Teijin Pilots Digital Product Passports for Recycled PC in Automotive Supply Chains

Teijin, a prominent materials provider from Japan, is embarking on an innovative trial involving Digital Product Passports (DPPs) designed to track recycled polycarbonate (PC) utilized in the manufacturing of automotive components. This initiative emerges as a proactive response to impending European Union regulations regarding end-of-life vehicles.

The company is conducting a demonstration project in collaboration with Circularise, utilizing DPPs to enable full traceability of recycled PC within its supply chain. This initiative is not merely a compliance measure; it serves as a pivotal test of whether the DPP technology can effectively support the EU’s draft Directive on End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV), which is poised to increase scrutiny on automakers and their suppliers regarding the origins and recycled content of the materials they use.

During the trial, Teijin will leverage DPPs to accumulate and disseminate comprehensive information regarding the recycled PC resin, including details about its origin, composition, environmental impact, and end-of-life management. This digital framework promotes transparency across the entire value chain, allowing various stakeholders—from suppliers to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to end customers—to validate the materials integrated into specific products.

The focus of this proof of concept is particularly on recycled PC resins extracted from automotive headlamps, a significant application for this type of material in vehicles. Furthermore, Teijin aims to incorporate its Panlite CM product line, which integrates recycled PC with virgin PC, illustrating how many interior and exterior plastic components will increasingly adopt hybrid material strategies as OEMs elevate their targets concerning recycled content.

This project is designed to provide real-time data on the sourcing and properties of materials as they traverse the supply chain. To advance its objectives, Teijin is collaborating with Circularise Japan to simulate a marketplace for trading Panlite CM and other recycled resins derived from automotive parts. This virtual trading setting aims to reflect actual market conditions, allowing for an assessment of how well DPPs bolster traceability requirements under realistic circumstances.

Should the outcomes of these simulations prove favorable, Teijin intends to consistently implement DPPs for its recycled PC resin offerings. This is aimed at providing OEMs and suppliers with a verifiable and data-driven methodology to assess environmental performance and the recycled content during procurement processes.

Teijin has previously conducted similar DPP trials focusing on recycled aramid fibers and carbon fibers, demonstrating a commitment to leveraging this experience as it expands its capabilities into the realm of recycled polycarbonate in automotive uses.

As the industry braces for stricter environmental mandates, Teijin’s forward-thinking approach with DPPs marks a significant step towards ensuring compliance with evolving regulations while promoting sustainability in automotive manufacturing.

Source: finance.yahoo.com/news/teijin-pilots-digital-product-passports-165254973.html