New platform for sustainable plastics

Supply Chain for Sustainable Plastics Sustainability platform calculates CO₂ footprint

2024-06-27 Source: Press release | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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Covestro and the Chinese Alibaba Group have developed a digital platform for CO2 footprint accounting and tracking of sustainable plastics. This should also improve the transparency of the supply chain for sustainable plastics.

The traceability of materials and their CO2 footprint is enormously important for a circular economy. Covestro and Alibaba Cloud are working together to make this possible.(Image: AndSus - stock.adobe.com) — The traceability of materials and their CO2 footprint is enormously important for a circular economy. Covestro and Alibaba Cloud are working together to make this possible.
(Image: AndSus - stock.adobe.com)

Driven by rising consumer expectations and regulatory requirements, it becomes increasingly important to measure the use of sustainable materials and the associated CO₂ footprint data along the value chain. To achieve this goal, the calculation methods must be consistently ensured to enable traceability. Covestro is now taking on this challenge in partnership with Alibaba Cloud, the technology and information division of the Chinese Alibaba Group. Together, they will provide downstream industries with key solutions and tools to enable such transparency, starting in Asia.

Sustainability platform calculates total emission balance of end products

As part of this partnership, Covestro will provide more sustainable plastic solutions along with their CO₂ footprint data. This data will then be utilized by Alibaba Cloud's "Energy Expert". The "Energy Expert" is an AI-driven sustainability platform that calculates the total emissions balance of finished products—including from the data of the materials used - using digital technologies such as blockchain. Additionally, the platform offers an end-to-end solution for industrial companies to measure and optimize their CO₂ footprint throughout their entire production cycle.

Recycled polycarbonate from water containers is processed into pens

This approach is already being used: for example, Covestro worked with China's leading beverage manufacturer Nongfu Spring to recycle its 19-liter water containers made of polycarbonate for water dispensers. The material was then used by KACO, a niche stationery brand in China, to manufacture pens. Through the CO₂ emissions accounting and the digital tools of Alibaba Cloud's "Energy Expert", end consumers can scan a QR code on the packaging of the pens. This way, they learn details about the origin of the material of their pen, a detailed breakdown of the CO₂ footprint at each stage of the production chain, and the number of carbon emissions saved compared to the new materials. "As a material manufacturer with a high focus on sustainable innovations, Covestro is committed to promoting circular economy and climate neutrality. Our collaboration with Alibaba Cloud is a significant milestone on our journey towards a circular and climate neutral future," says Lily Wang, Head of the Engineering Plastics business unit at Covestro.

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