We built CDR‑Shops.com to help the carbon removal market escape its Cold Start Problem
Why a simple directory might be the right “tool” to kick-start a two‑sided market
If buying durable, timely carbon removal were as easy as a two‑minute checkout, we’d have many more small buyers in the market. Today it isn’t. When we tried to purchase some 200 t of near‑term (“vintage 2025+”) durable CDR ourselves, the process took weeks of emails and wire transfers. Only a couple of vendors offered true “buy now” checkout; the rest required sales conversations and manual invoicing across multiple countries. That experience convinced us that the long‑tail of buyers—individuals, startups, SMBs—need a much simpler on‑ramp (see Carbon Drawdown Initiative Blog).
At the same time, public data shows how concentrated demand still is. In Q2 2025, a handful of mega‑deals made Microsoft responsible for ~93.8% of contracted durable CDR volume, while actual deliveries remain a tiny fraction of purchases and skew to methods that can ship now (biochar). That’s great for signaling, but it highlights the gap for smaller buyers who want to act today (see CDR.fyi)
So we created cdr‑shops.com—a curated directory of online CDR shops where people can buy verified removals quickly (ideally paid online with credit card) and in small portions. It’s intentionally simple: a buyer‑facing index of shops with a simple rating system and clear notes on delivery timing, purchase minimums, price range, and method. Plus short guides on why to buy CDR and how to choose quality (durability, MRV, independent registries). It’s a step toward a world where you can neutralize a flight or set up a small monthly removal in minutes—without five sales calls.
A little bit of market theory: “The Cold Start Problem”
Starting a new market, like for carbon removal (CDR), is tough. It is a "cold start" problem described in Andrew Chen’s book with the same name: you need both buyers and sellers, but neither wants to join until the other is already there. Andrew Chen explains:
Start with the smallest viable group (“atomic network”): Focus on a small, dedicated group. For CDR, this means connecting buyers who want to purchase small amounts of carbon removal right now with suppliers who already have easy "buy now" options. This creates early demand and reduces the problem of empty shelves for buyers.
Win over the "hard side" first: In CDR, the hard side is suppliers who can deliver actual, certified carbon removals promptly and in small quantities. CDR-Shops aims to make it easier for these suppliers by sending them serious, ready-to-buy customers, encouraging them to offer smaller purchase options and maintain their online stores.
Offer a useful tool, then build the network: Provide something valuable that people can use even before the market is fully developed. As more people use this tool, the market will naturally grow.
What CDR‑Shops is (and why it matters right now)
A fast on‑ramp for small buyers. We list and rate shops where you can purchase durable removals in small increments, often with a card, today. For many buyers, that’s the difference between acting now and not acting at all.
A quality guardrail. Our guides and our ratings explain the basics in plain language—removal vs. avoidance, durability, MRV, additionality, independent registries, and delivery timing—so a first‑time buyer can make a credible choice without a PhD or a consultancy retainer.
A density engine. By curating (not scraping) and inviting shops that meet clear integrity expectations, we avoid the early anti‑network effects of empty or low‑quality shelves. Small wins in one cluster compound—more buyers → more shops → better selection → more buyers.
What a successful small volume CDR purchase looks like in our view
2‑minute checkout for a first purchase of 0.5–10 t at multiple shops listed in one place.
Transparent delivery windows (prefer ex‑post or ≤12 months), clear method and certification info, and downloadable documentation for reporting.
Repeat behavior: small buyers set monthly micro‑purchases/subscriptions instead of one‑offs—because the friction is finally low.
Those are the metrics that indicate our atomic network is healthy and ready to replicate to the next cluster.
A note on timing and concentration
The durable CDR market just had a record quarter driven by very large buyers, while actual deliveries remain modest and concentrated in a few methods that can ship today. That’s precisely why focusing on near‑term delivery and small‑lot availability is so important right now: it turns interest into purchases for the long tail, building the habits and volumes the supply side needs to keep investing.
How you can help tip the market
If you run a CDR shop with self‑serve checkout and clear delivery timelines, submit your entry to https://www.cdr-shops.com —we’d love to list you. If you don’t have a checkout yet, our listings make the demand case for adding it.
If you’re a small buyer, try a micro‑purchase (even a single tonne) and share the receipt. Try to trigger copy-cats! Normalizing small, timely CDR buys is how we move from talking about “net zero” to doing something measurable every month.
Bottom line: CDR has a classic chicken‑and‑egg problem. The way out isn’t to boil the ocean; it’s to launch the smallest network that can stand on its own, solve for the hard side, and use a simple tool to unlock action today. That’s what CDR‑Shops is designed to do—make credible carbon removal a two‑minute habit, not a months‑long project.
Sources & further reading:
Andrew Chen, The Cold Start Problem (atomic networks, hard side, “come for the tool”). Full book as PDF on Andrew’s website
Carbon Drawdown Initiative: “Everybody agrees we need more CDR buyers, but did you ever try to buy certificates yourself?”
CDR.fyi: “2025 Q2 Durable CDR Market Update – Biggest Quarter Ever”
CDR‑Shops—shop directory, and buyer guides. https://www.cdr-shops.com/
