Mitsubishi Electric, NTT Communications, and SK C&C have embarked on a transformative project aimed at the automated calculation and visualisation of carbon footprints across supply chains. Set to commence on June 1, 2025, this initiative utilises the Catena-X ecosystem, an innovative framework designed specifically for the automotive industry, to facilitate secure cooperation between companies. By accurately capturing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain, the project aspires not only to enhance productivity but also to contribute substantially to decarbonisation efforts, paving the way for a more sustainable society.
The impetus behind this initiative stems from an increasingly urgent global focus on environmental conservation and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As organisations strengthen their commitment to these goals, the pressure for decarbonisation now extends beyond individual firms to their entire supply chains. Companies are having to provide detailed accounts of their greenhouse gas emissions, segmented by product type and delivery destination, while maintaining data sovereignty—the right to control how their data is used and disclosed. To address these challenges, “data spaces” have emerged as vital tools, allowing companies to share information securely and directly, reducing reliance on intermediaries.
The European automotive sector has been particularly proactive in leveraging these data-sharing initiatives, embracing the Catena-X data ecosystem to enhance inter-company collaboration. The project formed by Mitsubishi Electric, NTT Communications, and SK C&C is a direct response to this evolving landscape, aiming to establish a robust framework for monitoring carbon footprints across production lines.
Central to this pilot project is the collection of data from manufacturing sites worldwide, compliant with internationally accepted standards governing data collaboration. The data—gathered through advanced industrial computers known as programmable logic controllers—will enable the participating companies to calculate and visualise carbon footprints in real-time. This experimental environment will be engineered to facilitate system-to-system communication, aligning with the standards set forth by the Catena-X ecosystem.
Set to run until late October 2025, the project will focus on the lithium-ion battery manufacturing process—a critical component of electric vehicles. A detailed verification flow will simulate interactions between a vehicle manufacturer and a battery supplier, ensuring that carbon footprint data is effectively communicated and stored. SK C&C will play a pivotal role in developing tools that automatically monitor and calculate carbon footprints at the equipment level, while NTT Communications will provide the secure IT environment necessary for the project’s success.
The long-term vision for this initiative is ambitious. Upon successful completion, the three companies intend to broaden the application of this system across various sectors, particularly within automotive manufacturing. By increasing participation, they hope to transform manufacturing processes and significantly reduce energy consumption, reinforcing efforts to create a sustainable global environment.
Comments from key stakeholders underscore the significance of this undertaking. Takahisa Tanaka from Mitsubishi Electric remarked that the synergy of control technologies and secure data communication could greatly accelerate efforts towards carbon neutrality. Meanwhile, NTT Communications’ Takahide Ogawa emphasised the project’s potential to connect diverse elements within supply chains, thereby generating valuable insights and enhancing collaboration across the globe. Harvey Kim of SK C&C also highlighted the project as a pivotal opportunity for companies in Japan and Korea to bolster their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives.
In parallel, advances in related technologies continue to emerge, indicating a broader trend within the industry towards sustainable practices. NTT DATA, for example, has introduced a solution that integrates product master data with decarbonisation strategies, indicating an industry-wide push towards embedding sustainability into core operations. Such innovations are crucial for small to medium-sized enterprises that might feel the strain of sustainability commitments, ensuring that they too can contribute to emissions reductions effectively.
As this pioneering project unfolds, it promises not only to set a precedent for carbon footprint management throughout supply chains but also to inspire more robust collaborative frameworks that enhance sustainability efforts across industries.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
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