Materials manufacturer Covestro has partnered with cloud computing company Alibaba Cloud to enhance supply chain transparency for sustainable plastics.
According to the companies, this collaboration aims to meet rising consumer expectations and regulatory requirements by measuring the use and carbon footprint of sustainable materials along the value chain.
In the partnership, Covestro will provide sustainable plastic solutions along with their carbon footprint data. Alibaba Cloud’s AI-driven sustainability platform, Energy Expert, enables comprehensive carbon accounting throughout the lifecycle of materials, from recycled inputs to final consumer products, using digital technology such as blockchain. This platform helps industrial companies measure and optimize their carbon footprint across production lifecycles.
These joint solutions have already been successfully implemented in the consumer goods sector. For instance, Covestro collaborated with Nongfu Spring, a beverage maker in China, to recycle 19-liter water barrels into post-consumer recycled polycarbonate.
This material was then used by KACO, a stationary brand, to produce gel pens. With Alibaba Cloud Energy Expert’s tools, consumers can scan a QR code on the pen’s packaging to trace the material’s origin, view a detailed carbon footprint breakdown, and see the emissions reduction achieved compared to using virgin materials.
The automotive interiors industry can benefit from adopting similar traceability and carbon accounting practices that will enhance their sustainability credentials, meet regulatory requirements and respond to consumer demand for greener products. This approach is designed to support the industry’s transition to a more circular economy, reduce its carbon footprint and improve overall supply chain transparency.
Lily Wang, global head of the engineering plastics business entity at Covestro, said, “With our joint solutions, we are supporting our customers to improve their supply chain transparency while building trust among environmentally conscious consumers, thereby driving industries towards a greener future.”
William Xiong, VP of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, said, “By leveraging our advanced cloud infrastructure and expertise in sustainability technology, we are enabling value chain partners to trace materials with enhanced transparency and efficiency as well as to optimize their carbon footprint to achieve their sustainability target. This partnership exemplifies the transformative power of technology in creating a more sustainable future.”
