Japanese materials supplier Teijin is testing a Digital Product Passport (DPP) system to track recycled polycarbonate (PC) used across its automotive supply chain. The trial aims to comply with upcoming EU regulations on end-of-life vehicles, ensuring transparency about the origin and recycling content of materials.
In this pilot phase, Teijin is working closely with Circularise Japan, focusing specifically on recycled PC resins obtained from automotive headlamps. These DPPs provide detailed information about each resin’s material origin, composition, environmental impact, and end-of-life management procedures. The digital passports enable every stakeholder in the value chain—from suppliers to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and consumers—to verify the materials used in specific products.
Teijin is also using its Panlite CM product line for this initiative, which blends recycled PC with virgin material, reflecting how many automotive components are likely to adopt hybrid solutions as OEMs increase their recycled content targets. The company envisions these digital passports operating effectively within a real-world automotive supply chain, providing instant data on the source and characteristics of materials as they traverse the distribution network.
Through this project, Teijin seeks to establish a simulated marketplace for trading Panlite CM and other recycled resins sourced from automotive parts. This virtual environment closely mirrors actual market conditions, facilitating seamless adoption by the industry in anticipation of stricter compliance requirements.
