New in 2026

Focus day: Biochar in materials

9 JUNE

Date

Reallabor Fassfabrik

Location

Biochar Europe (BCE) is offering a dedicated showcase for the most promising, scalable, and high-impact materials emerging from our community. If you’re working on a product that can transform the construction sector, we want to highlight your work!

‍This Focus Day is designed to accelerate the integration of biochar within the construction sector. The programme bridges policy, technical expertise, and real-world implementation, bringing biochar innovators and industry leaders together in a focused discussion.

For all biochar innovators in the built environment!

Participants can expect:

- An immersive material showcase and exhibition
- Expert-led panel sessions
- Networking opportunities across the value chain
- A keynote address setting direction for the sector

‍The intended audience spans the full built environment ecosystem:

- Planners, designers and architects
- Construction companies
- Cement, concrete, asphalt and other building material companies
- Public building contractors
- Policymakers engaged in the transition to green industry
- Biochar material producers

Agenda

Setup and Registration

9:00 - 10:00

10:00 - 10:05

Opening Remarks

Matt Mallory

‍
Lead Materials Working Group
Biochar Europe (BCE)

10:05 - 10:30

Opening Keynote

‍

Thomas Romm

Architect and Managing Director

forschen planen bauen

‍

A leading expert in circular economy for construction, pioneering urban mining, material reuse, and circular economy strategies through initiatives like BauKarussell – a socio-economic network for building material re-use. As project leader of the RCC2 initiative, he developed practical solutions for implementing climate-neutral, biochar-enhanced concrete on real construction sites – achieving up to 80% CO₂ reduction while proving that high-performance building materials can transform concrete from a climate burden into an active carbon sink.

10:30 - 11:30

From Pilot to Practice: Milestone Projects in Biochar Concrete (Part 1)

Presentation + Panel

Hoang Anh Nguyen

Chief Growth and Communications Officer

ecoLocked

Moderator

Dr. Thorsten Opel

Innovation Manager

Markgraf

Julia and Tobias Ilg

CEO

EnergieWerk Ilg GmbH

11:30 - 12:15

How to Benefit from Biochar Concrete: Building Codes and the Voluntary Carbon Market

Presentation Panel

Nikolaus Wohlgemuth

Head of CDR Infrastructure & New Pathways

Carbonfuture

Robin Werren

Product Manager Construction

Carbon Standards International

12:15 - 12:30

Company Introductions

Short Presentations

CarStorCon

EcoLocked

Holcim

Natuerlich Bauen

Lunch, Product Showcase & Networking

12:30 - 14:00

14:00 - 14:30

Beyond Concrete - Biochar in More Construction Materials

Presentations

Thomas Mathis

Project Manager

Natuerlich Bauen

Thorsten Groeneveld

CEO

CarStorCon® Technologies

Bart Tambuyser

Managing Director

Carboganics

14:30 - 15:15

Accounting for Biochar Carbon Removals in Environmental Product Declarations and the Regulatory Space

Panel Discussion

Asfand Yar Munir

Manager - LCA and EPD Services

Holcim

Riccardo Ambrosini

Impact Manager

ecoLocked

Sebastiaan Luchies

Sustainability and Building Regulations Specialist

TBI

Henrike Roese

PR & Marketing

CarStorCon® Technologies

Moderator

15:30 - 16:30

From Pilot to Practice: Milestone Projects in Biochar Concrete (Part 2)

Presentation + Panel

Niki Loonen

Sustainable Concrete Advisor

TBI

Christian Wurzer

‍Senior Biochar Research Engineer
UK Biochar Research Centre

16:30 - 16:55

Jasen Gauld

National Readymix Product Development Director

Holcim

‍

An experienced leader in the construction materials and aggregates sector, with expertise in ready-mixed concrete (RMX) technology, product innovation, and sustainable solutions. Brings a strong track record of driving commercial growth, improving operational performance, and leading strategic business development initiatives across complex markets. Combines technical knowledge with commercial acumen to deliver value through stakeholder engagement, contract negotiation, and capital planning. Passionate about reducing embodied carbon in the built environment, with a focus on advancing low-carbon and carbon-storing concrete technologies. A Fellow of the Institute of Concrete Technology, with proven experience leading cross-functional teams to deliver high-performance, sustainable construction solutions at scale.

16:55 - 17:10

Final Notes from Biochar Europe

Recap & Wrap-up

Harald Bier

‍

Secretary General

Biochar Europe (BCE)

‍

Evening Mixer

17:10 - 19:00

Focus day: Biochar in materials

9 JUNE

Reallabor Fassfabrik

Biochar Europe (BCE) is offering a dedicated showcase for the most promising, scalable, and high-impact materials emerging from our community. If you’re working on a product that can transform the construction sector, we want to highlight your work!

For all biochar innovators in the built environment!

Participants can expect:

‍The intended audience spans the full built environment ecosystem:

Agenda

Matt Mallory

Thomas Romm

Hoang Anh Nguyen

Dr. Thorsten Opel

Julia and Tobias Ilg

Nikolaus Wohlgemuth

Robin Werren

CarStorCon

EcoLocked

Holcim

Natuerlich Bauen

Thomas Mathis

Thorsten Groeneveld

Bart Tambuyser

Asfand Yar Munir

Riccardo Ambrosini

Sebastiaan Luchies

Henrike Roese

Niki Loonen

Christian Wurzer

Jasen Gauld

Harald Bier

‍

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