Top 10 Companies in the Activated Carbon for Food & Beverages Industry (2025): Market Leaders Driving Purity and Sustainability

In Business Insights
November 25, 2025


The Global Activated Carbon for Food & Beverages Market was valued at USD 852.4 Million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1.63 Billion by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.3% during the forecast period (2025–2032). This growth is being driven by stringent global food safety regulations, rising consumer demand for purified ingredients and premium beverages, and accelerating adoption of Sustainable and Circular Production Models across food processing and beverage manufacturing sectors.

As the food and beverage industry transforms toward higher purity standards and cleaner-label products, the spotlight is on the key activated carbon suppliers who are driving innovation, efficiency, and advanced purification pathways. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Activated Carbon for Food & Beverages Industry—a mix of global specialists, regional leaders, and sustainability pioneers shaping the future of food-grade purification.


🔟 1. Kuraray Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Coconut Shell-Based Activated Carbon, Coal-Based Activated Carbon, Specialty Grades

Kuraray is a global leader in high-performance activated carbon, renowned for its extensive portfolio of food-grade solutions. The company specializes in coconut shell-based activated carbon, which is prized for its high purity and excellent adsorption properties, making it ideal for beverage decolorization and edible oil refining. Their products are critical for ensuring the clarity, taste, and safety of a wide range of consumables.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of specialized high-performance grades for beverage decolorization

  • Investment in sustainable sourcing and circular production processes

  • Focus on R&D for application-specific solutions in functional foods

Download FREE Sample Report: Activated Carbon for Food & Beverages Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Jacobi Carbons

Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
Key Offering: Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC), Granular Activated Carbon (GAC), Pelletized Carbon

Jacobi Carbons is a major global supplier with a strong focus on the food and beverage industry. The company offers a comprehensive range of activated carbons used for decolorization, deodorization, and purification in applications ranging from sugar syrups and sweeteners to alcoholic beverages and potable water treatment for soft drinks.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Advanced reactivation services to promote circular economy

  • Global technical support and customized solutions for food processors


8️⃣ 3. Cabot Norit

Headquarters: Amersfoort, Netherlands
Key Offering: Norit® Activated Carbon for Food & Beverages

Cabot Norit, part of Cabot Corporation, is a world-leading producer of activated carbon with a long history of serving the food and beverage sector. Their Norit brand is synonymous with quality and reliability, providing solutions for removing impurities, off-flavors, and colors from a vast array of products, including juices, wines, and edible oils.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices and product stewardship

  • R&D focused on improving adsorption efficiency and reducing environmental impact


7️⃣ 4. Ingevity Corporation

Headquarters: North Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Key Offering: Specialty Activated Carbons, Pelletized Carbon

Ingevity provides high-value activated carbon solutions tailored for demanding food and beverage applications. Their expertise lies in creating customized products that address specific purification challenges, such as removing contaminants from high-fructose corn syrup or clarifying spirits and beer, ensuring superior product quality.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of innovative pelletized carbons for efficient purification systems

  • Focus on eco-friendly production technologies

Download FREE Sample Report: Activated Carbon for Food & Beverages Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Fujian Yuanli Active Carbon Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Fujian, China
Key Offering: Coconut Shell Activated Carbon, Wood-Based Activated Carbon

Fujian Yuanli Active Carbon is a leading manufacturer based in China, specializing in high-quality activated carbon derived from coconut shell and wood. The company is a key supplier to both domestic and international markets, providing cost-effective solutions for decolorization and purification in the food and beverage industry.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Significant production capacity for coconut-shell carbon, a sustainable raw material

  • Investment in expanding production capabilities to meet growing global demand


5️⃣ 6. Haycarb PLC

Headquarters: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Key Offering: Haycarb® Coconut Shell Activated Carbon

Haycarb is a pioneer and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of coconut shell-based activated carbon. Leveraging its proximity to raw material sources, the company produces highly pure and effective activated carbon specifically suited for food and beverage purification, including the treatment of drinking water, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Implementation of sustainable and ethical coconut shell sourcing

  • Pursuit of carbon-neutral manufacturing processes


4️⃣ 7. DESOTEC Activated Carbon

Headquarters: Roeselare, Belgium
Key Offering: Activated Carbon Filtration Services, Reactivation

DESOTEC operates a unique service-based model, providing activated carbon filtration solutions and mobile purification services to the food and beverage industry. Their focus is on offering a circular solution by collecting spent carbon from customers, reactivating it to like-new condition, and redeploying it, which reduces waste and costs.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Fully circular service model with 100% reactivation of spent carbon

  • Mobile filters for flexible and on-demand purification needs


3️⃣ 8. CarboTech AC GmbH

Headquarters: Essen, Germany
Key Offering: Specialty Activated Carbons for Beverages and Food

CarboTech is a German specialist in manufacturing high-end activated carbons. The company serves the European food and beverage market with tailored products designed for specific applications such as the purification of wine, beer, vinegar, and edible oils, emphasizing precision and compliance with stringent EU regulations.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of application-specific carbons for complex purification tasks

  • Strong focus on R&D to meet evolving regulatory standards


2️⃣ 9. ADA-ES (a subsidiary of Cabot Corporation)

Headquarters: Highlands Ranch, Colorado, USA
Key Offering: Custom Activated Carbon Solutions

ADA-ES provides specialized activated carbon products and systems for various industries, including food and beverage. Their expertise allows them to design solutions that effectively remove specific contaminants, helping manufacturers achieve desired product quality and meet safety standards efficiently.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Integration of advanced emission control knowledge into purification solutions

  • Focus on system optimization to reduce environmental footprint


1️⃣ 10. Datong Coal Jinding Activated Carbon Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Datong City, China
Key Offering: Coal-Based Activated Carbon

Datong Coal Jinding is a significant player in the production of coal-based activated carbon, serving a broad market that includes food and beverage purification. The company’s products are used in large-scale applications where cost-effectiveness is paramount, such as in the initial purification stages of sugar and sweetener production.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Investment in technologies to improve the efficiency of coal-based carbon production

  • Exploration of methods to reduce the environmental impact of coal-derived products

Get Full Report Here: Activated Carbon for Food & Beverages Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Activated Carbon Is Smarter and More Sustainable

The activated carbon for food and beverages market is undergoing a significant transformation. While traditional purification applications remain vital, the industry is investing heavily in sustainable sourcing, advanced manufacturing technologies, and circular economy models.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Shift towards renewable raw materials like coconut shell over coal-based carbon

  • Increasing adoption of reactivation services to minimize waste and cost

  • Development of highly specialized grades for functional foods and clean-label ingredients

  • Food manufacturer-supplier partnerships for integrated purification solutions

Get Full Report Here: Activated Carbon for Food & Beverages Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only purifying global food and beverage supplies—they’re spearheading the sustainable and efficient transition of the industry.