SRE and "Green Charcoal"

After demonstrating how to make high-efficiency charcoal out of coconut shells, SRE realized that in many rural areas where coconuts are not available, there are other, plentiful feedstock that can be made into equally high-efficiency, clean-burning charcoal: leaves, twigs, rice hulls.

To this end, SRE is currently working with an Aklan-based organization, KALIBO SAVE THE MANGROVES FOUNDATION (KASAMA), that pioneered the conversion of mangrove cuttings into high-efficiency charcoal. The feedstock source has been expanded to include leaves, twigs, and rice hulls. These are first carbonized, then mixed with cassava or corn starch as binder, molded into briquettes, and dried. In a test-run, briquettes burn three times longer than the traditional wood charcoal, and twice longer than the cocoshell charcoal. Smokeless, too. Most important, all the processing is done manually.

SRE and KASAMA collaborated in bringing to Aklan an American volunteer, Mr. Cody McMillian, a Business/Enterprise Development Graduate of Baylor University (Waco, Texas), to work primarily on the modifications of the manually-operated equipment. Cody also helps to develop the business model, particularly on marketing. He also gives presentations to schools and universities, as well as to environment-focused groups and organizations.

This "green charcoal" initiative is designed for replication in tropical countries where deforestation is rampant.