Capturing the CO2: Why our biggest problem could also be the solution

Photo by Guy Bowden on Unsplash

Global actions to tackle climate change got some favorable wind to the sails, as the USA rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement in the beginning of 2021. Despite the growing concern in the international community and measures such as the EU Green Deal being taken, there is still a lot to be done in order to ensure a sustainable future.

Businesses have a key role in the transition. When renewable energy, sustainable solutions and circular economy break through, there are many winners. Not only is circular economy the best (and only!) solution for the environment, it also allows the company to better use invested raw materials and therefore improve efficiency by closing the loop.

A large part of the public discussion has been pointed towards the carbon emissions, coming especially from the industry and transportation. To be an engineer for a second, carbon dioxide is a gas that consists of one atom of carbon and two atoms of oxygen. These are combined in different combustion processes, as well as through cellular respiration. Majority of carbon dioxide comes from human activities. Carbon dioxide has a key impact on the greenhouse effect and therefore reduction of these emissions is on the top of agendas.

Photo: Unsplash

For a while now, the engineers, business R&Ds and the scientific community have built solutions out of CO2 emissions. This is again, a so-called win-win situation. Carbon dioxide can be captured from industrial processes and further serve as feedstock for many useful products and solve other challenges in the world. For instance…

• Carbon dioxide can be utilized into food production and carbonated drinks. For instance, Finnish VTT and writer’s university LUT have piloted some carbon based protein, where the carbon dioxide is taken from air with the support of water electrolysis process grows proteins in bioprocess. This could in longer run be a solution for the land use challenges of food production, reduction of animal based diets and also to respond to the growing global population
• Through chemical and biological transformation, carbon dioxide can be transformed into synthetic fuels, which could serve the sustainability needs of transportation
• Carbon dioxide can be developed into polymers and plastics, and therefore reducing the material technology dependence on petroleum-based solutions
• Furthermore, captured carbon dioxide can be developed as far as synthetic diamonds. Growing diamonds in a lab would solve many social and governmental problems of the jewelry industry.

These are just a few examples of how we can turn our biggest problem, carbon dioxide, into a key solution. However, despite the technological breakthroughs and scientific advancements, the field requires capital and scaling up.

The problem goes not only for carbon capturing and utilization technologies, but also to all green alternatives in the industrial landscape. Profitable investments with proven high returns are lucrative choices, and therefore investments in circular economy and sustainable opportunities should be understood that way. In the future, the circular economy transition will open major business opportunities to many sectors.

Article written by Iina Lappalainen — Helsinki Global Shaper