Our Origins
“ITER exists because we have seen the entire landscape of pyrolysis technologies - the successes, the inefficiencies, and the critical details that determine performance. Our history at ICFAR gave us the insight needed to design something better: a technology informed by decades of research, thousands of tests, and a deep commitment to turning biomass into meaningful, carbon-negative solutions.”
Where it all Began
The origins of ITER Technologies trace back to the Institute for Chemicals & Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR) at Western University — one of the world’s leading research centres in thermochemical conversion. Under the guidance of Professor Franco Berruti, a pioneer in the field of pyrolysis, the lab has become a global hub for companies, researchers, and innovators seeking expertise in biochar production and reactor design.
Because of this reputation, ICFAR is contacted nearly every week by organizations from around the world looking to test their biochars, validate their pyrolysis systems, or troubleshoot and redesign their technologies. This rare vantage point: the ability to see every technology that succeeds and every design that fails has given our team a uniquely comprehensive understanding of what truly works in pyrolysis and why.
Over years of testing diverse feedstocks, analyzing biochar quality, and examining reactor performance across countless designs, we developed a deep intuition for the conditions required to produce specific carbon characteristics: purity, porosity, stability, and chemical functionality. This led to extensive research into advanced applications, from engineered biochars for pollutant removal, to biochar catalysts, to carbon fillers for plastics, cement, and composite materials.
Ultimately, this accumulated knowledge shaped the foundation of our technology. We learned not only how to tune biochar to meet the requirements of different industries, but also how to build the reactor design capable of reliably producing such materials. ITER’s multi-stage reactor design is the direct result of this experience: a system engineered to overcome the limitations we observed in traditional augers and rotary kilns, and to deliver consistent, high-purity biocarbon suitable for high-value applications.
Our Mission
At ITER Technologies, we act as your all-in-one partner in developing and executing circular economy projects - transforming waste into lasting value through technology, science, and measurable impact.
Step 1: Project Identification
We begin by understanding your feedstock, goals, and sustainability vision - defining the technical and environmental opportunity from the ground up.
Step 2: Technology Supply
We deliver turnkey, self-sustaining pyrolysis systems — engineered for reliability, scalability, and exceptional carbon performance.
Step 3: Analytical Validation
Our lab team provides full chemical, thermal, and surface characterization of feedstocks and products, ensuring quality, traceability, and compliance.
Step 4: Life Cycle Evaluation
We quantify the environmental and carbon impacts of your process, validating true circularity and carbon-negative performance.
Step 5: Carbon Certification
Finally, we guide the certification of your carbon removals under global standards such as Puro.earth and VERRA, turning your environmental impact into verified value.