Interview with Lisa Braune, Head of Carbon Removal at neustark

Get to know more about neustark's carbon dioxide removal process, the technology and our CDR certificates

Lisa Braune, our Head of Carbon Removal, is passionate about contributing to a better world by removing CO₂ from the atmosphere. At neustark, she leads the certification of climate projects to align with established standards and manages the sales of CDR certificates. With a deep understanding of the field, Lisa helps businesses with ambitious climate targets translate their climate strategy into impactful action.

neustark: Lisa, could you start by explaining which industries neustark primarily works with?

Lisa: Of course. Neustark operates in two main industries. The first is the mineral waste and concrete recycling sector, and the second is the biogas industry. Neustark turns the world's largest waste stream into a carbon sink. We’ve created and deployed a solution that binds CO₂ in mineral waste, such as demolished concrete aggregate, through mineralization – thus permanently storing it and removing the CO₂ from the atmosphere. This means that we work with biogas plants to source our CO₂, and with concrete recyclers to store it. In summary, we permanently remove CO₂ and thus generate negative emissions. Companies with ambitious climate strategies on their journey to net zero, then acquire our high-quality carbon dioxide removal (CDR) services.

Neustark is the first company to have shown in practice that permanent CO₂ storage via mineralization in demolished concrete is both commercially and ecologically viable.

neustark: How does neustark capture and remove the CO₂?

Lisa: To capture the CO₂, we work with biogas plants that separate CO₂ from methane using a process called biogas upgrading. Once our technology is installed at the plant, neustark captures and liquefies the highly pure CO₂ offgas. We then transport it to nearby sites where we store the CO₂. We partner with construction recyclers to harbor our mineralization technology at their plants, where we inject the CO₂ into recycled materials, such as finely crushed demolition concrete granules. Through the accelerated mineralization process that our technology triggers, the CO₂ then turns into limestone and is bound to the demolition concrete granules’ pores and surface. Et voilà, the CO₂ is stored permanently, and the risk of reversal is slim to none.

neustark: Why is this approach important in the bigger picture of climate action?

Lisa: To achieve the 1.5°C goal, emissions need to be reduced rapidly this decade, and we need to reach net zero by 2050. But even if we make great progress in reducing emissions, we will still be left with some. Durable carbon removals like ours are essential for addressing residual and historic emissions. It’s about reducing to the max, and then responsibly removing the rest.

neustark: How does neustark's business model work?

Lisa: We work with biogas plants to capture CO₂ and with mineral waste recyclers to store it. Our technology injects CO₂ into mineral waste such as concrete granules and IBA, triggering a mineralization process that permanently binds the CO₂ as limestone. By capturing and storing biogenic CO₂, we remove emissions that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, thus generating negative emissions. These are verified by a third party and sold as carbon removal certificates (CDR credits) on the voluntary carbon market. Companies can use them to complement their climate strategies and address emissions they cannot (yet) eliminate. We partner with leading organizations such as Microsoft and UBS, as well as with portfolios like NextGen, which brings together pioneering businesses investing in durable carbon removal at the scale and speed needed for net zero.

neustark: In spring 2025, the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) released a new Corporate Net-Zero Standard. What are the main takeaways?

Lisa: The updated SBTi Standard underlines the necessity for businesses to take immediate action in their sustainability endeavors, making it clear that both reducing their emissions to the max and also neutralizing their residual and historic emissions via carbon removal are now core aspects of corporate decarbonization strategies.

neustark: What were the reasons for this update of the SBTi's?

Lisa: A 2024 survey showed that only 30 % of businesses felt that current guidance was sufficient to help them reach net zero. The SBTi, widely regarded as the gold standard for corporate climate targets, recognized the need for a stronger science-based framework. The revision brings corporate efforts in closer alignment with climate models from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), thereby reinforcing the path towards limiting global warming to well below 2 °C, ideally 1.5 °C, above pre-industrial levels.

neustark: Can you clarify how residual emissions are being handled under the updated SBTi standard?

