# Digital Product Passport for Plastic Waste Traceability

> A blockchain-based system for complete traceability of plastic waste throughout the entire recycling process. The system addresses the lack of transparency in plastic recycling by creating digital product passports that document every processing step. Circularise received 1.5 million euros in EU funding to further develop this technology for creating sustainable plastic supply chains.

**Sector:** Secondary sector · **Industry:** Plastics industry · **Organisation:** Circularise, AMITA Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, J-CEP · **Maturity level:** Pilot

Canonical URL: https://www.sapientblock.com/en/use-cases/circularise-plastikmuell-digitalem-pass-verfolgen

## Documentation status

- **Project status:** Pilot
- **Evidence:** Evidence high
- **Editorial review:** Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026

## Description

Circularise was founded in 2016 in The Hague with the aim of accelerating the circular economy through blockchain transparency. The company received seed funding of 1.5 million euros in 2019. The core system: every plastic stream receives a digital product passport — from the raw material source through all processing steps to the end product or recycling.

Circularise addresses a fundamental market problem: the proportion of recycled materials in products is hardly verifiable for customers and regulators. Recycled content claims are often unsubstantiated. Circularise’s solution: each batch of plastic is registered as a digital twin on the blockchain. The patented Smart Questioning technology enables companies to make verified statements (e.g. 40% recycled content, carbon footprint X kg) without disclosing proprietary data. Collaborations: EuPC (European Plastics Converters, 3,300+ members) uses Circularise for Europe-wide recycled content monitoring; Covestro integrates Circularise into its sustainability reporting; Porsche and Borealis (Startup Autobahn 2020); SABIC for Scope 3 tracking. EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) relevance: The EU mandates DPPs for various product categories — Circularise is positioned as infrastructure for plastic-based DPPs. EU Packaging Regulation: minimum recycled content in packaging from 2030 requires verified evidence.

## Benefits

- Companies can achieve premium prices for demonstrably high-quality recycled materials and more easily meet regulatory requirements.
- Consumers gain greater confidence in recycled products through traceable origin and quality information.
- Seamless documentation and tracking of plastic waste throughout the entire recycling process creates trust and transparency.
- Immutable blockchain entries prevent manipulation of quality and origin data.
- Standardised digital product passports enable more efficient communication between all actors in the recycling chain.
- Employees receive clear digital tools for quality documentation and can better demonstrate and optimise their work.

## Challenges

- Companies must make significant investments in new IT systems and training before they can benefit from the advantages.
- The scalability of the blockchain solution for large volumes of plastic waste has not yet been fully tested.
- All actors in the recycling chain must be willing to invest in new technologies and adapt their processes.
- Employees must learn new digital skills and get used to changed workflows.

## Technology foundation

The system uses a proprietary blockchain solution from Circularise, specifically developed for material traceability. The technology enables secure data sharing along the supply chain while protecting sensitive business information through Smart Questioning technology.

## Sources

- [Circularise raises €1.5 million to trace the plastics supply chains](https://www.circularise.com/press-releases/circularise-raises-eu1-5-million-to-trace-the-plastics-supply-chains)
- [EuPC und Circularise Plastics kooperieren bei der Weiterentwicklung der digitalen Plattform](https://www.covestro.com/press/de/eupc-und-circularise-plastics-kooperieren-bei-der-weiterentwicklung-der-digitalen-plattform-zur-ueberwachung-der-rate-von-kunststoff-recycling-aktivitaeten-in-europa/)
- [Circularise raises €1.5 million to trace plastic supply chains](https://packagingeurope.com/circularise-raises-15-million-to-trace-plastic-supply-chains/2458.article)