German-based plastic materials company Covestro has announced they are partnering with Alibaba Cloud to improve the overall measurement of sustainable materials usage and their associated carbon footprint data along the value chain.
Due to rising consumer expectations and regulatory requirements, companies and businesses are required to cover the aspects of environmental sustainability as much as possible so to tackle the challenge, one of the ways both big names came up with is by providing downstream industries in Asia with essential solutions and tools to enhance supply chain transparency through enabling carbon accounting and tracing for sustainable materials.
Under this partnership, Covestro’s key role is to offer more sustainable plastic solutions along with their carbon footprint data. Alibaba Cloud’s Energy Expert, an AI-driven sustainability platform, facilitates whole life cycle emission accounting from recycled materials to final consumer products using digital technology such as blockchain. It also provides an end-to-end solution for industrial companies to measure and optimize their carbon footprint across their production lifecycle.
The joint solutions offered by Covestro and Alibaba Cloud have already been implemented in the consumer goods sector. For example, Covestro collaborated with China’s leading beverage maker Nongfu Spring to recycle its 19-litre water barrels into post-consumer recycled polycarbonate. This material was then used by KACO, a niche stationary brand in China, to produce gel pens. Through Alibaba Cloud Energy Expert’s carbon emission accounting and digital tools, consumers can scan a QR code on the packaging of the pens to trace the origin of the material, see a detailed breakdown of the carbon footprint at each stage in the production chain, and understand the reduction in carbon emissions compared to virgin materials.
Here are the statements provided by both companies on the matter.
“As a materials manufacturer with a high focus on sustainable material innovation, Covestro is committed to driving circularity and climate neutrality. Our collaboration with Alibaba Cloud marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a circular and climate-neutral future, 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.” – Lily Wang, Global Head of Engineering Plastics Business Entity, Covestro
“We are proud to partner with Covestro in pioneering sustainable solutions that drive positive environmental impact, 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, and to optimize their carbon footprint to achieve their sustainability target. This partnership exemplifies the transformative power of technology in creating a more sustainable future.” – William Xiong, Vice President of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence
