DOMO, Covestro, and Circularise Launch Blockchain‑Powered Plastics Traceability Initiative

The Netherlands‑based nylon producer DOMO Chemicals (U.S. office in Buford, Ga.), Covestro of Pittsburgh, and Dutch transparency startup Circularise have announced a joint effort to bring full traceability to the plastics sector using blockchain technology.

Dubbed the Circularise PLASTICS project group, the partnership aims to establish an open standard that delivers sustainability and transparency across the entire supply chain. The trio will present the initiative at K 2019, inviting customers and potential partners to join the journey toward a fully circular economy.

“Registries and tracking systems are essential for measuring progress toward global circularity goals,” said DOMO CEO Alex Segers. “Blockchain provides the transparency most needed in our industry, especially for supply‑chain traceability. A single traceability standard would allow the sector to respond to sustainability claims and attach verifiable proof of origin to every material.”

Through blockchain‑enabled traceability, the partners believe the plastics industry can become more authentic and transparent. Their strategy focuses on three core objectives:

• Choose Circular – Simplify the decision‑making process for suppliers, processors, manufacturers, molders, and brand owners so they can select traceable, sustainable, and circular materials.
• Produce Circular – Incentivize suppliers and manufacturers to create traceable, sustainable, and circular products.
• Make Circular – Provide critical data for reverse logistics, take‑back programs, and product stewardship.

“For material suppliers, processors, equipment makers, and mold manufacturers, participating in Circularise plastics elevates material value and trust by attaching material passports to resin, additives, colorants, and other components,” explained Burkhard Zimmermann, head of strategy, sustainability, and digital at Covestro’s Polycarbonates segment. “For OEMs and brand owners, the technology helps them reach sustainability targets and strengthen their brand by revealing a product’s origin and environmental impact.”

Unlike conventional blockchain solutions that expose data, Circularise’s protocol uses zero‑knowledge proofs and a feature called smart questioning to protect privacy while still enabling secure data exchange across fragmented supply chains. This approach eliminates the need for a central authority, redistributing trust among many anonymous participants.

The Circularise PLASTICS concept follows a seven‑step process that tracks source material through the blockchain, ensuring end‑to‑end traceability and provenance. Once the original information holder—typically the plastic producer or molder—approves the data, OEMs gain access to essential details and can make informed claims.

Key advantages of the initiative include an open, blockchain‑agnostic protocol that prevents monopolistic control, and privacy‑preserving technology that maintains competitive advantage for all participants.

At its early stage, the project seeks to rally value‑chain partners at K 2019 for ideation and testing. New members will become sustainability innovators, accessing the latest insights and collaborating on an industry‑wide communication standard that propels the circular economy forward.