Eric Matzner

Eric Matzner is an entrepreneur and innovator focused on developing technologies to address pressing global challenges, particularly in the areas of climate change mitigation and sustainable resource extraction. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Metalplant, he is at the forefront of a novel approach combining nickel phytomining with enhanced rock weathering to produce nickel and achieve carbon dioxide removal (CDR).12

Career Highlights

Metalplant:: Matzner co-founded Metalplant in mid-2021. The company utilizes a patent-pending technique that combines plant-based nickel mining with enhanced rock weathering to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while producing nickel sustainably.2

Project Vesta:: Prior to Metalplant, Matzner founded Project Vesta, a non-profit organization focused on coastal enhanced weathering for carbon dioxide removal. This project later evolved into the company Vesta.12

Nootroo:: Before his work in the climate space, Matzner was involved in human enhancement and longevity, running a company called Nootroo.2

Climitigation:: Matzner continues his climate activism through his think tank, Climitigation.2

Approach and Philosophy

Matzner is known for his hands-on approach to problem-solving and his focus on accelerating the development of technologies needed to address global challenges. He has been particularly active in the field of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) for the past five years, working to develop scalable solutions that can achieve gigatonne-level carbon removal annually.2

Current Work at Metalplant

At Metalplant, Matzner is leading efforts to create what he calls the world's first "dedicated enhanced weathering commercial farms." The company operates in Albania, leveraging the country's vast olivine resources to implement their innovative technology.1 Metalplant's approach aims to address both the critical need for carbon dioxide removal and the demand for sustainably sourced nickel, which is crucial for the green energy transition.12

Eric Matzner's work exemplifies a multidisciplinary approach to tackling complex environmental and technological challenges, combining expertise in fields such as geology, botany, and climate science to develop innovative solutions for a sustainable future.