Lisa: There are three pivotal changes about neutralizing residual emissions in the updated SBTi standard.

1. Reduction and removal: Businesses need to neutralize hard-to-abate emissions at net zero point and should start investing in carbon removal now to be able to ramp up in time on their path to long-term decarbonization.
2. Durability matters: Businesses will need to incorporate a mix of removal methods, while prioritizing durable solutions like surface and subsurface CO₂ storage. Neustark’s approach, for instance, permanently stores CO₂ in mineral waste such as demolition concrete via carbonation for thousands of years, with negligible risk of reversal.
3. Scaling high-quality carbon removal: Companies are encouraged to invest in high-integrity, durable CDR credits and support mitigation activities outside their value chain (beyond value chain mitigation, BVCM).

neustark: You're often talking about high-quality CDR, what does that mean?

Lisa: Carbon removal is an essential tool for meeting our climate targets. But scale is only part of what’s required to make a lasting impact – we also need trust.

When it comes to transparency and trust, neustark strives to lead as an example for industry peers, partners, clients and policymakers alike that are all committed to climate action. That's why we use a third-party qualified process to measure, report, and verify (MRV) every tonne of carbon removal.

We have partnered with Gold Standard to establish the world’s first methodology for tech-based carbon removal. We rigorously report our impact every year – and have the CDR of each of our sites validated by a third party.

neustark: Timing seems critical. Is there pressure to act now to reach our climate targets?

Lisa: Yes, there is pressure to act now in order to reach net zero by 2050. Although CDR credit sales nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025, demand still far outstrips supply. The IPCC estimates that we’ll need around 10 gigatonnes of annual removals by 2025, yet only about 2 gigatonnes are currently being delivered - and just 0.1 % of that are durable removals.

Market dynamics reinforce the urgency: demand may hit 300 megatonnes per year by 2030. If just 20 % of that requires durable removals, supply shortages could trigger price spikes of 50–70 %, pushing the average cost of durable CDR to around US $600 per tonne. By starting the process now, you can secure your business’ ability to meet your sustainability targets while leading the way for everyone elsee - all while gaining a financial advantage.

neustark: Partnerships seem to play a big role for neustark. Could you share an example?

Lisa: Partnering with pioneering companies is essential for neustark. By investing in durable carbon dioxide removal, they enable us to scale faster and build the capacity that the entire market will rely on tomorrow. We, as a company, believe that the market and our planet need more companies to show this kind of foresight. Today, we are proud to collaborate with organizations across industries - including Microsoft, UBS, Swiss, AXA Switzerland, NextGen, ZKB, and many more.

In parallel, we work closely with leading scientists to expand the potential of durable CO₂ storage. For example, we were delighted to welcome Marco Mazzotti as our Chief Scientist. He supports neustark in advancing and scaling the permanent storage of CO₂.

neustark: How can companies partner with neustark? And How can buyers purchase carbon removal credits from neustark?

Lisa: At neustark, we can help you in understand the value of durable carbon removal and how to set and fulfil removal targets that comply with the SBTi’s or your company's guidelines. And, of course, we can provide you with local, permanent, and high-quality carbon removal to turn your climate strategy into tangible climate action. Contact us today for more information.

neustark: What industries or sectors can benefit from neustark’s solution?

Lisa: Any industry or company can complement their ongoing efforts to reduce emissions with neustark's high-quality carbon removal service, taking a crucial step towards meeting their climate targets.

neustark: What’s your message to businesses considering carbon dioxide removal to reach their climate targets?

Lisa: We're in the race to reach net zero, as required by the Paris Agreement, which stipulates that global emissions must be reduced to zero by 2050. Many businesses are already taking drastic emission reduction measures. But we need to do even more. Scaling CDR technologies is essential, and the time to start is now! The good news is that a variety of CDR solutions to help bridge this gap have already been developed. The even better news is that some solutions – such as neustark’s mineralization technology – have already been developed and deployed. And we are already removing CO₂ today. Now, they need to be scaled up quickly and effectively to manage the climate risks ahead.