Turning CO2 Into Something Useful

Hey everyone,

The challenge of CO₂ emissions needs no introduction. We’re doing everything we can to reduce emissions, but it’s a monumental task. The world emitted 36.8 billion tons of CO₂ last year alone. What if, instead of just reducing CO₂, we could reuse it before it ever reaches the atmosphere?

It sounds futuristic, but companies are already capturing carbon and using technology to turn it into everyday products!

So how does this tech work, and who’s leading the way?

At the core of CO₂ “recycling” is a combination of carbon capture and conversion technology. Before CO₂ escapes into the air, a process called Direct Air Capture (DAC) can remove it from the atmosphere. Once captured, it’s then transformed into new materials. This typically happens through chemical reactions, and some companies use a process called 'electrochemical conversion,' which mimics photosynthesis to transform CO₂ into useful carbon-based molecules that can be used to create fuels, plastics, or building materials.

Here are just a few sectors where this technology is being used:

Aviation

Aviation is a super tough industry to decarbonise, but companies like AIRCO are turning captured CO₂ into jet fuel, massively reducing emissions from flights.

They’re already working with major airlines like Virgin Atlantic and JetBlue, so there is serious potential to scale this up and help transition one of the world’s most harmful industries into a more sustainable one.

A major blocker to full adoption is a current regulation that requires all sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to be mixed with 50% normal fuel before use. If this can be eventually removed, it’ll pave the way to jet flights powered by 100% sustainable fuel!

Manufacturing & Concrete

Concrete is everywhere, and that’s a problem. Due to its heavy reliance on fossil fuels, concrete production is responsible for a whopping 8% of all global emissions!

CarbonCure is trying to combat this by using technology to inject captured CO₂ into concrete, permanently storing it in the material. This locks the carbon away, but also helps to make the end product even stronger.

Fashion and more

I covered the wider fashion industry recently, and Twelve is one of the companies doing some awesome work in this space. They’re using the electrochemical conversion process I mentioned earlier to turn CO₂ into raw materials, then using those raw materials to replace fossil-fuel based plastics when creating clothing, shoes and sunglasses.

They’ve also expanded outside just fashion, and are working with brands like Mercedes Benz to create more sustainable interior components!

Having closed a $645M investment round last year, expect to see much more from Twelve over the next few years!

Vodka…?

By far the most abstract example, but one that’s a feat of engineering. AIRCO, the same company I mentioned earlier that produces sustainable jet fuel, sells a vodka known as “Air Vodka” that’s literally made from ethanol extracted from the air and CO₂.

It’s one of the world’s first carbon-negative spirits, quite a niche title! But it goes to show that the technology behind small-scale climate problems like alcohol production can be adopted across industries like aviation!

Recycling CO₂ can seem like a daunting task, and that’s understandable. Is it possible to scale up Direct Air Capture to the level we’d need as quickly as would be required to solve climate change? Almost certainly not. But that’s not the point.

Even if carbon recycling’s only impact is driving new technical innovations across industries, the long-term benefits could be huge!

Catch you next week!
James

P.S. - Quick favour, I’m planning out topics for the next few months, and would love your input! What industries or topics are you curious about? Let me know and I’ll research the most exciting sustainable tech solutions I can find to share with you!