Addressing the Lack of Transparency in Automotive Supply Chains
The automotive industry is currently facing challenges due to stringent environmental regulations, circular economy growth, consumer expectations, and demands for material traceability. With the complex supply chain of a car that consists of thousands of parts and involves various raw materials and manufacturing processes, achieving transparency is extremely difficult. This lack of transparency hinders the assessment of the environmental impact of automobile manufacturing.
Enabling Transparency and Sustainability with Porsche
Porsche recognized the need to gather detailed information about the materials used in their products. Collaborating with Circularise and key material suppliers, Porsche embarked on a blockchain traceability project to increase transparency throughout their value chain. By partnering with suppliers like Borealis, Covestro, Sika, and more, Porsche aimed to understand the materials deeper down the supply chain and improve overall transparency.
Balancing Confidentiality and Supply Chain Visibility
While supply chain transparency is crucial for sustainable manufacturing, concerns around confidentiality and data privacy arise. Circularise's blockchain technology and Smart Questioning approach enabled Porsche and its suppliers to achieve secure, end-to-end traceability for material streams. By utilizing blockchain, each party maintains ownership of their data, ensuring reliability without compromising proprietary information.
Practical Benefits of Supply Chain Visibility
Digitizing materials on the blockchain empowers car manufacturers to make informed decisions for sustainable vehicle production and end-of-life recycling. This transparency also extends to consumers, who can now access detailed information about their vehicle's materials and origins. By enabling sustainable choices, the entire value chain can reduce its environmental impact significantly.
Outcomes and Future Impacts
Through the collaboration with Circularise, Porsche, and select suppliers, a new digital thread was created in the automotive value chain, enhancing supply chain transparency and material traceability. This achievement aligns with the sustainability goals of the automotive sector and sets a precedent for compliance with future regulations. By providing consumers with insights into their vehicles, this initiative supports informed decision-making and sustainable practices.