Fort Worth-based American Airlines has signed a deal with a carbon dioxide removal startup named Graphyte, a company that turns waste byproducts into carbon-dense blocks.
American, the first commercial customer for the startup, purchased 10,000 tons of permanent carbon removal to be delivered by early 2025. Graphyte is backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a firm founded by Bill Gates, and has a process called “carbon casting” which permanently removes and stores carbon dioxide using smaller amounts of energy at a lower cost.
The process takes biomass byproducts, like crop and wood residue, and dries it to prevent decomposition, which then is converted into carbon-dense blocks. These blocks are wrapped in a polymer barrier and monitored in a storage facility.
“This is a landmark agreement for both Graphyte and American Airlines,” said Barclay Rogers, CEO of Graphyte in a release. “It demonstrates the growing demand for affordable and scalable high-quality carbon removal credits and the ability of carbon casting technology to make a significant impact in the fight against climate change in the very near term.”
Fort Worth-based American has a goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The carrier has said one of the ways it will achieve these goals is by replacing older aircraft with newer, more sustainable models.
“American is focused on accelerating new low-carbon technologies to reduce aviation’s climate impact,” said Jill Blickstein, chief sustainability officer at American Airlines in a release. “Hard to abate industries like aviation will need high-quality, permanent, affordable and scalable carbon credits — including removals — to achieve our emissions reduction goals. We are excited to work with Graphyte to help them scale their important new technology.”
The first carbon casting will take place in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
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