The international standardization of biocarbon has entered a decisive new phase. Following the landmark decision in Vienna in 2024, pyrogenic biocarbon is now officially part of the scope of ISO Technical Committee 238, the global committee responsible for solid biofuels. This expansion reflects the rapid evolution of biomass-based carbon products and the growing need for globally coherent definitions, quality parameters, and safety frameworks.
During the ISO TC 238 meetings and the dedicated technical workshop held in Tokyo, IBTC actively contributed to advancing this work and ensuring that industrial realities are integrated into the emerging standards.
Defining the Foundation: Terminology for the Biocarbon Sector
One of the earliest and most crucial steps in the standardization process is the establishment of clear, widely accepted terminology.
ISO TC 238 is currently developing definitions for essential terms such as but not limited to:
- Biochar
- Biocarbon
- BET surface area
A key insight emerging from the discussions is the recognition that these terms are already used extensively across industries. For this reason, the committee is leaning toward definitions grounded in real-world applications, rather than purely technical descriptors. This approach avoids conflicts with industry practice and strengthens acceptance in global markets. These developments are fully aligned with IBTC’s long-standing work on productnaming and- classification, providing coherence between industry, standards, and policy. Biocarbon as umbrella term for the materials employed in processing or energy with potentially some sub terms like torrefied biomass, Biochar as term for all carbonized biomass in sequestration.
New Momentum in Safety Standardization
As biocarbon moves into industrial scale, its unique handling and safety characteristics have become increasingly visible. Unlike wood pellets pyrogenic biocarbon exhibits different behaviours in storage, transport, and industrial use.
Recognizing this, ISO TC 238/WG 7 “Safety of Solid Biofuels” has initiated the creation of new workstreams dedicated to biocarbon safety.
The working group agreed that:
- Existing pellet standards cannot simply be transferred to biocarbon
- Specific safety guidelines are necessary for handling, storage, and occupational protection
- Previous ISO and EU projects offer valuable starting points
- Significant new research and data collection will be required
This marks a significant step toward establishing a robust safety framework that will underpin industrial and commercial deployment across global markets.
Targeted Technical Dialogue in Tokyo
As part of the ISO meetings, IBTC co-organized a special technical workshop in Tokyo with a select group of Japanese sector experts.
Led by ISO specialists Maurice Douek, Martin Englisch, and Chris Wiberg, the workshop focused on:
- Water sorption and durability of agglomerated pyrogenic biocarbon
- Methodologies for quality determination
- Insights from the ISO standardization process
- Technical requirements and expectations from Japanese industry
The exchange was highly productive and contributed valuable perspectives that will feed into ongoing ISO TC 238 developments.
IBTC’s Role Going Forward
The inclusion of pyrogenic biocarbon in ISO TC 238 represents a milestone for the global industry. With terminology, safety, and methodological work now progressing across the committee, the coming years will shape the foundations of international biocarbon markets.
IBTC will continue to play an active role by:
- Representing industrial needs within ISO
- Supporting alignment between terminology, regulation, and commercial practice
- Driving awareness of new requirements in safety and quality
- Ensuring that standards support scalable, sustainable deployment of Circular Biocarbon
As the sector moves from emerging technology to industrial adoption, international standards will be essential for market confidence, cross-border trade, procurement, project finance and regulatory recognition.
