Graphyte, a carbon removal startup, has secured American Airlines as its inaugural customer.
Backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, US-based Graphyte’s carbon casting process takes biomas that has captured carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and converts it into carbon blocks, which are kept in an underground storage facility.
These biomas 'bricks' are wrapped in an environmentally safe polymer which will stop decomposition and therefore the carbon dioxide cannot be released. This, like other carbon removal processes, permanently removes CO2 from the atmosphere.
American Airlines has invested into the permanent removal of 10,000 tonnes of carbon, which will be processed using the carbon casting technology by early 2025.
Barclay Rogers, CEO of Graphyte said: “This is a landmark agreement for both Graphyte and American Airlines. It demonstrates the growing demand for affordable and scalable high-quality carbon removal credits and the ability of carbon casting technology to make a significant impact in the fight against climate change in the very near term.”
Most airlines’ focus has been to reduce emissions within their operations — for example, through the purchase of more efficient aircraft and low carbon sustainable aviation fuel — but with the Graphyte partnership American has added carbon removal as a means to eliminate residual emissions.
Jill Blickstein, chief sustainability officer at American said: “American is focused on accelerating new low-carbon technologies to reduce aviation’s climate impact. Hard to abate industries like aviation will need high-quality, permanent, affordable and scalable carbon credits — including removals — to achieve our emissions reduction goals. We are excited to work with Graphyte to help them scale their important new technology.”