Japanese firms Fujitsu Limited and Teijin Limited have launched a joint project, running from January to March 2023, for the production of bicycle frames together with V Frames GmbH, a German manufacturer and distributor of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic bicycle frames, and E Bike Advanced Technologies, a German manufacturer of bicycles.
As part the trials, Teijin and Fujitsu will leverage a blockchain-based commercial platform launched in July 2022 to promote the sustainable use of recycled materials, tracing and management of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the environmentally-conscious bicycle industry.
By implementing a business model that maximises the environmental value from recycled materials, Teijin and Fujitsu aim to contribute to the further development of the carbon fibre recycling market and the realisation of a circular economy. Following the successful conclusion of the joint trials, Teijin and Fujitsu will promote the implementation of the new platform, with the aim of commercialisation in fiscal 2023.
In Europe, many bicycle manufacturers use frames manufactured in Asia, and many of these frames are also ultimately disposed of in landfills in Asia. Energy consumption during long-distance transportation of resources including materials and used frames across the supply chain represents one major reason why resources are often not recycled and disposed of in a sustainable manner. In order to contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions from its business operations, V Frames utilises local resources in Germany and recycles used frames in its bicycle production.
Within this joint project, Teijin and Fujitsu will conduct trials together with V Frames and Advanced Bikes, with the aim to foster a shared awareness towards the environmental value of recycled materials within the environmentally-conscious bicycle industry and industries handling carbon fibres.
The purpose of the trials is to track and manage information on the environmental impact of materials used in bicycle frame production, evaluate the feasibility of the data collection process and evaluate the value of the visualised tracked data to enhance the environmental value of recycled resources in the production of bicycle frames
Teijin will support of environmental assessment across the different processes and engagement of stakeholders toward the creation of an ecosystem and Fujitsu in the implementation of blockchain platform based on the Fujitsu Track and Trust digital ledger technology and development of tool for visualisation and provision of tracked data.
Meanwhile, V Frames and Advanced Bikes will upload the environmental impact information for different operational processes within the company to the platform; review the data collection and visualisation process.
Following the joint trials, Teijin and Fujitsu will promote the implementation of the new platform, with the aim of commercialisation in fiscal 2023. Moving forward, the two parties will further promote discussions and field trials with partner companies and organisations that support this initiative and will work to contribute to the realisation of a circular economy by supporting the growth of the recycling market in various industries.