Puro.earth supports Zurich Insurance Group through carbon removal agreements

Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is a leading global multi-line insurer that has signed pre-purchase agreements with carbon removal projects selected from the Puro.earth marketplace. The three selected high-quality carbon removal projects will issue CO2 Removal Certificates (CORCs) under the Puro Standard and will assist Zurich achieve net-zero emissions in its operations by 2030 instead of 2050.

Zurich's long term pre-purchase agreements are instrumental to the start of operations for two projects, in Puerto Rico and Australia, and provide support to help scale a third project in the United States. Also, an innovative new methodology, Woody Biomass Burial, is included in the portfolio, pioneering a scalable carbon removal approach.

“Navigating the nascent carbon removal market can feel overwhelming. Puro.earth’s work is important to give the market confidence about independently vetted and monitored, high quality projects, that provide credible transparency into claims of permanence. Direct access to their network of existing and potential future removal solutions speeds up relationship opportunities, which has helped us launch our path to net-zero emissions in operations with a diversified portfolio”, said Anja-Lea Fischer, Head of Operational Sustainability at Zurich Insurance Group.

"Zurich acts as a great example by actively contributing to the expansion of carbon removal capacity. Their open-minded approach to new, innovative ways of removing CO2 from the atmosphere is essential since there is no simple solution for solving the climate crisis,” said Antti Vihavainen, CEO of Puro.earth.

The chosen carbon removal suppliers are InterEarth, BioRestorative Ideas and Oregon Biochar.

Pioneering innovations in engineered carbon removal

InterEarth is a project that delivers a game-changing high-quality carbon dioxide removal solution, woody biomass burial. The project grows a multi-species selection of highly adapted coppicing woody plants on low rainfall, and previously cleared farmland in Australia. Periodically, the plants are trimmed of their above-ground biomass and the harvested biomass is buried and encapsulated in dedicated subterranean chambers, engineered to close all pathways for decomposition providing safe long-term storage. The result is scalable, affordable, durable, carbon dioxide removal with excellent co-benefits. The pre-purchase agreement from Zurich enables the first field trials of the project, raising of value to the company and furthering the commercialization of this new climate technology.

Sequestering carbon and increasing flood resilience in Puerto Rico

Bamboo management is a challenge in Puerto Rico as the invasive non-native plant causes blockages in rivers, leading to floods. The BioRestorative Ideas project aims to transform about 7,000 tons of waste bamboo — which otherwise would be burnt — into 3,000 tons of biochar annually. This will bring multiple benefits such as producing biochar-based soil improvers for crops and environmental remediation products. The income from CORCs will ensure the biochar plant can be built. The project will also refurbish the surroundings of the Eureka sugarcane historical hacienda, which is important cultural heritage, and will create about 20 high-quality local jobs in the Southwest of the island, the region with most unemployment.

Climate change mitigation while decreasing forest fire risks in the northwest USA

Oregon Biochar produces a high-carbon and high surface area biochar (Rogue Biochar) from local agricultural and forestry waste biomass sourced in the Northwest USA, including fire hazard biomass and forest fire burnt wood. By taking on such biomass to make biochar, they can effectively contribute to move forest fire fuel away from critical zones, therefore decreasing the fire risk in the region. The additional income from CORCs will allow them to update equipment, increase capacity and make biochar more accessible in agricultural applications that could historically not afford biochar.

Are you ready to include science-based carbon removal in your climate actions? Welcome to learn more about our Carbon Removal Suppliers and don't hesitate to book a meeting or contact us.