Carbon removal means capturing CO₂ from the air and storing it for good. This helps lessen the effects of climate change. Methods include direct air capture, reforestation, and ocean-based solutions. It is becoming a key strategy for companies aiming to reduce emissions.
Climeworks recently boosted the market by securing big deals with TikTok and Two Drifters Distillery. They will remove over 6,000 tons of CO₂. These partnerships show a growing need for carbon removal solutions. Companies are striving for their net-zero goals.
Second, a new trading platform, Crbn.trade, is set to launch a mobile app to make carbon credit trading accessible to individual investors.
How Climeworks is Scaling Carbon Removal for a Net Zero Future
Climeworks, based in Switzerland believes that achieving net zero needs a blend of effective carbon removal methods. They provide tailored solutions by blending nature-based methods like afforestation and biochar with advanced tech. This includes enhanced weathering, BECCS, and Direct Air Capture (DAC). This flexible approach helps businesses meet sustainability targets while adapting to changing regulations.
Climeworks plans to be the first DAC company to reach net zero. As per their sustainability report, it aims to scale to gigaton capacity by 2050 and targets net zero corporate emissions by 2030.
In 2019, Climeworks launched the first online platform for carbon removal. This helps people and businesses offset their emissions. Since then, over 21,000 individuals and many small and medium-sized companies have used it. Ten23 Health and 118Group recently joined forces. This reflects a rising interest in carbon removal within business sustainability plans.
2050 Carbon Removal Target
TikTok’s Multi-Year Carbon Removal Deal to Combat Emissions
The press release revealed TikTok has partnered with Climeworks to remove 5,100 tons of CO₂ by 2030. They will use Direct Air Capture (DAC), Biochar, and Reforestation to cut emissions. This effort follows industry best practices and supports TikTok’s sustainability goals.
Ian Gill, Global Head of Sustainability at TikTok, emphasized the company’s commitment:
“We carefully evaluated multiple providers to build a high-quality carbon removal portfolio. Climeworks met our highest standards and fits perfectly with our strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.”
TikTok’s short videos attract over 1 billion users, but its energy use comes at a cost. The platform’s heavy reliance on video streaming leads to an estimated 50 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions yearly—almost as much as Greece’s total emissions.
Unlike Meta and Google, TikTok has not disclosed detailed emissions data, raising concerns about transparency. A Greenly report shows one minute on TikTok produces 2.921 grams of CO₂e—slightly less than YouTube but more than Instagram. However, TikTok’s high daily usage makes its total emissions much higher.
Most of its emissions come from energy-hungry data centers, which process and stream content. While TikTok operates one renewable-powered data center in Norway, the rest rely on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas.
Two Drifters Distillery Strengthens Commitment
Two Drifters Distillery makes the UK’s most sustainable rum. They focus on cutting emissions first and remove only what they can’t avoid. To stay accountable, they created a self-funded carbon tax and pay Climeworks to permanently remove any CO₂ they emit. Since carbon removal is expensive, reducing emissions is their top priority.
Since 2020, Two Drifters has partnered with Climeworks to lower its carbon footprint. Now, they are expanding this partnership. By 2032, they aim to remove 1,067 more tons of CO₂ using Direct Air Capture (DAC).
Cutting Emissions at Every Step
- 100% electric distillery powered by renewable energy
- Electric vehicles for deliveries
- Lightweight UK-made glass bottles
- Closed-loop cooling system to save water
- Locally sourced labels to cut transport emissions
Through these efforts, Two Drifters has reduced its total carbon footprint to 1.20 kgCO₂e per bottle (cradle-to-grave)—far lower than the industry average of 2.95 kgCO₂e (cradle-to-gate). It then removes this CO₂ with Climeworks, making its footprint less than zero. The company boasts, “Every sip of its rum is carbon-negative, no matter where it’s enjoyed.”
Two Drifters stands out because it uniquely includes carbon removal costs in its production expenses. This strategy promotes sustainability while also boosting profitability.
Co-founder Dr. Russ Wakeham pointed out how this model affects the company’s long-term goals. He said,
“The more carbon we avoid through sustainable practices, the greater our margins become.”
Crbn.trade: Expanding Access to Carbon Markets
Quantum Commodity Intelligence reported that Crbn.trade, a new carbon trading platform is launching a mobile app.
This app will help individual investors trade carbon credits easily and allow users to buy, sell, and trade carbon credits like stock market trading.
Rene Velasquez, chief executive and founder of Crbn.trade said,
“Retail participation in equities helps to drive the market and is a massive component of liquidity. As investors have become more sophisticated, they’re more active. That liquidity helps not only in price discovery, but it helps market participants enter and exit at will,” he said.”
Thus, the whole purpose is to revive retail participation, offering a secure and regulated alternative.
Currently, the carbon market is dominated by large corporations and financial institutions. By simplifying access, Crbn.trade aims to attract small investors. The app’s testing phase begins on March 5 and users can register in advance.
Carbon Credits Portfolio
Crbn.trade tailors their portfolios based on different carbon removal methods, including, Direct Air Capture (DAC), Afforestation, Reforestation & Revegetation (ARR), Biochar, Regenerative Agriculture, Soil Carbon Sequestration, Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), Ocean Alkalinization and Fertilization, Blue Carbon, Agroforestry, and Improved Forestry Management
Financial Benefits and the Future of Carbon Removal
Experts consider carbon removal to be more than an environmental effort—it’s a smart financial move. As carbon pricing changes, companies with long-term agreements can avoid future cost spikes. A diverse carbon removal plan ensures reliable delivery and stable costs. Businesses now see it as a key strategy to stay profitable while meeting sustainability goals.
A report by Oliver Wyman, in partnership with the City of London Corporation and the UK Carbon Markets Forum, estimates that the global carbon removal market could grow to $100 billion per year by 2030-2035 with the right support.
However, despite rising interest and investment, the market still struggles to scale fast enough to meet climate goals. To attract more investment, demand needs to grow 3-5 times its current level.
As more companies see the benefits of carbon removal, demand for high-quality options will rise. Climeworks stands out by providing tailored solutions to help businesses meet net-zero targets. As financial gains align with sustainability, more companies will adopt carbon removal. This will make it a common practice across industries.