Top: Image courtesy Char In a Jar™

Biochar can do a number of things, but one we hadn’t thought of was making it an alternative to a lump of coal for holiday gift-giving gags. “The coal-for-Christmas tradition goes back generations, and there’s something charming about its simplicity,” explains Bobbie Armstron, Co-Founder of Char in a Jar™. “With Char in a Jar™, we wanted to keep that humor and nostalgia while giving it a modern, sustainable twist. Biochar is an impactful climate solution because it converts organic waste into a stable form of carbon that can stay locked away for centuries, so each jar turns a classic holiday gag into something that supports real circular-economy impact.” The one downside? According to the FAQs, the char inside the jar cannot be used as a soil amendment. The reason, says the company, is “we didn’t have enough time to fully research product-use claims or develop proper soil application directions before our pre-holiday launch. Several upgrades are planned for next year, and addressing use of the char is high on the list.”