October 2026
The market for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) continues to evolve. But how easy is it for organizations to actually purchase carbon removal credits? What challenges arise when comparing different offers, and what do we need to make CDR accessible to a broader range of buyers in the future?
The “Ökologische Moderne” team at the Centre for Liberal Modernity (LibMod) conducted an interesting experiment, taking on the perspective of a buyer themselves. With a budget of approximately €4,000, the team wanted to purchase permanent carbon removal credits to offset part of their own emissions.
The experiment revealed a surprising finding: the actual purchase was not the main obstacle, but rather the steps leading up to it. In particular, the first step, calculating the organization’s carbon footprint, proved challenging due to missing data and the considerable efforts required for emissions accounting. To simplify the process, the team therefore decided to base the purchase volume on their budget instead.
Ultimately, the team selected a German biochar project by our member CarStorCon, in which carbon is stored long-term in building materials. LibMod purchased a total of 19 tonnes of carbon removal for €4,069.80. The actual purchasing process was then quick and straightforward, completed through the provider’s online shop.
The experiment clearly demonstrates that purchasing carbon removal credits is already relatively straightforward today. To support the broader scale-up of the CDR market, easier access to emissions data, more transparent and comparable offers, and lower barriers to entry for smaller organizations are therefore essential.
Read the full experience report: Warum CO₂-Entnahme noch kein Massenmarkt ist: Ein Selbstversuch mit überraschendem Ergebnis