Asahi Kasei participates in investment in Circularise B.V. of the Netherlands

Rhea-AI Summary

Asahi Kasei has invested in Circularise B.V., a Dutch startup specializing in digital product passports and mass balance bookkeeping software, alongside Brightlands Venture Partners, 4impact capital, and Neste. This investment, made in November 2022, aims to enhance supply chain traceability and transparency, contributing to a sustainable circular economy. Circularise utilizes Smart Questioning technology and Zero-Knowledge Proofs to provide reliable supply chain management while maintaining stakeholder confidentiality. Asahi Kasei aligns this investment with its commitment to sustainability and carbon neutrality by 2050.

Positive

• Investment in Circularise B.V. enhances supply chain transparency.
• Circularise's technology supports sustainability and traceability.
• Alignment with Asahi Kasei's carbon neutrality goals by 2050.

Negative

• None.

NEW YORK & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Asahi Kasei, a diversified Japanese multinational company, has decided to invest in Circularise B.V., a startup company in the Netherlands that provides digital product passports and mass balance bookkeeping software, together with Brightlands Venture Partners, 4impact capital, and Neste, in November 2022.

Circularise is a startup company founded in 2016 aiming to accelerate the shift towards a circular economy through supply chain traceability and transparency. Circularise has developed a highly reliable supply chain management system that achieves both anonymity and transparency based on Smart Questioning¹ technology utilizing Zero-Knowledge Proofs² with a blockchain. By using these technologies, various information such as raw materials, recycling history, biomass and recycling content, carbon footprint, third-party certification, etc. can be traced through the supply chain while maintaining the confidentiality of each stakeholder's information.

The Asahi Kasei Group expects to contribute to a carbon neutral and sustainable world by joining the establishment of a digital platform ensuring reliability and transparency in the supply chain through its investment in Circularise, in accordance with its medium-term management plan focused on the theme “Be a Trailblazer.”

¹ Smart Questioning: Circularise’s patent-pending method of using Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) to share essential and useful insights into product and material information throughout a supply chain over a public blockchain without sharing any specific data.

² Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP): a form of perfectly hiding encryption that allows sharing of useful insights into information without sharing any specific data. ZKPs can be used to share insight into the environmental impact of a product or material without sharing any specific data on the composition or manufacturing processes of a product.

About Circularise B.V.

Location	Wilhelmina van Pruisenweg 35, 2595 AN, Den Haag, Netherlands
Founders	Mesbah Sabur and Jordi de Vos
Establishment	July 2016
Operations	Providing a traceability platform in supply chains utilizing a blockchain, with digital product passports and mass balance bookkeeping software
Website	https://www.circularise.com/

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber businesses, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 46,000 employees around the world, the company contributes to a sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. Its Material sector, comprised of Environmental Solutions, Mobility & Industrial, and Life Innovation, includes a wide array of products, from battery separators and biodegradable textiles to engineering plastics and sound solutions. For more information, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/.

Asahi Kasei is also dedicated to sustainability initiatives and is contributing to reaching a carbon-neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221206005033/en/

Company Contact North America:

Asahi Kasei America, Inc.

Jon Todd

39475 W. Thirteen Mile Road, Suite 201, Novi, MI 48377

E-mail: AKA-info@ak-america.com



Company Contact Europe:

Asahi Kasei Europe GmbH

Sebastian Schmidt

Fringsstrasse 17, 40221 Düsseldorf

Tel: +49 (0) 211-3399-2058

E-mail: sebastian.schmidt@asahi-kasei.eu

Source: Asahi Kasei

FAQ

What is Asahi Kasei's investment in Circularise B.V. about?

Asahi Kasei has invested in Circularise B.V. to enhance supply chain transparency and contribute to a sustainable circular economy.

When did Asahi Kasei invest in Circularise B.V.?

The investment in Circularise B.V. was made in November 2022.

What technologies does Circularise use for supply chain management?

Circularise employs Smart Questioning technology and Zero-Knowledge Proofs for reliable and confidential supply chain management.

How does Asahi Kasei's investment align with its sustainability goals?

This investment supports Asahi Kasei's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Who are the partners in Asahi Kasei's investment in Circularise?

The investment partners include Brightlands Venture Partners, 4impact capital, and Neste.