Alt Carbon is an Indian startup with the ambitious goal of removing 5 million tonnes of CO₂ by 2030, while simultaneously contributing to the resilience of local territories and communities.
At the core of Alt Carbon’s approach is Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), a technology that accelerates a natural geochemical process. In nature, carbon dioxide combines with rainwater and the silica in certain rocks to form stable compounds that end up in soils and oceans, where they are stored for thousands of years. Alt Carbon accelerates this process by spreading a patented mixture (Hari Mati) of organic inputs and silicate-rich soil additives, increasing crop yields and turning agricultural fields into permanent carbon sinks.
Alt Carbon’s first large-scale initiative is the Darjeeling Revival Project, a pioneering programme in the historic tea plantations of north-eastern India. Here, the humid climate and geographical conditions favour high rates of natural weathering. In addition to capturing CO₂, the project also helps regenerate degraded soils, increase agricultural yields and support local communities.
Alt Carbon generates high-quality CO₂ removal credits, verified through rigorous scientific standards, and sells them to companies. Last year, the company drew international attention by becoming the first Indian business to secure a carbon credit pre-purchase agreement through the Frontier platform, on behalf of companies including Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify and H&M.
The Bangalore-based startup has raised a 12-million-dollar seed round, the largest to date for an Indian climate tech company, to expand its operational capacity across the Global South.
Name:
Alt Carbon
Website:
Sector:
Enhanced Rock Weathering
Pros:
Creation and sale of carbon credits to businesses
Features:
Accelerated permanent carbon removal through ERW and agricultural soil improvement
Cover: Envato image