We at Teijin are determined to push forward the transition to a circular economy. Working with Circularise, we're building a solid foundation for supply chain transparency. We chose Circularise because of their expertise and innovative platform, which is empowering us and our customers to achieve quick successes, meet regulatory demands, and maintain control of our data.
Proven traceability from production to market ready for recycling
Insights into supply chain partner readiness and data integration
Foundation for company-wide DPP adoption and regulatory compliance
About
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Teijin (TSE: 3401) is a technology-driven global group with two core businesses: high-performance materials and healthcare solutions. Established in 1918 as Japan’s first rayon manufacturer, Teijin today comprises some 170 companies employing 20,000 people in 20 countries. Teijin is committed to its purpose, “Pioneering solutions together for a healthy planet.” Teijin works together with employees and external partners to achieve its long-term vision, “To be a company that supports the society of the future.” Teijin posted consolidated revenue of JPY 1,005.5 billion and total assets of JPY1,061.3 billion in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025.
About
Circularise is a supply chain traceability platform based in the Netherlands, helping companies build more resilient operations, reduce emissions, and unlock new business value. Since 2016, it has enabled secure, end-to-end product traceability and deep supplier data collection beyond tier-1. Circularise supports the implementation of Digital Product Passports and simplifies compliance with regulations like the ESPR, RED III, and the EU Battery Regulation. Trusted by industry leaders including Asahi Kasei, Samsonite, and Airbus, Circularise’s patented technology safeguards sensitive data while delivering audit-ready insights that power sustainable and profitable growth.
Why Teijin chose Circularise to enable traceability
Teijin has long been a pioneer in sustainable innovation. From launching PET recycling products in 1995 (ECOPET®) to developing para-Aramid (TWARON®) products made from recycled materials over 25 years ago, sustainability has been woven into the company’s DNA. This commitment extends beyond products to internal recovery processes that reduce environmental impact, such as solvent and process water recycling.
In recent years, Teijin’s leadership saw a pivotal shift in the materials industry. The traditional "take-make-dispose" model was no longer viable. In response, the company established its Environmental Solutions Department to lead the transition within Teijin toward circularity across all material businesses. This move aligned with Teijin’s broader vision:" Pioneering solutions together for a healthy planet”.
Digital Product Passports (DPPs) quickly emerged as a key enabler of this strategy.They offered the transparency needed to meet tightening regulatory requirements and to validate sustainable practices across the supply chain. But implementing traceability at scale required more than internal systems. Teijin needed an external partner with the right mix of technology, security, and industry know-how.
After a careful evaluation process, Teijin looked for a partner that could offer:
- Secure and verifiable traceability across the full product lifecycle
- Interoperability with existing systems and global standards
- Support for compliance with evolving regulations
- A strong balance between transparency and confidentiality
- Expertise in best practices and legal frameworks
Circularise met all of these criteria. A successful Proof of Concept confirmed the fit, and in late 2024, Teijin deepened the relationship with a strategic investment. This partnership will give Teijin the digital foundation it needs to shift from linear models to truly circular product lifecycles, with visibility from origin to recycling.
Running a Proof of Concept to explore traceability in practice
Teijin’s collaboration with Circularise began with a focused Proof of Concept (PoC), centered on tracing one of its Aramid products within a specific market and application.
Teijin’s group company Teijin Aramid as product owner designed the PoC with several clear goals in mind:
- Validate cradle-to-cradle traceability: Prove that products can be tracked from the factory gate through use and back to recycling.
- Gauge market response: Understand how customers and stakeholders in the high-performance fibers sector react to circular initiatives.
- Build practical experience: Learn what it takes to implement traceability measures and Digital Product Passports at scale.
The PoC offered an opportunity not only to test the technology but also to evaluate how traceability could drive long-term competitiveness and create new value across the supply chain.
Teijin therefore also aims to further assess the outcome of the PoC in order to answer questions like:
- What are the potential financial and strategic returns?
- How can traceability support compliance with future regulations?
- Does increased transparency improve customer trust and experience?
