Environmental attributes of coating materials

Abstract

Disclosed are systems for producing painting materials associated with painting material passports or digital assets, methods for producing painting materials associated with painting material passports or digital assets, apparatus for generating passports or digital assets associated with painting materials, computer implemented methods for generating painting material passports or digital assets, computer program elements for generating painting material passports or digital assets, uses of painting materials associated with painting material passports or digital assets, uses of painting material passports or digital assets, products produced from painting materials associated with painting material passports or digital assets, painting materials, painting material passports or digital assets including data relating to one or more decentralized identifiers and environmental impact data, apparatus for producing products associated with painting material passports or digital assets, and methods of producing products associated with painting material passports or digital assets.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a system for producing painting materials associated with painting material passports or digital assets, a method for producing painting materials associated with painting material passports or digital assets, an apparatus for generating passports or digital assets associated with painting materials, a computer-implemented method for generating painting material passports or digital assets, a computer program element for generating painting material passports or digital assets, uses of painting materials associated with painting material passports or digital assets, uses of painting material passports or digital assets, products produced from painting materials associated with painting material passports or digital assets, a painting material passport or digital asset including data relating to painting materials, one or more decentralized identifiers and environmental impact data, an apparatus for producing products associated with painting material passports or digital assets, and a method for producing products associated with painting material passports or digital assets. [Background technology]

[0002] Technical background In the supply chain, the environmental impact of each supply chain participant is of great interest. Particularly in the chemical sector, coating materials are used in a wide range of applications and are supplied to diverse value chains. In such a complex system, transparency between value chain participants is difficult to achieve. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] Summary of the Invention In one aspect, disclosed is a system for producing a paint material passport or a paint material associated with a digital asset, the system comprising: - a chemical production network configured to produce a coating material from one or more input materials through one or more chemical processes of the chemical production network, wherein the one or more input materials and / or the one or more chemical processes are associated with an environmental attribute; - a production operation device, providing a distributed identifier associated with the coating material to be produced and one or more environmental attributes of one or more input materials and / or one or more chemical processes; Linking decentralized identifiers and environmental attributes a production operations device configured to generate a coating material passport or digital asset by - optionally a chemical production network or a chemical production system configured to provide produced coating materials associated with coating material passports or digital assets; Includes.

[0004] In another aspect, disclosed is a system for producing a painting material passport and / or a painting material associated with a digital asset, the system comprising: - a chemical production network configured to produce a coating material from one or more input materials through one or more chemical processes, wherein the one or more input materials and / or the one or more chemical processes are associated with an environmental attribute; - a production operation device configured to generate a coating material passport or digital asset by providing and / or linking a distributed identifier associated with the coating material to be produced and one or more environmental attributes associated with one or more input materials and / or one or more chemical processes. Includes.

[0005] In another aspect, disclosed is a method of producing a painting material passport or a painting material associated with a digital asset, the method comprising: - producing a coating material from one or more input materials through one or more chemical processes of a chemical production network, wherein the one or more input materials and / or the one or more chemical processes are associated with environmental attributes; - Paint material passport or digital asset, providing a distributed identifier associated with the coating material to be produced and one or more environmental attributes associated with one or more input materials and / or one or more chemical processes; Linking a decentralized identifier and one or more environmental attributes generating by - Providing the paint material passport or digital asset and the associated paint material to be produced Includes.

[0006] In another aspect, disclosed is a method of producing a painting material passport or a painting material associated with a digital asset, the method comprising: - producing a coating material from one or more input materials through one or more chemical processes of a chemical production network, wherein the one or more input materials and / or the one or more chemical processes are associated with environmental attributes; - generating a coating material passport or digital asset by providing and / or linking a decentralized identifier associated with the coating material to be produced and one or more environmental attributes of one or more input materials and / or chemical processes; Includes.

[0007] In another aspect, disclosed is an apparatus for generating a passport or digital asset associated with a coating material, the coating material being produced from one or more input materials through one or more chemical processes of a chemical production network, the one or more input materials and / or the one or more chemical processes being associated with an environmental attribute, the apparatus comprising: - a distributed identifier provider configured to provide a distributed identifier associated with the coating material to be produced and one or more environmental attributes of one or more input materials and / or one or more chemical processes used to produce the coating material; - an assigner configured to link a decentralized identifier and an environmental attribute; - a passport provider configured to provide a coating material passport or digital asset associated with a coating material to be produced to a distributed network, wherein environmental attributes associated with the coating material to be produced are made accessible to consumers of the coating material to be produced through the coating material passport or digital asset; Includes.

[0008] In another aspect, disclosed is a method, e.g., a computer-implemented method, for generating a coating material passport or digital asset associated with a coating material, the coating material being produced from one or more input materials through one or more chemical processes in a chemical production network, the one or more input materials and / or the one or more chemical processes being associated with environmental attributes, the method comprising: - providing a distributed identifier associated with the coating material produced and one or more environmental attributes of one or more input materials and / or one or more chemical processes used to produce the coating material; - linking decentralized identifiers and environmental attributes; - Providing a coating material passport or digital asset associated with the coating material produced to a decentralized network, wherein environmental attributes associated with the coating material produced are made accessible to consumers of the coating material produced through the coating material passport or digital asset. Includes.

[0009] In another aspect, disclosed is a computer element, such as a computer-readable storage medium, a computer program, or a computer program product, that includes instructions that, when executed by a computing node or computing system, cause the computing node or computing system to perform the steps of the computer-implemented methods disclosed herein.

[0010] In another aspect, disclosed is a computer element, such as a computer-readable storage medium, computer program, or computer program product, that includes instructions that, when executed by an apparatus described herein, cause the apparatus to perform the steps configured to be performed by the apparatus disclosed herein.

[0011] In another aspect, disclosed is a painting material passport or painting material associated with a digital asset produced by the method disclosed herein. In another aspect, disclosed is a painting material passport or painting material associated with a digital asset produced by the system disclosed herein.

[0012] In another aspect, disclosed is a paint material associated with a paint material passport or digital asset, the paint material being produced from one or more input materials through one or more chemical processes in a chemical production network, the one or more input materials and / or one or more chemical processes being associated with environmental attributes, and the paint material passport or digital asset including a distributed identifier associated with the paint material being produced and a link to the environmental attributes associated with the one or more environmental attributes of the one or more input materials and / or one or more chemical processes used to produce the paint material.

