Boeing just inked a deal with climate startup Charm Industrial to scrub 100,000 metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere - one of the aerospace giant's biggest sustainability bets yet. While aviation struggles with emissions cuts, Boeing's turning to underground carbon burial as a cheaper alternative to sustainable fuels. The move signals how major airlines are hedging their climate commitments with emerging removal technologies rather than waiting for green jet fuel to scale.
Boeing just made its biggest climate tech bet yet, signing with startup Charm Industrial to remove 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The partnership, first reported by Axios, represents a major shift in how aerospace giants are tackling their carbon problem.
Charm's approach sounds almost alchemical - the startup collects agricultural and forestry waste, then uses heat to transform it into what they call "bio-oil," essentially a messy cocktail of hydrocarbons. But here's where it gets interesting: instead of burning this bio-oil, Charm injects it deep underground, including into depleted oil wells. Once buried, it stays there for centuries, effectively locking away carbon that would otherwise decompose and release CO2.
The timing isn't coincidental. Aviation has hit a wall when it comes to cutting emissions. While other industries have found paths to electrification or hydrogen, commercial aircraft remain stubbornly dependent on liquid fuels. "Carbon removal has emerged as a contender given that it has the potential to cost less than transitioning to sustainable aviation fuels," according to industry analysis.
The numbers tell the story of aviation's climate challenge. By 2050, the industry will need to spend at least $60 billion on carbon offsets to reach net zero emissions. That's created a massive market opportunity for companies like Charm, which can sell carbon removal credits to airlines desperate for climate solutions.
Charm's technology has already proven it can scale. Two years ago, the startup sold 112,000 carbon removal credits to Frontier, an advanced market commitment backed by major tech companies, for $53 million - roughly $470 per metric ton. But that price point needs to drop dramatically for widespread adoption. Charm has publicly stated its goal of bringing costs down to about $50 per metric ton, a 90% reduction that would make carbon removal competitive with other climate solutions.
