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these uses have been documented in many (USDA) and the International Biochar biochar seal meets the IBI Biochar
different preindustrial cultures. Institute’s (IBI) certifications. This ensures Standards for material characteristics and
the product is safe for public use. passes screening tests for certain potential
In the modern world, the uses multiply: toxicants.
adsorber in functional clothing, insulation The USDA-Certified Biobased Product
in the building industry, as carbon label displays a product’s biobased More about the certification process can be
electrodes in super-capacitors for energy content, which is the portion of a product found at:
storage, food packaging, wastewater that comes from a renewable source, https://ariescleanenergy.com/press-release-
treatment, air cleaning, silage agent or such as plant, animal, marine, or forestry aries-green-biochar-certified-by-usda-and-
feed supplement. This link includes the feedstocks. Aries GREEN™ is 96 percent the-international-biochar-institute/
Journal’s list of 55 uses for biochar. https:// carbon. Utilizing renewable, biobased
www.biochar-journal.org/en/ct/2 materials displaces the need for non- For purchase of Aries GREEN™ Biochar:
Ready to try some biochar? renewable petroleum-based chemicals. https://ariescleanenergy.com/biochar/
biochar-sales/
Many companies manufacture and The USDA says biobased products,
sell biochar in the marketplace. All have through petroleum displacement, have Other sources for personal research include
similar properties and will do a good job. played an increasingly important role but are not limited to the following:
Not all biochar is created equal. Some are in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
made from wood and some are a mixture that exacerbate global climate change. International Biochar Institute https://
of other products. Be sure and educate Biobased products are cost-comparative, biochar-international.org/biochar/
yourself before you make a purchase. readily available, and perform as well
as or better than their conventional US Biochar Institute https://biochar-us.org/
Aries GREEN™ Biochar is a byproduct counterparts. biochar-introduction
made at an Aries downdraft gasification
plant from waste wood that is being A primary goal of the IBI Biochar Utah State University https://extension.usu.
diverted from landfills. Gasification Certification Program is to create edu/dirtdiggersdigest/2018/what-is-biochar
is a thermo-chemical process that is consumer and marketplace confidence
environmentally safe and generates green and quality assurance around biochar Colorado State University https://extension.
power behind the meter. by creating a standardized, recognized colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/
system to certify biochar that meets the biochar-in-colorado-0-509/
The Aries biochar is tested by third- IBI Biochar Standards.
party labs for certification purposes. Aries University of Tennessee Institute of
GREEN™ Biochar has earned both the The biochar community recognizes IBI Agriculture https://extension.tennessee.edu/
United States Department of Agriculture as a credible brand. Buyers are assured publications/Documents/W829.pdf
that biochar with the IBI Certified™
For more information on the USDA
program, https://www.biopreferred.gov
View online at tnpublicworks.com 23
