Biochar as a protagonist in sustainable city

Bridging green technologies and the circular economy

Bibliographic Data

ID7472461
AuthorsManish Kumar (0000-0002-1444-5508, Amity University), Sheetal Kumari (0000-0002-8080-2913, Harbin Institute of Technology), Sashini Gunarathna, Sashini Kaveesha Gunarathna (0009-0002-4397-9725, University of Sri Jayewardenepura), Pabasari Arundathi Koliyabandara (0000-0002-9421-0249, University of Sri Jayewardenepura), Sarangi Madhavi Joseph, Sarangi Joseph (0000-0001-7302-0297, North Carolina State University), Upamali Peiris (Wayamba University of Sri Lanka), Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha (0000-0002-3240-3934, University of Sri Jayewardenepura), G Y Jayasinghe (0000-0003-3107-1306, University of Ruhuna), Manvendra Patel (Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology), Meththika Vithanage (0000-0003-2923-4065, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume172
Pages106880
Publication date2026-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCities (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0264-2751 • E-ISSN: 1873-6084
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.cities.2026.106880
OpenAlexW7128793921
LanguageEN
References cited134

Biochar is a climate-positive green material that has proven its potential application in various sectors related to the circular economy, including waste management, wastewater treatment, global climate change mitigation, sustainable agriculture, and the construction industry. Although many hundreds of studies have explored the applications of biochar, the existing literature remains highly segregated, largely focused on isolated or specific sectoral applications due to the diverse properties. To date, no comprehensive review has conceptualized biochar as a protagonist in the circular economy of cities. An approach is urgently needed to assess how biochar can contribute holistically to sustainable city development—bridging production, utilization, and long-term urban planning for resilience. This includes examining both economic and environmental returns, establishing sustainable supply chains for scaling up biochar solutions. Since biochar has diverse properties and context-dependent applications, it is also suitable to propose a model biochar-integrated city at a pilot scale to investigate real-world problems, limitations, and transformative potential. This demonstration can serve as a blueprint for future urban sustainability planning worldwide. Thus, by highlighting biochar as a crucial component of urban resilience, this article seeks to promote the idea of a sustainable city supported by the ideas of the circular economy.

Biochar · Bridging (networking · Circular economy · Sustainability · Sustainable development · Bioeconomy and Sustainability Development · Sustainable Design and Development · Sustainable Industrial Ecology

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