In response to rising consumer expectations and regulatory requirements, the need to measure the utilization of sustainable materials and their associated carbon footprint data has become increasingly essential. This objective requires collaboration across the value chain and the availability of tools to enable traceability.
Embracing this challenge, Covestro has partnered with Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, to provide downstream industries in Asia with solutions and tools to enhance supply chain transparency through carbon accounting and tracing for sustainable materials.
Partnership Focus
Covestro will provide more sustainable plastic solutions along with their carbon footprint data. Alibaba Cloud’s Energy Expert, an AI-driven sustainability platform, will play a crucial role in realizing whole life cycle emission accounting from recycled materials to final consumer products using digital technology such as blockchain. This platform offers an end-to-end solution for industrial companies to measure and optimize their carbon footprint across their production lifecycle.
Statements from Leadership
Lily Wang, Global Head of Engineering Plastics Business Entity at Covestro, stated:
“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.”
William Xiong, Vice President of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, added:
“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 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.”
Implementation in Consumer Goods Sector
The joint solutions by Covestro and Alibaba Cloud have already been implemented in the consumer goods sector. For instance, Covestro collaborated with China’s leading beverage maker, Nongfu Spring, to recycle its 19-litre water barrels into post-consumer recycled polycarbonate. This recycled material was then used by KACO, a niche stationery brand in China, to produce gel pens.
Using Alibaba Cloud Energy Expert’s carbon emission accounting and digital tools, consumers can scan a QR code on the pen packaging to trace the material’s origin, see a detailed breakdown of the carbon footprint at each production stage, and understand the amount of carbon emissions reduced compared to using virgin materials.