[0013] In another aspect, disclosed is a coating material passport produced by the methods and / or apparatus disclosed herein.

[0014] In another aspect, disclosed is a production system that produces products from painting materials associated with painting material passports or digital assets provided by the systems, devices, or methods disclosed herein. In another aspect, disclosed is a production method that produces products from painting materials associated with painting material passports or digital assets provided by the systems, devices, or methods disclosed herein.

[0015] In another aspect, disclosed is the use of a painting material associated with a painting material passport or digital asset disclosed herein to produce a product from the painting material associated with the painting material passport or digital asset.

[0016] In another aspect, disclosed is a use of a painting material passport or digital asset disclosed herein to generate a painting material passport or digital asset associated with a product produced from the painting material associated with the painting material passport or digital asset. In another aspect, disclosed is a method of using a painting material passport or digital asset generated by a method disclosed herein in the production of a product produced from the painting material associated with the painting material passport or digital asset.

[0017] In another aspect, disclosed is a coating material associated with a coating material passport or digital asset that includes a decentralized identifier associated with the coating material and linked to one or more environmental attributes of one or more input materials and / or one or more chemical processes used to produce the coating material.

[0018] In another aspect, disclosed is a use of a coating material associated with a coating material passport or digital asset to produce a product from the coating material and associate the coating material passport or digital asset with the product produced from the coating material. In another aspect, disclosed is a use of a coating material associated with a coating material passport or digital asset to produce a product from the coating material and derive a product passport or digital asset from the coating material passport or digital asset. In another aspect, disclosed is a method of using a coating material associated with a digital asset to produce a product from the coating material disclosed herein and derive a digital asset associated with the product from the coating material passport or digital asset.

[0019] Any disclosures and embodiments described herein relate to the methods, systems, chemical products, coating materials, coating material passports or digital assets and computer elements described above or below, and vice versa. Advantageously, benefits provided by any of the embodiments and examples apply to all other embodiments and examples as well.

[0020] Embodiment The following will outline the embodiments of the present disclosure through embodiments and / or examples. It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and / or examples. All terms and definitions used herein are broadly understood and have common meanings.

[0021] The methods, systems, coating materials, coating material passports or digital assets, and computer components disclosed herein provide an efficient, secure, and robust way to share or exchange environmental impact data across different participating nodes in a value chain. In particular, by providing coating material-specific data via each coating material passport or digital asset, environmental impact can be shared and made transparent from the coating material to the products produced from such coating materials. The coating material passport or digital asset enables secure data exchange because data access can be controlled by the coating material provider, e.g., the entity providing the coating material. The exchanged data assets can be specific to the coating material produced and adapted to the needs of the product's consumer. In this way, by securely providing environmental impact data across a diverse and highly complex value chain, improved tracking and tracing of coating materials can be achieved. Therefore, the environmental impact of coating materials can be tracked, leading to easier, more efficient, and sustainable handling of coating materials by value chain participants. For example, the environmental impact data associated with each paint material may be used by a paint material consumer, such as a vehicle manufacturer or an auto repair shop that repairs a vehicle, to select the appropriate paint material needed to meet the required environmental impact of the resulting product, such as a painted or repaired vehicle.

[0022] The coating material may include a liquid, paste-like, or powder material that, when applied to at least a portion of the surface of a substrate, produces a coating having protective, decorative, and / or other specific properties (see also DIN EN 971-1:1996-09). The substrate may include a metal substrate, a plastic substrate, or a mixture thereof. The substrate may be pre-treated or may have at least one coating layer. The coating material may be applied using commonly known application techniques, such as dipping, bar coating, spraying, or rolling. The machine may be a stationary or mobile machine. Stationary machines may include air conditioners, power units (nuclear, coal, natural gas, oil, wind, hydro, solar, geothermal), generators, pumps, hydraulic power units, wind turbines, electrical substations, thermal heat pumps, and compressors. Mobile machines may include vehicles. Vehicles may include automobiles. Examples of automobiles may include motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, vans, minivans, ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), and electric carts for the disabled. The vehicle may include rail vehicles. Examples of rail vehicles may include trains and trams. Vehicles may include ships. Examples of ships may include ships, boats and underwater vehicles. Vehicles may include amphibious vehicles. Examples of amphibious vehicles may include propeller vehicles and hovercraft. Vehicles may include aircraft. Examples of aircraft may include planes, helicopters and lighter aircraft. Vehicles may include spacecraft. Stationary or mobile machines may be powered by spark ignition or auto-ignition engines, two or four stroke engines, electric engines, fuel cells or combinations thereof (hybrid engines).

[0023] In one embodiment, the coating material associated with the coating material passport or digital asset may be selected from the group consisting of a coating material and a coating material component. The coating material may be selected from an electrodeposition coating material, a primer material, a primer surfacer material, a filler material, a putty material, a base coat material, a clear coat material, or a tinted clear coat material. For example, the coating material may be a primer material. Alternatively, the coating material may be an electrodeposition coating material. In yet another example, the coating material may be a clear coat material. The coating material component may be selected from a hardener composition, an additive composition, a thinner, a diluent, a spot blender composition, a pigment paste, or a binder composition. For example, the coating material component may be a hardener composition. Alternatively, the coating material component may be a binder composition. Alternatively, the coating material component may be a thinner. Alternatively, the coating material component may be a diluent. Alternatively, the coating material component may be a spot blender composition. Alternatively, the coating material component may be a pigment paste. Alternatively, the coating material component may be an additive composition.

[0024] Electrodeposition coating materials typically include an aqueous dispersion or emulsion of a film-forming material, such as an epoxy resin, with an ionic stabilizer, such as an anionic or cationic stabilizer. The film-forming material may be self-crosslinking or crosslinkable using a crosslinker. The electrodeposition coating material may further include a pigment and / or a crosslinker. The electrodeposition coating material may be formulated by mixing a binder dispersion containing the film-forming material and a crosslinker with a pigment paste containing at least one pigment. During electrodeposition coating, the electrodeposition coating material is deposited on a conductive substrate by immersing the substrate in an electrodeposition bath containing the electrodeposition coating material and then applying an electric potential between the substrate and a pole of opposite charge, such as a stainless steel electrode. Upon application of the electric potential, the electrodeposition coating composition is deposited on the conductive substrate. The resulting thin film may then be cured to obtain a substrate having an electrodeposition coating. Suitable electrocoating materials include the electrocoating compositions described in EP 0241476 B1, EP 0675926 B1, EP 0961797 B1, EP 1192226 B1, WO 2021 / 123106 A1 and WO 2021 / 239264 A1, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0025] Primer materials are typically used to form the first layer of a coating system applied to a substrate or previous coating. Primer materials can be solvent-based or water-based. The primer layer typically provides adhesion to the entire coating structure, i.e., not only the primer but also subsequent layers. Additionally, the primer layer may perform different tasks depending on the type of substrate, such as corrosion protection for metal substrates. Primer materials can include film-forming materials such as polyesters, poly(meth)acrylics, and epoxy resins. Primer materials can further include pigments. Primer materials can further include crosslinkers such as isocyanates and amine compounds. Primer materials can further include at least one adhesion promoter. Suitable primer materials are described, for example, in WO 2019081461 A1, WO 2020234066 A1, WO 2020233939 A1, and WO 2021009252 A1, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0026] A primer surfacer material is a coating material that combines the properties of a primer with those of a filler. The primer surfacer material can be solvent-based or water-based. The primer surfacer layer produced from the primer surfacer material can function to protect from mechanical exposure, such as gravel, and to smooth out unevenness in the substrate. The primer surfacer material can include film-forming materials such as polyester resins, poly(meth)acrylic resins, epoxy resins, and / or poly(meth)acrylic-epoxy resins. The primer surfacer material can further include pigments. The primer surfacer material can further include crosslinkers such as isocyanates and amine components.

[0027] Filler materials are typically used to form intermediate coats within multi-layer coatings. Filler materials can be solvent-based or water-based. The purpose of the filler material is to eliminate substrate irregularities, support adhesion and corrosion protection (especially when used as a primer surfacer material), and provide good gravel resistance to the overall coating system. Filler materials can provide good, high-speed sandability. Filler materials can be used wet-on-wet to cover fine sanding scratches or smooth the filler surface. Filler materials can include film-forming materials such as polyurethane acrylates, polyurethane-based resins, epoxy resins, polyester-based resins, polyacrylate-based resins, or combinations thereof. Filler materials can further include crosslinkers such as isocyanates, blocked isocyanates, and amines. Filler materials can include pigments. Suitable filler materials are described, for example, in WO2020234066A1, WO2020233939A1, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0028] The putty material may be a highly pigmented material used to smooth out irregularities in the substrate that are too large to be corrected by primer or filler materials (see also DIN 55945:1996-09). The putty material may include a film-forming material such as an unsaturated polyester-based resin or an epoxy resin. The putty material may include a cross-linking agent such as a peroxide or amine component.

[0029] Base coat materials can typically be used as pigmented intermediate coat materials. Base coat materials can be solvent-based or water-based. Base coat materials can include at least one color pigment and / or at least one effect pigment. The base coat layer produced from the base coat material can be opaque, i.e., the underlying paint layer can no longer be seen through the base coat layer. Base coat materials can include film-forming materials such as poly(meth)acrylates, polyurethanes, polyesters, poly(meth)acrylate-polyurethanes, polyethers, melamine resins, or combinations thereof. Suitable base coat materials are described, for example, in WO 2018177731 A1, WO 2018197163 A1, WO 2019020324 A1, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20190031910 A1, WO 2019015953 A1, WO 2019207085 A1, WO 2019185306 A1, WO 2019211473 A1, WO 2020151977 A1, WO 2020136016 A1, and WO 2020185946 A1. No. 2020216584A1, No. 2021074187A1, No. 2021074359A1, No. 2021078923A1, No. 2021094131A1, No. 2021148255A1, No. 2021191015A1, No. 2021224232A1, No. 2022063854A1, and European Patent Application Publication No. 3957693A1, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0030] Clearcoat materials can typically be used for the production of transparent coatings with protective, decorative, or specific technical properties (see also DIN EN971-1:1996-09). Clearcoat materials may be free of color / effect pigments and / or fillers. Clearcoat materials may contain transparent pigments. Clearcoat materials may be solvent-based, water-based, or solid materials. Clearcoat compositions preferably contain at least one (first) polymer as a binder having functional groups and at least one crosslinker with functionality complementary to the functional groups of the binder. It is preferred to use at least one hydroxy-functional poly(meth)acrylate polymer as the binder and a polyisocyanate as the crosslinker. Suitable clearcoat materials are described, for example, in WO 2006 / 042585 A1, WO 2009 / 077182 A1, and WO 2008 / 074490 A1, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0031] Tinted clearcoat materials can be used to produce paint layers that are typically neither as completely colorless and transparent as a clear coat nor as completely opaque as a typical colored basecoat. Thus, tinted clearcoat layers are either colorless and transparent or translucently colored. Color can be achieved by adding small amounts of pigments commonly used in basecoat paint materials to the clearcoat material.

[0032] The curing agent composition may include at least one crosslinking agent. Suitable crosslinking agents may be selected from melamine resins, polyisocyanates, blocked isocyanates, polycarbodiimides, amines, or combinations thereof. The curing agent composition may include a solvent, such as an organic solvent and / or water.

[0033] The binder composition may include at least one binder. The binder may correspond to the non-volatile components of the dispersion without pigments or fillers (see also DIN EN ISO 4618:2007-03). The binder may correspond to a physically and / or chemically curable polymer, such as polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, polyureas, polyacrylates, polysiloxanes, and / or copolymers of the polymers listed. The polymer may contain anionic, cationic, and / or non-ionic groups. The binder may be dissolved or dispersed in a solvent. The binder dispersion may include water as the solvent. The binder composition may include pigments, such as color pigments and / or effect pigments. The binder composition may include a crosslinker, such as a blocked isocyanate. The binder composition may include additives commonly used in coating materials, such as those described below. Suitable binder dispersions are described, for example, in EP 3197961 A1, EP 1720923 A1, EP 3183304 A1, WO 2021018595 A1, WO 2021018594 A1, US 2011042222 A1, EP 2283087 A1, WO 20202 No. 33939A1, European Patent Application Publication No. 3423535A1, International Patent Application Publication No. WO2020234066A1, International Patent Application Publication No. WO2020234066A1, International Patent Application Publication No. WO2016116299A1, International Patent Application Publication No. WO2022189111A1, and International Patent Application Publication No. WO2015090442A1, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Suitable binder solutions are described, for example, in WO 2006 / 042585 A1, WO 2009 / 077182 A1, WO 2008 / 074490 A1, WO 2021018595 A1, WO 2021018594 A1 and DE 4110520 A1, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0034] The binder solution may comprise at least one binder dissolved in a solvent. The binder may correspond to the non-volatile components of the dispersion without pigments and fillers (see also DIN EN ISO4618:2007-03). The binder may correspond to a physically and / or chemically curable polymer, examples of which include polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, polyureas, polyacrylates, polysiloxanes, and / or copolymers of the polymers mentioned.

[0035] Pigment pastes can contain a mixture of pigments in carrier materials, i.e., different polymers. The pigment concentration in a pigment paste is typically higher than the pigment concentration in the coating material prepared from the pigment paste. More specifically, in such pigment pastes, the weight ratio of pigment to polymer is generally higher than in the coating composition in which the paste is used. Pigment pastes can contain aqueous and / or organic solvents. Pigment pastes can contain different additives, such as wetting agents and / or dispersants. Pigment pastes can be used to prepare color coating materials, such as basecoat materials. Pigment pastes can be used in mixer systems to prepare color coating materials used during repair processes. Suitable pigment pastes are described, for example, in EP 3083851 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 10,131,808 B2, EP 3083836 A1, WO 2018172475 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 2020140713 A1, WO 2021018595 A1, WO 2021018594 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,210,220,230, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,201,210,220,230, and 5,201,240,250. Nos. 2022175076A1, 2018019628A1, 2021123106A1, U.S. Published Application Nos. 2007269606A1, 2015070930A1, and 2004018580A1, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0036] The additive composition may include at least one additive. The additive may be residue-free or substantially residue-free and may be selected from thermally decomposable salts, reactive diluents, transparent pigments, fillers, pigments soluble in molecular dispersions, nanoparticles, light stabilizers, antioxidants, degassing agents, emulsifiers, lubricants, polymerization inhibitors, free radical polymerization inhibitors, adhesion promoters, flow control agents, coalescents, sag control agents (SCAs), flame retardants, corrosion inhibitors, waxes, driers, biocides and matting agents, leveling agents, UV absorbers or light stabilizers such as HALS, free radical scavengers, lubricants, polymerization inhibitors, defoamers, wetting agents, flow control agents, coalescents such as cellulose derivatives, rheology control agents, flame retardants, and / or water scavengers, catalysts, or combinations thereof. The additive composition may include a solvent such as water or an organic solvent. The additive composition may include a binder such as those described above.

[0037] Thinners and diluents are typically used to adjust the viscosity of coating materials to a desired value or range. Thinners may include solvents such as organic solvents or water. Diluents may include solvents such as organic solvents or water. The organic solvent may be selected from Solvesso 100™, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene or xylene, alcohols such as butanol or isopropanol, esters such as butyl acetate or ethyl acetate, ketones such as methyl isobutyl ketone or methyl amyl ketone, ethers, ether alcohols, or ether esters, or any mixture thereof. Suitable diluents and thinners are described, for example, in WO 2022200533 A1 and WO 2011068855 A1, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0038] The spot blender composition is typically applied over an uncured refinish clear coat to provide a "soft" transition zone and an "invisible" finish that leaves no visible trace of the repair at the damaged area. The spot blender composition may include a film-forming agent such as polyols, urethane (meth)acrylates, or mixtures thereof. The spot blender composition may include a crosslinker such as a polyisocyanate and may be free of a contrast agent, e.g., may be contrast-free. The spot blender composition may include a solvent, such as an organic solvent. The organic solvent may be selected from n-butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, and xylene. Suitable spot blender compositions are described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010216945A1, WO 2006097386A1, WO 2006097385A1, and WO 2007027286A2, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0039] A chemical production network may include one or more chemical and / or mechanical processes. A chemical production network may produce one or more output materials through chemical and / or mechanical processing. A chemical production network may include multiple types of production processes that produce one or more output materials from one or more input materials. A chemical production network may produce one or more output materials from input materials provided to the chemical production network. A chemical production network may include a complex production network that produces multiple chemical products through multiple production processes. A chemical production network may include connected production processes, interconnected production processes, and / or disconnected production processes. A chemical production network may include a composite or Verbund network.

[0040] A chemical production network may include identity-preserving or segregating production processes. Identity preserving or segregating in this context may refer to environmental attributes of input materials being preserved or segregated in the production process. An example is a non-fossil, e.g., renewable or recycled, input material being used to produce one or more coating materials without fossil content. A further example is a non-fossil, e.g., renewable or recycled, input material being used to produce one or more coating materials with fossil content. Multiple A fossil input material is used to produce a coating material. A chemical production network may include a non-identity-preserving or non-segregating production process. In this regard, non-identity-preserving or non-segregating may refer to a non-fossil input material being mixed with a fossil input material to produce a coating material. For example, a fossil and a renewable input material may be mixed to produce a coating material having fossil and renewable content.

[0041] A chemical production network may include one or more production processes with multiple production steps. The production steps included in the chemical network may be defined by the physical system boundary of the chemical production network. The system boundary may be defined by the location and / or control over the production process or step. The system boundary may be defined by the site of the chemical production network. The system boundary may be defined by a production process or step jointly controlled by one entity or multiple entities. The system boundary may be defined by a value chain with staggered production processes or steps leading to a chemical end product, which may be jointly or separately controlled by multiple entities. A chemical production network may include waste collection, sorting steps, recycling steps such as pyrolysis, cracking steps such as steam cracking, separation steps to separate intermediates of a process step, and further processing steps to convert such intermediates into output materials, particularly produced coating materials, that exit the system boundary of the chemical production network. Input materials may enter the physical system boundary of the chemical production network. An entry point of a chemical production network may be characterized by the entry of input materials into the chemical production network or the system boundary of the chemical network. The output material, particularly the coating material produced, can exit the physical system boundary of the chemical production network. An exit point of the chemical production network can be characterized by the output material, particularly the coating material produced, exiting the system boundary of the chemical production network or chemical network.

[0042] A chemical production network may include one or more production chains for the production of coating materials. The production chains for the production of coating materials may be interconnected. The production chains for the production of coating materials may be interconnected with production chains for the production of other output materials. The production chains for the production of coating materials may include production chains for the production of intermediates used to produce the coating materials. The production chains for the production of coating materials may use input materials provided by a chemical network for the production of intermediates that can be used to produce the coating materials.

[0043] One or more input materials can be provided to a chemical production network to produce one or more output materials, particularly coating materials. Output materials, particularly coating materials, can be produced from one or more input materials through one or more chemical processes in the chemical production network. Input materials can include any input material that enters the chemical production network at any entry point. Input materials can include organic input materials or inorganic input materials. Input materials can be precursor products, intermediate materials, or raw materials or materials used to produce one or more output materials, particularly coating materials. Input materials can be supplied to a chemical production network to produce one or more output materials, particularly coating materials. Input materials can be supplied to a chemical production network including one or more production processes with multiple process steps. Input materials can be supplied to the chemical production network at the start of the production process or at any intermediate stage in the production process. Input materials entering the chemical production network can be used to produce one or more output materials, particularly coating materials.

[0044] The input material may be associated with an input material identifier. The input material identifier may include any identifier uniquely associated with the input material. The input material identifier may be associated with a physical input of the input material. The input material identifier may be associated with a single batch of the input material. The input material identifier may be associated with a group of the input material. The identifier may be associated with multiple physical entities of the input material. The input material identifier may be associated with a continuous or semi-continuous stream of the input material. The input material identifier may be associated with a stream of input material over a particular time period or from a particular supplier, for example. The input material identifier may be linked or connected to one or more environmental attributes.

[0045] Environmental attributes may refer to characteristics related to environmental impacts. Such characteristics may be characteristics of input materials, chemical processes, chemical production networks, and / or coating materials. Environmental attributes may indicate the environmental performance of input materials, chemical processes, chemical production networks, and / or coating materials. Environmental attributes may be derived from the characteristics of input materials, chemical processes, chemical production networks, and / or coating materials. Environmental attributes may be associated with the environmental impacts of input materials, chemical processes, chemical production networks, and / or coating materials at any stage in their life cycles. Stages may include providing raw materials, providing raw materials, producing chemical products such as intermediate or final products, producing individual products by using chemical products, using chemical products or individual products, processing end-of-life products, recycling end-of-life products, disposal of end-of-life products, reusing components from end-of-life products, or any subset of stages. Environmental attributes may be specified or derived from any activity of one or more entities participating in any stage in the life cycle of one or more materials or products.

[0046] The environmental attributes may include one or more properties attributable to the environmental impact of the input materials, the chemical process, the chemical production network, and / or the coating material. The environmental attributes may include environmental properties, technical properties, recyclability properties, or circularity properties associated with the environmental impact of the input materials, the chemical process, the chemical production network, and / or the coating material.

[0047] The environmental attributes may include one or more characteristics attributable to the environmental impact of the input materials, chemical process, chemical production network, and / or coating material. The environmental attributes may include environmental characteristics, technical characteristics, recyclability characteristics, or circularity characteristics related to the environmental impact of the input materials, chemical process, chemical production network, and / or coating material. The one or more environmental attributes may be attributable to the environmental impact of the coating material. The one or more environmental attributes may relate to the environmental characteristics, technical characteristics, cyclability characteristics, circularity characteristics, and / or complementary risk characteristics of the coating material.

[0048] Environmental characteristics may specify or quantify environmental protection criteria associated with environmental impacts. Environmental characteristics may be or be derived from measurements taken during the life cycle. Environmental characteristics may be identified at any stage of the life cycle and characterize the environmental impacts at or up to that stage. Environmental characteristics may include, for example, carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, resource use, air emissions, ozone depletion potential, water pollution, noise pollution, energy consumption, waste reduction, or eutrophication potential. Environmental characteristics may include, for example, product characteristics related to the production of the product, such as bio-based, plant-based, animal-based, halogen-free, fluorine-free, vegan, halal, kosher, palm oil-free, natural, toxic-free, isocyanate-free, melamine-free, volatile organic compound-free, or any combination thereof.

[0049] Technical characteristics may specify or quantify performance that is at least indirectly related to environmental impact. Technical characteristics may be or be derived from measurements made during the life cycle. Technical characteristics may be identified at any stage of the life cycle and characterize the environmental impact at or up to such stage. Technical characteristics may include, for example, chemical composition data, raw material composition such as biobased or recycled input material content, specifying x% non-fossil content and y% fossil content, bill of materials, product specification data such as product purity, product form (as an indicator of impact on dust formation / release), safety data, product extractability, migration data, toxicity data or ecotoxicity data, product ingredient data, safety data, applicability data, application instructions, quality data, or any combination thereof.

[0050] Circularity characteristics may specify or quantify life cycle characteristics associated with circular use. Circularity characteristics may be or be derived from measurements made during the life cycle. Circularity characteristics may be or be derived from circularity data recorded at one or more previous life cycles, including reuse. Circularity characteristics may be identified at any stage of the life cycle and may characterize reuse or recycling performance at or up to such stage. Circularity characteristics may include, for example, recycling data, reuse rate, recycling rate, recycling loop, reuse performance, reuse quality, or any combination thereof.

[0051] The recyclability characteristic may specify or quantify a life cycle characteristic associated with recycled use. The recyclability characteristic may include the composition of a material, including specifically adapted components that make the material suitable for recycling. The recyclability characteristic may be or be derived from measurements taken during the life cycle. The recyclability characteristic may be or be derived from recycling data recorded at one or more previous life cycles. The recyclability characteristic may be identified at any stage of the life cycle and may characterize the recycling performance at or up to such stage. The recyclability characteristic may include, for example, recycling data, reuse counts, recyclable composition, recycling quality, wastewater stream composition, wastewater stream quality, or any combination thereof.

[0052] In one embodiment, a coating material passport or digital asset associated with a coating material may include mass balance environmental attributes related to input materials. The mass balance environmental attributes may include environmental attributes of input materials used to produce the coating material that are tracked and attributed to the coating material by mass. The environmental impact of an input material may be determined based on the input materials used in a chemical process to produce the coating material. For example, the bio-based content, renewable content, and / or recycled content of the input materials used to produce the coating material may be tracked. Further, for example, characteristics of the chemical process used to produce the coating material may be tracked. Examples of process characteristics tracked with respect to environmental impact include CO2 emissions and / or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, waste generation, mixed material generation, recycling design, energy consumption, processing characteristics such as less waste or less property loss, etc. Characteristics may be tracked based on certification from a certification agency. Characteristics may be tracked based on intrinsic physical properties derived from measurements.

[0053] In one embodiment, the coating material being produced is connected to a distributed identifier that physically identifies the coating material being produced. The production operations device may be configured to provide a distributed identifier associated with the physical entity of the coating material being produced. The production operations device may be configured to link the distributed identifier to the physical identifier of the coating material being produced. The production operations device may be configured to assign the distributed identifier to the physical identifier connected to the coating material being produced. The production operations device may be configured to assign the distributed identifier to the physical identifier physically connected to the coating material being produced.

[0054] In one embodiment, the distributed identifier relates to data associated with at least one product produced from the coating material, and one or more environmental attributes associated with the at least one product are derived from one or more environmental attributes associated with the coating material. The one or more environmental attributes associated with the coating material may be associated with one or more input materials and / or chemical processes used to produce the coating material. The distributed identifier may relate to any identifier uniquely associated with the coating material. The distributed identifier may be associated with a physical entity of the coating material. The distributed identifier may refer to a single batch of the coating material produced. The distributed identifier may be associated with a group of the coating material. The identifier may refer to multiple physical entities of the coating material produced. The distributed identifier may be associated with a continuous or semi-continuous flow of the coating material. The identifier may refer to a flow of the coating material over a particular time period or from a particular supplier, for example.

[0055] In one embodiment, the one or more environmental attributes associated with the coating material are provided from at least one balancing account configured to store environmental attributes associated with the input material. The balancing account may relate to a storage structure associated with metadata, such as an environmental attribute type. For example, the balancing account may be associated with metadata indicating that the environmental attribute type is recycled content or bio-based. The inbound allocator may be configured to allocate the one or more environmental attributes associated with the input material to at least one balancing account, for example, when the input material enters the chemical production network. A balancing account may be associated with each environmental attribute type. The outbound assigner may be configured to assign at least one environmental attribute from the at least one balancing account associated with each environmental attribute to a decentralized identifier. The one or more environmental attributes may be assigned to at least one decentralized identifier. The allocation may include deallocating one or more environmental attributes from the balancing account associated with each environmental attribute type. Using the balancing account, the environmental attributes of the input material may be reliably tracked and assigned to the coating material being produced.

[0056] The inbound allocator may be configured, for example, to allocate one or more environmental attributes to at least one balancing account associated with each environmental attribute when an input material enters the chemical production network. A balancing account may be associated with each environmental attribute type. One or more environmental attributes associated with the input material may be allocated to a balancing account associated with each environmental attribute type. The outbound assigner may be configured to assign or link at least one environmental attribute from the at least one balancing account associated with each environmental attribute type to a decentralized identifier. This may include deallocating one or more environmental attributes from the balancing account associated with each environmental attribute type. By using balancing accounts, environmental attributes may be tracked throughout the chemical production network. In this way, environmental attributes may be decoupled from material flow. Attribution of environmental attributes may be performed on a mass balance basis in the chemical production network. In such an approach, the total mass of the input material and the produced coating material and the attribution of each environmental attribute associated with the input material and the produced coating material are balanced.

[0057] In one embodiment, the one or more environmental attributes are associated with at least one characteristic related to the environmental impact of one or more input materials and / or chemical processes. The one or more environmental attributes may specify the environmental characteristics of the input materials used to produce the coating material, and / or the one or more environmental attributes may specify the environmental characteristics of the chemical process used to produce the coating material. The one or more environmental attributes may be generated from the environmental characteristics of the input materials used to produce the coating material, process data associated with the chemical processing of the input materials, and / or energy data associated with the energy consumption of the chemical processing. The one or more environmental attributes may include recycled content associated with the input materials and allocated or allocable to the coating material produced, renewable content associated with the input materials and allocated or allocable to the coating material produced, and / or a product carbon footprint associated with the coating material produced.

[0058] In one embodiment, the production operations device is configured to collect environmental attributes associated with the produced coating material before, during, and / or after production of the coating material by the chemical production network. The environmental attributes associated with the produced coating material may be related to input materials. The environmental attributes associated with the input materials may be provided before, during, and / or after production of the coating material by the chemical production network. The environmental attributes associated with the input materials may be allocated to at least one balancing account before, during, and / or after production of the coating material by the chemical production network. The environmental attributes associated with the produced coating material may be related to environmental characteristics generated from process data associated with chemical processing of the input materials and / or energy data associated with energy consumption of the chemical processing. The environmental attributes associated with the produced coating material may be generated before, during, and / or after production of the coating material by the chemical production network. The process data associated with chemical processing of the input materials and / or energy data associated with energy consumption of the chemical processing may be collected before, during, and / or after production of the coating material.

[0059] In one embodiment, a painting material passport or digital asset may include a decentralized identifier associated with the painting material and one or more environmental attributes linked to the decentralized identifier. The one or more environmental attributes may be linked to the decentralized identifier included in the painting material passport or digital asset. The one or more environmental attributes may be stored in a database associated with or at the painting material producer for access by any consumer of the produced painting material. The one or more environmental attributes may be stored in a database associated with or at the painting material producer for transfer to a consumer of the produced painting material, for example, when accessed or provided with the painting material. The decentralized identifier may include any unique identifier uniquely associated with the painting material producer and painting material data, such as environmental attributes. The decentralized identifier may include one or more universally unique identifiers (UUIDs) or digital identifiers (DIDs). The decentralized identifier may be issued by a central or decentralized identifier issuer. The decentralized identifier may be linked to authentication and / or authorization information. Through the decentralized identifier and its unique association with coating material data, such as coating material producer and environmental attributes, access to the coating material data can be controlled by the coating material producer. This contrasts with a centralized approach, in which the identifier is provided by such a central authority and access to the data is controlled by such a central authority. Decentralized in this context refers to the use of the identifier in an implementation controlled by the data owner, such as the coating material producer.

[0060] The decentralized identifier may be uniquely associated with the painting material or the physical entity of the painting material, for example, when packaged for transport to a painting material consumer. The decentralized identifier may be unique to one or more environmental attributes. The painting material passport or digital asset may include one or more digital representations pointing to painting material data including environmental attributes or portions thereof that include environmental attributes. The digital representations may include at least one interface to a data providing service. It may further include at least one interface to a data consuming service. It may further include a data exchange or sharing endpoint (resource endpoint) or a service interaction endpoint (service endpoint) that is uniquely identified via a communication protocol. The digital representations pointing to the painting material data or portions thereof may be uniquely associated with the decentralized identifier.

[0061] The painting material passport or digital asset may include or be connected to a digital representation of painting material data, such as environmental attributes. The digital representation may include a representation for accessing painting material data, such as environmental attributes or portions thereof. The digital representation may include a representation of painting material data, such as environmental attributes. The painting material passport or digital asset may include or be connected to data related to painting material data, such as environmental attributes, authentication information, and a distributed identifier. Data related to painting material data, such as environmental attributes, may include a digital representation of painting material data, such as environmental attributes.

[0062] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following, the present disclosure will be further explained with reference to the accompanying figures. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0063] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example chemical production network that produces one or more output materials from one or more input materials in conjunction with a production operations system that includes an attribute management system. [Figure 2] 1 illustrates a schematic example of attributing environmental attributes of input materials to output materials in a chemical production network. [Figure 3]1 illustrates a schematic of an example of attributing environmental attributes of input materials and chemical processes to output materials in a chemical production network. [Figure 4] 10 illustrates, in schematic form, another example of a method or apparatus for providing environmental attributes associated with output materials to material users as data consumers via a distributed network. [Figure 5] 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example of a method or apparatus for providing environmental attributes of output materials across a value chain via a distributed network. [Figure 6A] 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example chemical production network that produces coating materials associated with coating material passports or digital assets. [Figure 6B] 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example chemical production network that produces hardener components and / or binder solutions associated with a coating material passport or digital asset. [Figure 6C] 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example chemical production network that produces binder dispersions associated with coating material passports or digital assets. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0064] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a chemical production network 104 that produces one or more output materials, particularly a coating material 106, from one or more input materials 102 in conjunction with a production operations system 108 that includes an attribute management system. The coating material may be selected from a coating material or a coating material component. The coating material may be selected from an electrodeposition coating material, a primer material, a primer surfacer material, a filler material, a putty material, a basecoat material, a clearcoat material, or a tinted clearcoat material. For example, the coating material may be a primer material. Alternatively, the coating material may be an electrodeposition coating material. In yet another example, the coating material may be a clearcoat material. The coating material component may be selected from a curing agent composition, an additive composition, a thinner, a diluent, a spot blender composition, a pigment paste, or a binder composition. For example, the coating material component may be a curing agent composition. Alternatively, the coating material component may be a binder composition. In yet another example, the coating material component may be a thinner. In yet another example, the coating material component may be a diluent. In yet another embodiment, the coating material component can be a mixing clear. In yet another embodiment, the coating material component can be a spot blender composition. In yet another embodiment, the coating material component can be a pigment paste. In yet another embodiment, the coating material component can be an additive composition.

[0065] Different input materials 102 may be provided as physical inputs to a chemical production network 104 to produce one or more output materials, particularly coating materials 106. The physical input materials 102 and output materials, particularly coating materials 106, may be associated with one or more characteristics related to environmental impact. The characteristics related to environmental impact may be digitized in the form of environmental attributes, such as the recycled or bio-based content of the input materials. The production operations system 108 may be configured to capture such environmental attributes and track the environmental attributes throughout the chemical production network 104 from the input materials 102 to the output materials, particularly coating materials 106.

[0066] The chemical production network 104 may include multiple interlinked process steps. The chemical production network 104 may be an integrated chemical production network 104 with interrelated production chains. The chemical production network 104 may include multiple different production chains with at least one common intermediate product. The chemical production network 104 may include multiple stages of a chemical value chain. The chemical production network 104 may include gas or crude oil production, refining, processing, and / or refining. The chemical production network 104 may be connected to multiple production chains that output products 104 from the effluents of such plants. Steam cracker or may include a syngas plant. The chemical production network 104 may include multiple production chains that output one or more output materials, particularly coating materials 106, from one or more input materials 104. The chemical production network 104 may include multiple sub-layers of chemical value chains. The chemical production network 104 may include a physically interconnected organization of production sites. The production sites may be in the same location or in different locations. In the latter case, the production sites may be interconnected by dedicated transportation systems such as pipelines, trucks, supply chain vehicles like supply chain ships or other cargo transport vehicles.

[0067] The chemical production network 104 may chemically convert the input material 102 into one or more output materials, particularly the coating material 106. The chemical production network 104 may convert the input material 102 into one or more output materials, particularly the coating material 106, by chemical conversion.

[0068] Input materials 102 may be fed into chemical production network 104 at any entry point. Input materials 102 may be fed into chemical production network 104 at the start of chemical production network 104. Input materials 102 may constitute, for example, feedstock for a steam cracker. Input materials 102 may include non-fossil input materials and / or fossil input materials, such as bio-based or recycled materials for producing chemical intermediates and chemical output materials, particularly coating materials 106.

[0069] The chemical production network 104 may include multiple production processes. The production processes included in the chemical production network 104 may be defined by the system boundary of the chemical production network 104. The system boundary may be defined by the location of the production process or the control of the production process. The system boundary may be defined by the site of the chemical production network 104. The system boundary may be defined by a production process controlled jointly by one entity or multiple entities. The system boundary may be defined by a value chain with staggered production processes to a final product that may be controlled separately by multiple entities. The chemical production network 104 may include waste collection and sorting processes, recycling processes such as pyrolysis, cracking processes such as steam cracking, separation processes to separate intermediates of certain process steps, and further processing processes to convert such intermediates into output materials, particularly the coating material 106, that exit the system boundary of the chemical production network 104.

