Turning plant waste into carbon-sequestering bricks to combat climate change

Graphyte, a startup supported by Bill Gates, aims to fight climate change by burying carbon-sequestering bricks made from plant waste deep underground.

Ramin Skibba reports for Undark Magazine.


In short:

  • Graphyte has developed a method to create carbon-sequestering bricks from plant waste, which are then buried to trap carbon dioxide.
  • The company's goal is to store 50,000 tons of carbon annually, though experts question if this scale is sufficient to impact global emissions.
  • The carbon removal industry faces challenges such as scalability, cost, and potential ethical concerns about diverting focus from emission reduction.

Key quote:

“I’m worried about our scale of deployment. I think we need to get serious fast.”

— Barclay Rogers, CEO of Graphyte

Why this matters:

Carbon removal technologies are important, as cutting emissions alone may not be enough to avoid catastrophic climate impacts. Innovative solutions like Graphyte’s bricks could play a significant role if they can scale effectively and economically.

A river flowing under a steel bridge

Opinion: The experience of climate change captures dangerous shift better than numbers

A potential consequence of climate change is lowered expectations for environmental quality that lead to unambitious conservation programs.
A red and black road sign warning of landslide danger

Collapsing mountains in Alaska are causing massive tsunamis

Dangerous landslide-triggered tsunamis linked to receding glaciers — which are shrinking globally due to climate change — are on the rise in Alaska.
A hand adjusting the temperature on a wall thermostat

The surprising upside of asking people to use less energy

New research complicates the long-held belief that climate policy is a trade-off between cost and carbon, adding a third factor: it might make daily life better, too.
A technician working on a heat pump outside a house

The US may be hitting a tipping point for heat pumps

In the first quarter of this year, heat pump sales beat fossil-fuel furnaces by 32 percent. Here's what makes the appliance so powerful.
An overhead view of a table with a newspaper, a tablet, and a laptop on it

Most UK media reports on June heatwave failed to mention climate crisis

Exclusive: An analysis of nearly 2,500 articles finds almost three-quarters made no reference to global heating.

Closeup portrait of US Senator Lindsay Graham from 11/13/2017
Credit: Wollwerth Imagery/BigStock Photo ID: 222558136

Part of Lindsey Graham’s legacy: Climate negotiator

The South Carolina Republican was once a member of a group looking for a deal on bipartisan climate legislation.

Rock formations at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, U.S. 89, Kanab, Utah

Trump carves deeper into Utah monument protections

The president signed orders shrinking the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, reducing them more than he did in a similar move in 2017.

From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.