Empty fruit bunch (EFB) is utilized to increase the CO2 capture capacity and cyclic stability of calcium oxide (CaO) prepared from cockle shells (CS). The cyclic reaction of calcination and carbonation reaction was performed in pure N2 environment and in the presence of CO2 in N2, respectively. The EFB in CS modified the pore structural properties, morphology, and composition of the pristine CaO. Higher EFB loading in CS reduced the CaO composition but improved the CO2 capture capacity and cyclic stability during cyclic CO2 capture. © 2019 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim