Swedish climate company Arbon Earth, part of the Climate Cleanup Network, has become the first company to receive official approval in Indonesia for deep-sea marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR). Their approach works with the ocean’s own rhythms: they cultivate seaweed, which naturally absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and then lower it to the deep ocean floor, where the carbon can stay stored.
This isn’t something they invented. Seaweed already sinks and stores carbon on the seafloor without any human help. What Arbon Earth does is scale up this natural process, on nature’s own terms, so it can contribute to carbon removal at a much larger scale.
A big step for the company
Arbon Earth already runs an active production site in Kenya. The new permit in Indonesia significantly increases their production capacity and opens the door to carbon removal on a global scale. Testing will start soon off the coast of Lombok, and conversations are already underway with the relevant authorities about expanding to other regions.
Arbon Earth is working closely with the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP). Together, they will scale up operations step by step, with care for both the marine environment and the climate impact.
“We are thrilled about our collaboration with KKP,” says Nanna Stranne, CEO of Arbon Earth. “This permit enables a significantly higher production rate for us, allowing us to meet larger CO₂ removal purchases from our customers. At Arbon Earth, we are convinced that the ocean will be a crucial part of the solution to the climate crisis.”
“We welcome Arbon Earth’s innovative approach to ocean-based carbon removal. This collaboration aligns with our national commitment to climate action, sustainable marine management, and pioneering new blue economy initiatives in Indonesia,” says Mr. Muhammad Husnul Aini, PIC KKPRL at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.
About Arbon Earth
Arbon Earth is a Swedish climate company that removes carbon dioxide through natural, ocean-based methods, helping nature help us. The company is based in Gothenburg and was founded in 2022 by Magnus Willner, Carl Lindberg, Mai Thai, and Nanna Stranne. To contact Arbon Earth, you can send an email to nanna@arbon.earth.
In 2024, Climate Cleanup did a Double Nature Talk with Arbon Earth. Watch it here.