Tokyo / The Hague – April 30, 2025 – Dutch supply chain traceability platform Circularise has been awarded a grant from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, reinforcing its role as a key enabler of Japan’s Green Transformation (GX) strategy. The grant, part of Tokyo’s flagship GX start-up support program, will accelerate Circularise’s expansion and deepen its partnerships in one of the world’s most innovation-driven industrial economies.
With this support, Circularise has launched Circularise Japan K.K., opened a local office in Tokyo’s Shin-Otemachi district, and begun collaborating with major Japanese players to drive a new standard for digital traceability.
“This isn’t just market entry—it’s strategic integration into Japan’s next-generation industrial policy,” said Circularise co-founder Jordi de Vos. “We’re not only scaling technology, but shaping the future of sustainable manufacturing with Japanese industry leaders.”
Backed by Strategic Investors: Asahi Kasei, Teijin, and Sekisui
Circularise’s Japanese expansion is underpinned by growing support from leading domestic companies. Circularise is supported by Asahi Kasei, Teijin Group, and Sekisui Chemical, who have invested strategically to scale the company’s supply chain traceability and Digital Product Passport (DPP) platform in Japan’s high-performance materials and advanced plastics sectors.
“Our partnerships with Asahi Kasei, Teijin, and Sekisui go beyond capital—they’re co-creating the digital standards for next-generation manufacturing with us,” said Jordi de Vos.
Advancing Plastic Recycling in Japan
In 2023, Circularise collaborated with Marubeni Corporation, AMITA Corporation, and the Japan Circular Economy Partnership (J-CEP) on a national plastic recycling project, aimed at improving traceability across packaging and industrial plastics.
The project successfully demonstrated the value of Digital Product Passports for tracking recycled content, verifying material origins, and enabling collaboration between recyclers, manufacturers, and regulators.
Technology Built for Regulation and Resilience
“Data protection and regulatory compliance don’t have to be at odds,” said de Vos. “Circularise enables both securely and at scale.”
Circularise’s core innovation—Smart Questioning Technology—allows companies to exchange verified product and ESG data without revealing intellectual property or sensitive business information. This ensures:
- Seamless compliance with EU, Japanese, and global regulations (e.g. CSRD, Ecodesign)
- Greater transparency and trust across complex supply chains
- New business models for sustainable procurement and circular manufacturing
A Regional Hub for Asia’s Green Future
With its Tokyo office fully operational and projects underway, Circularise is scaling its local presence, growing its team, and contributing to Japan’s development of digital product policy frameworks.
“Japan is setting a global example for industrial sustainability,” added de Vos. “And we’re proud to contribute—alongside our partners—to shaping the next chapter of Asia’s green manufacturing evolution.”