Scaling traceability with Digital Product Passports
Teijin’s first Proof of Concept (PoC) with Circularise demonstrated that circularity in high-performance materials is not only possible but measurable and scalable. The pilot focused on Teijin's Twaron® para-Aramid yarns and followed the material through its full lifecycle.
The circular loop in action:
- Material production: Teijin produced high-performance, lightweight Twaron® yarns.
- Product manufacturing: The yarns were supplied to Hampidjan and used in the production of the first 100% recyclable heavy lift slings - TERRA Slings.
- End-of-life recovery: After their operational life, the slings were collected, and the material was recovered and cleaned.
- Market-ready for reintegration: The high-quality recovered para-Aramid yarn is ready to be reused as raw material to create circular Twaron® pulp, used in applications like brake pads and gaskets.
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Key outcomes from the first PoC:
- Digital Product Passports (DPPs) created: Three publicly accessible DPPs were issued for Twaron® yarn, the TERRA Sling, and the recycled Twaron® pulp.
- End-to-end traceability achieved: Materials were traced from production to recycling, and back into manufacturing.
- Proven material origin transparency: By linking DPPs, Teijin could verify the origin of recycled inputs used in new products, creating a transparent and auditable supply chain.
Throughout the project, Circularise’s platform provided detailed insights into the composition, movement, and recovery of materials. This allowed Teijin and its partners to track recovered yarns as they re-entered the supply chain with confidence and clarity.
The Proof of Concept has provided us with valuable insights into the practical application of traceability. We've seen firsthand how digital product passports can seamlessly connect supply chain partners and create a truly transparent circular process. This initiative has reinforced our belief that traceability is an important enabler of the circular economy, and the cooperation with Circularise helps shaping our strategy for scaling sustainable practices across our operations.
Encouraged by the results, Teijin expanded its use of traceability to other group companies. In a second PoC, Teijin Carbon Europe launched DPPs for:
- Tenax™ filament yarn residues (raw material)
- Pelletized circular Tenax Next™ short carbon fiber (intermediate product)
- A finished consumer product made from the circular fiber — a bicycle tire lever
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These new DPPs demonstrated how specific waste streams could be reintegrated into new products, reinforcing Teijin’s vision for closed-loop manufacturing.
With the launch of our Tenax Next™ product line this year, Teijin Carbon has taken a decisive step toward circularity. These materials are designed to combine top-tier performance with a clear sustainability profile — and thanks to traceability tools like Digital Product Passports, we’re making that value visible and verifiable across the entire supply chain.
Looking ahead: traceability as a competitive edge
With regulations like the ESPR and CSRD reshaping the industry, Teijin needs a scalable, future-proof approach, one that would not be held back by siloed data or manual reporting. But still Teijin had a choice: treat traceability as a compliance exercise or use it as a lever for long term advantage. The company decided not to stop at pilot projects and wait for legislation to come. After a successful first PoC, the company made a strategic investment in Circularise to strengthen the partnership and accelerate the rollout of traceability across its global operations.
The next phase focuses on expanding DPP activities across multiple business units. By aligning internal data systems, deepening supply chain collaboration, and embedding traceability into product development, Teijin aims to unlock new value and build circularity into the core of its business.
As a leading company in high-performance materials, we at Teijin are actively increasing our efforts to become more circular. The investment in Circularise will enable us to cooperate with leaders in the field of traceability and to create an environment that will support us in setting the right steps forward.
This partnership shows what is possible when sustainability and strategy align. Together, Circularise and Teijin are proving that traceability can do more than meet regulations. It can transform how industries operate, build trust, and create lasting environmental and business impact.
Teijin's initiatives powerfully demonstrate the crucial intersection of sustainability goals and market demands. Through this collaboration, Circularise's innovative platform enabled Teijin to not only prove the operational effectiveness of DPPs but also to unlock their shared capacity to drive transformative change within the industry, securing long-term environmental impact and business success.
Get in touch with Circularise
Get in touch with Teijin
Teijinaramid.com; Teijincarbon.com; Teijin.com
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