as a pragmatic component of the next phase of global decarbonization.
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