Arburg at Freudenstadt Baiersbronn Garden Show
As part of the “CarbonX” theme week from 18th to 25th July 2025, visitors to the Tal X garden show in Freudenstadt and Baiersbronn, Germany, were able to learn everything there is to know about charcoal and biochar. Arburg participated as a sponsor with an exhibit in the specially erected glass pavilion in the “Xentrum”, the heart of the garden show grounds, as well as with exciting presentations. Under the motto “High-tech meets charcoal burning”, an electric Allrounder injection moulding machine produced live garden shovels from an innovative, sustainable material consisting of recycled plastic (PP) and biochar.
With its strong commitment to the “CarbonX” theme week, Arburg, whose company headquarters in Lossburg are just a few kilometres from Freudenstadt, made its responsibility for the environment and society and its value-based actions visible to a broad public outside the plastics industry.
Commitment to environmentally friendly plastics processing
Coalman and initiator Thomas Faißt officially opened the CarbonX week with the kick-off event “Carbon through the ages” on 19th July in Freudenstadt. In his opening speech, Arburg Managing Partner Michael Hehl explained the reasons for Arburg’s intensive involvement: “This week is all about innovation, sustainability and the power of change. As a global leader in the plastics industry with headquarters in Lossburg, we are also setting a strong example here in the region for environmentally friendly production methods and sustainable business practices.” For decades, Arburg has also been involved in the use of so-called alternative materials – i.e. alternatives to conventional plastics – and supports entire branches of industry in manufacturing sustainable products from them.
Black coal – “green” garden shovels
In the Arburg pavilion, the energy-efficient electric Allrounder 470 E Golden Electric demonstrated how traditional craftsmanship and state-of-the-art injection moulding technology go hand in hand. The machine produced more than 3,500 garden shovels live in the “Xentrum” during the theme week, which visitors could take away with them. A particularly sustainable material was processed, half of which consisted of the recycled plastic polypropylene (PP) and half of “biochar”.
This CO2-negative material from the start-up Carbonauten consists of 50 per cent biochar. The starting material is plant waste such as waste wood, damaged wood and wood chips. This is pyrolysed, i.e. burnt at high temperatures without oxygen. The biochar is then pulverised, mixed with recycled polymers, for example, and compounded to produce injection-mouldable granules.
Will biochar solve the climate crisis?
At the event “Conversations by the fire. Solving the climate crisis with biochar?” on 22nd July in Freudenstadt, Arburg application engineer Jonas Bletscher presented the internationally active family business in addition to the daily live presentation. He explained that Arburg is a pioneer in the plastics industry when it comes to energy and production efficiency, digitalisation and sustainability. All aspects and activities relating to resource conservation, the circular economy and CO2 reduction are bundled in the “arburgGREENworld” programme.
“Our customers can manufacture products for a wide range of industries on Allrounder injection moulding machines,” explained Jonas Bletscher. “Alternative materials and fillers such as sunflower seed and egg shells, paper, coffee grounds or, as shown at the garden show, biochar from carbonauten can also be processed.” The idea, potential and initial projects with the innovative, CO2-negative carbon material were then explained by Torsten Becker, Managing Director of Carbonauten GmbH, before a panel discussion followed.
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