Capgemini Moves Toward Permanent Carbon Removal in Deal with Charm

Capgemini has taken a significant step in the evolving carbon removal market by partnering with Charm Industrial, a California-based climate tech company. The consulting giant has agreed to purchase 16,500 metric tons of carbon removals through Charm’s unique bio-oil sequestration process, an approach that converts agricultural waste into a stable oil, then injects it deep underground, locking away carbon for hundreds of years.

Once considered experimental, this form of long-term storage is gaining momentum as companies look for solutions that go beyond temporary offsets. Unlike nature-based credits, which can be reversed through fire, logging, or mismanagement, Charm’s method offers what the market increasingly values: permanence.

Capgemini’s multi-year offtake is more than a procurement and it signals a shift. “This partnership reflects a maturing market,” said one executive familiar with the deal. With pressure mounting from regulators and investors for measurable impact, companies are seeking credits that will hold up under scrutiny. What was once a soft and loosely governed space is becoming far more rigorous.

The timing is also strategic. Uncertainty hangs over future U.S. policy incentives, including the 45Q tax credit. In this context, long-term commercial contracts like Capgemini’s help secure stable funding for removal startups while protecting buyers from rising prices and limited supply in the future.

Still, hurdles remain. Infrastructure needs to scale, and regulatory pathways are far from streamlined. But this agreement shows how far the industry has come. Carbon removal is no longer a backup plan, it is becoming a core pillar of corporate climate strategy.

For now, permanence commands a premium. Before long, it could become the standard.