Puro.earth and Nasdaq Reach a Million-Tonne Carbon Removal Milestone - What’s Next?

Puro.earth just passed something big. The carbon credit platform, which got its start back in 2018 and joined the Nasdaq family in 2021, has now issued over 1 million verified carbon removal certificates. Each certificate represents a tonne of CO₂ pulled from the atmosphere and stored for at least 100 years.

It took five years to hit the halfway point—500,000 CO₂ Removal Certificates (CORCs)—but just one more to double it. Now, Puro.earth says it's set to hit the next million by the first half of 2026.

That’s not just steady progress. That’s momentum.

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How the system works

Puro.earth operates on a pretty straightforward model. The company connects buyers—usually businesses looking to offset emissions—with suppliers that remove carbon from the atmosphere using durable, verifiable methods. Those suppliers then get certified through Puro.earth and receive CORCs, which are logged into the Puro Registry.

Companies can then purchase those CORCs to counterbalance their own carbon footprints.

What’s key here is permanence. To get certified, the CO₂ must be stored for at least 100 years. That’s a long game—one that focuses more on lasting impact than short-term fixes.

What’s driving this growth?

A few things. First, there’s a real shift in how companies are thinking about carbon removal. More are moving beyond just “offsetting” emissions and looking for actual removal, especially in sectors like steel, concrete, aviation, and shipping—places where emissions are hard to avoid.

Puro.earth credits companies like Microsoft, Google, and members of the Frontier Buyers initiative for helping fuel early growth. These organizations helped show that supporting durable carbon removal was doable—and worth it.

"Reaching one million of CO₂ removals is just the beginning," said Jan-Willem Bode, President of Puro.earth. "Our goal is to continue to use our expertise and track record to deliver proven, scalable and high-quality carbon removal credits."

That next million? Already in sight.

The methods that matter

Two technologies stand out in Puro.earth’s registry: Geologically Stored Carbon and Biochar. Each accounts for more than 34% of all credits issued.

Geologically Stored Carbon includes solutions like Direct Air Capture Carbon and Storage (DACCS) and Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). These approaches physically store CO₂ underground or in durable materials, keeping it locked away for centuries.

Biochar, on the other hand, turns waste biomass into a stable form of carbon that can be used to enrich soil. It's not just a removal tool—it’s also a boost for sustainable agriculture.

These aren't just trendy technologies. They're working.

Where it's happening

Right now, the U.S. leads the way, accounting for 45% of all CORC issuances. It's a wide margin, with Finland (9.9%), Bolivia (9.6%), and Brazil (9.2%) trailing behind. But other countries like Austria, Norway, and the UK are starting to make moves, too.

So it’s global—but still a little U.S.-heavy. That might shift as more regions adopt policy and infrastructure to support carbon removal.

Pioneers pushing the movement

The growth of the CORC market hasn’t happened in a vacuum. It’s been pushed forward by a mix of innovators, risk-takers, and early adopters.

"We want to thank the key players that have come together to build the CDR market with us," said Antti Vihavainen, Vice Chairman of Puro.earth. "The courageous investors who ventured into the unknown, the pioneering entrepreneurs who chose innovation over business-as-usual, and the forward-thinking buyers whose commitments make everything move."

These aren’t just niceties. This mix of people and companies actually made the market happen.

Nasdaq's quiet but powerful role

It’s easy to forget that Nasdaq is behind all of this. The financial giant bought Puro.earth in 2021. It was a clear signal that carbon removal wasn’t just a climate issue—it was a market.

That bet has paid off.

Nasdaq’s backing helped Puro.earth grow the infrastructure and credibility needed to scale. And by supporting a registry with high standards, Nasdaq has helped set the tone for what “good” carbon removal should look like.

What this means going forward

This milestone is just one part of a much larger trend: companies aren’t waiting for perfect solutions. They’re backing the ones that exist now — and helping improve them over time.

The more reliable and transparent the system, the more likely businesses are to get involved. And that’s exactly where Puro.earth is headed.

It’s not about hype. It’s about quiet results. And now that the first million is in the books, the pressure’s on to keep it going.

Final thoughts

Carbon removal isn’t science fiction anymore. It’s here, it’s happening, and it’s starting to scale. Platforms like Puro.earth are proof of that—especially when backed by serious players like Nasdaq and supported by companies willing to pay for real, durable impact.

They’ve hit 1 million tonnes. The next million’s already on its way.

Let’s see who’s paying attention.