Carbon and the biosphere:

Carbon is the element of life.

The natural carbon cycle starts when plants transform CO₂ from the atmosphere. Plants use solar energy and, in the course of photosynthesis, split CO₂, release oxygen and generate carbon compounds. These carbon compounds serve as food for animals and humans, who utilise it to grow, stay healthy, heal and generate energy. For the latter, the carbon compounds react with the oxygen previously released by the plants to form CO₂. In other words, it is impossible for animals and humans to survive without plants and oxygen, and plants cannot live without the sun and CO₂. Geology, fundamental natural laws and state-of-the-art computer models reveal that the balance between CO₂, oxygen and the solar irradiation determines the composition of the biosphere and is crucial for the preservation of Earth as a habitat for any higher life form, especially humans.

Human activities disrupt the natural carbon cycle:

The natural carbon cycle is considerably disturbed by human activities. Presently, carbon that was removed from the atmosphere 300 million years ago and stored underground as oil, natural gas, or coal (fossilised carbon and carbon compounds) serves as the main source of energy and raw materials for industrial production. As a consequence, the CO₂ liberation rate significantly exceeds plants’ capabilities to capture CO₂, causing what is referred to as the ‘greenhouse gas effect’. Not only is humankind increasing fossilised carbon emission; as more and more forests are being destroyed and an increasing number of surfaces are being sealed, humans are also reducing the capability of vegetation to store CO₂.

The production and fixation of CO₂ are no longer in equilibrium and the CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere is steadily increasing. The devastating consequences for the climate and the biosphere are already apparent.

Energy source:

Many of the human-made CO₂ emissions stem from the incineration of fossilised carbon (coal) and carbon compounds (natural gas and mineral oil) to generate energy, which humans use in mobility, logistics, industry and homes. Thus, specifically the energy stored in fossilised carbon is exploited. In all of these sectors, any developments towards generating renewable energy in combination with energy carriers such as batteries or hydrogen will pave the way for a CO₂-neutral future.

Material goods:

In addition to the use of carbonaceous feedstock as energy source, carbon is of utmost importance as raw material in the production of nearly all goods on the market. Carbon forms compounds that have unique properties and applications that no other element offers. As such, often the substitution of carbon compounds by another raw material is simply not possible. For example, the assembly of complex molecules and a panoply of robust polymers is only possible with carbon. Medicines, diagnostics, clothing, packaging materials, and shampoos, but also lubricants and adhesives for high-tech applications could not be produced and assembled without carbon.

Circularity of material goods:

At present, many carbon containing goods are produced from fossil reserves. After the goods reach the end of their useful life, they are incinerated or degraded in sewage treatment plants or landfills, releasing the carbon they contain into the atmosphere as CO₂ in the process. While CO₂ neutrality is also possible in this field, developing strategies is significantly more demanding than for carbon in the energy sector.

We believe that the use of raw materials synthesised from CO₂ captured from the atmosphere will enable us to reach this goal. Suitable sources include plant materials or materials synthesised from highly concentrated gaseous carbon containing waste streams generated by manufacturing activities or waste incineration, for example.