# Blockchain-based Plastic Traceability in Automotive Industry

> Porsche developed a blockchain-based solution together with Circularise and material suppliers for complete traceability of plastics in the automotive supply chain. The project was conducted as a pilot and included the creation of a prototype app for plastic traceability. The solution enables secure supply chain visibility and has been successfully completed, which is described as significant progress.

**Sector:** Secondary sector · **Industry:** Plastics industry · **Organisation:** Porsche, Circularise, Covestro, Borealis, Domo Chemicals · **Maturity level:** Pilot

Canonical URL: https://www.sapientblock.com/en/use-cases/porsche-materialchargen-digital-abbilden

## Documentation status

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

## Description

Circularise (2016, The Hague) is a blockchain supply chain transparency provider focused on the circular economy. In November 2020, Circularise launched a blockchain traceability project as part of Startup Autobahn (Porsche Innovation Program): Borealis, Covestro and Domo Chemicals as material suppliers digitise their plastic batches as Digital Twins; Porsche demo app visualises the results.

A typical Porsche has about 30,000 parts from numerous materials, with a supply chain of over 20 tiers. Material information is often proprietary, incomplete or inaccessible. Circularise solves this with Smart Questioning: a verified statement can be made (e.g. "This material contains 30% recycled content") without revealing the underlying sensitive data. Each plastic batch receives a Digital Twin on the blockchain with: recycling content, CO2 footprint, water savings, origin of raw materials. Independent third-party audits verified the data before blockchain entry. Porsche developed a demo app giving consumers insight into the sustainability of specific vehicle parts. The project won the Porsche Digital Blockchain Innovation Award 2020. Later the consortium expanded to include Sika, Asahi Kasei, PPG, Mitsubishi Chemicals and a certification body; additional materials (aluminium, textiles, coatings, adhesives) were integrated.

## Benefits

- Companies gain competitive advantages through demonstrable sustainability and can justify premium prices for verified sustainable products.
- The solution creates full transparency over the origin and sustainability of materials in complex global supply chains.
- Companies can measurably track their sustainability goals and meet regulatory requirements such as Digital Product Passports.
- The immutable documentation on the blockchain prevents greenwashing and builds trust with consumers and investors.
- Professionals gain access to precise, verified data, significantly enhancing their work efficiency and decision quality.

## Challenges

- Companies must invest in new technologies and training, while ROI may only be measurable in the long term.
- Implementation requires collaboration of all supply chain actors and their willingness to share and verify data.
- High technical complexity in integrating various systems and the need for interdisciplinary expertise can complicate implementation.
- Staff need training in handling blockchain technology and must adapt their working methods from traditional to digital processes.

## Technology foundation

The solution uses a decentralised public blockchain combined with Circularise's patented Smart Questioning technology. This technology preserves data ownership and prevents manipulation, while ensuring authentication, decentralisation and encryption.

## Sources

- [Porsche & Circularise for blockchain traceability of plastics](https://www.ledgerinsights.com/porsche-circularise-for-blockchain-traceability-of-plastics/)
- [Achieving visibility into the Porsche supply chain](https://www.circularise.com/case-studies/achieving-visibility-into-the-porsche-supply-chain)
- [Porsche Digital blockchain project wins innovation award](https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2020/digital/porsche-digital-blockchain-projekt-wins-innovation-award-22397.html)
- [Porsche turns to blockchain to track plastics sustainability](https://modernconsensus.com/technology/porsche-turns-to-blockchain-to-track-plastics-sustainability/)