[0070] The production operations system 108 of the chemical production network 104 may be configured to monitor and / or control the chemical production network 104 based on different process operating parameters. One process step that may be monitored and / or controlled may be the feeding of input materials 102 or the release of output materials, particularly coating materials 106. Another process step that may be monitored and / or controlled may be the registration of environmental attributes associated with the input materials 102 entering the system boundary of the chemical production network 104. Yet another process step that may be monitored and / or controlled may be the attribution of environmental attributes to output materials, particularly coating materials 106, produced via the chemical production network 102. Yet another process step that may be monitored and / or controlled may be the management of environmental attributes associated with the input materials 102 and output materials, particularly coating materials 106, of the chemical production network 104.

[0071] The production operations system 108 may be configured to register inbound environmental attributes and assign outbound environmental attributes. The production operations system 108 may be configured to access data regarding input materials 102, processes, and / or output materials, particularly coating materials 106, used in the chemical production network 104. For example, the production operations system 108 may be configured to register the recycled or bio-based content of one or more input materials 102 used in the chemical production network 104 as an environmental attribute. The production operations system 108 may be configured to allocate the environmental attribute to at least one balancing account associated with the recycled or bio-based content of the input material 102. The production operations system 108 may be configured to allocate at least a portion of the environmental attribute from the at least one balancing account to at least one output material, particularly the coating material 106.

[0072] The production operations system 108 may be configured to handle environmental attributes related to the input materials 102 and output materials, particularly the coating material 106, of the chemical production network 104. For example, the production operations system 108 may be configured to identify environmental attributes associated with the use of the input materials 102 and output materials, particularly the coating material 106, produced by the chemical production network 104 that affect the environmental characteristics of the chemical production network 104. Furthermore, particularly, the production operations system 108 may be configured to identify environmental attributes related to the output materials, particularly the coating material 106. In this manner, the production operations system 108 may be configured to store or retrieve environmental attributes from a balancing account. Thus, the environmental attributes can be viewed as credits that can be credited to or debited from accounts related to the input and output materials, particularly the coating material 106, of the chemical production network 104. In this manner, the environmental impact of production may be tracked and / or traced.

[0073] Multiple value chains may be linked in the chemical production network 104. Furthermore, different input materials 102 or chemical processes may be used that affect the environmental properties of the output materials, particularly the coating materials 106, produced by the chemical production network 104. Examples of input materials 102 that affect at least one environmental property of the output materials, particularly the coating materials 106, produced from such input materials 102 are recycled, renewable, or bio-based input materials 102. Examples of chemical processes that affect environmental properties include chemical processes using carbon capture, carbon utilization, heat pump green technologies, or energy produced from natural sources such as the sun or wind.

[0074] Due to the processing of chemicals in continuous or semi-continuous production and the complexity of the chemical production network 104, traceability of input materials 102 through the network may be hindered. In such a scenario, equivalent environmental attributes indicating the impact on the environmental properties of output materials, particularly coating materials 106, produced by the chemical production network 108 can be allocated to balancing accounts and assigned to one or more output materials, particularly coating materials 106, of the chemical production network 104. Thus, environmental attributes can be decoupled from the physical material flow within the chemical production network 104. The decoupling can be based on a mass balance model in that the equivalents assigned to one or more output materials in the coating material 106 do not exceed the equivalents provided by the input materials 102 or process. If an equivalent is allocated to a virtual account for one environmental attribute type, it cannot be allocated a second time to another virtual account for that environmental attribute type. Environmental attribute types can be recycled, biobased, renewable, etc. The environmental attributes can be provided in the form of a digital asset or a coating material passport attached to the physical entity of the coating material.

[0075] 2 illustrates a schematic example of attributing environmental attributes associated with input materials 102 of a chemical production network 104 to an output material, specifically a coating material 106. The chemical production network 104 has a physical system boundary 202. The physical system boundary 202 may be defined as described above.

[0076] 1 , chemical production network 104 and its operation may be monitored and / or controlled by production operating system 108. Production operating system 108 may be configured to track environmental attributes from input materials 102 supplied to chemical production network 104 to output materials, particularly coating materials 106, produced by chemical production network 104. For tracking purposes, operating system 108 may be configured to register environmental attributes associated with input materials 102 provided to chemical production network 104 and to attribute environmental attributes to output materials, particularly coating materials 106, produced by chemical production network 104.

[0077] An input material 102, such as petroleum, natural gas, pyrolysis oil, bio-naphtha, and bio-methane, may be provided to a chemical production network 104. The input material 102 may enter the chemical production network 104 at an inlet point, such as a steam cracker or a syngas plant. The input material 102 may be used in the chemical production network 104 to produce one or more output materials, particularly a coating material 106, from the input material 102. The output material, particularly a coating material 106, may be provided at an exit point of the chemical production network 104. The output material may be a coating material. The coating material may be selected from the group consisting of an electrodeposition coating material, a primer material, a primer surfacer material, a filler material, a putty material, a base coat material, a clear coat material, or a tinted clear coat material. For example, the coating material may be a primer material. In another case, the coating material may be an electrodeposition coating material. In yet another case, the coating material may be a clear coat material. The output material may be a coating material component. The coating material component may be selected from the group consisting of a hardener composition, an additive composition, a thinner, a diluent, a mixing clear, a spot blender composition, a pigment paste, or a binder composition. For example, the coating material component may be a hardener composition. For example, the coating material component may be a hardener composition. In another case, the coating material component may be a binder composition. In yet another case, the coating material component may be a thinner. In yet another case, the coating material component may be a diluent. In yet another case, the coating material component may be a mixing clear. In yet another case, the coating material component may be a spot blender composition. In yet another case, the coating material component may be a pigment paste. In yet another case, the coating material component may be an additive composition.

[0078] When the input materials 102 are entered, the input material data 204 may be provided to a computing interface of the production operations system 108 via a communications network. A data provider, such as a QR code reader, may be configured to provide material data 108 for one or more input materials 102 and each environmental attribute 108 to a computing interface configured to allocate the environmental attributes associated with the input materials 102. The material data 108 may include an input material identifier and the environmental attributes associated with the input material 102. The input material identifier may be associated with the physical entity of the input material 102 entering the chemical production network 104. The material data may be provided when, before, or after the one or more input materials are provided to an entry point of the chemical production network 104.

[0079] The input material identifiers may be linked to environmental attributes associated with each input material 102, the quantity of the input material 102, and a certificate verifying the environmental attributes. The quantity of the input material may be a measured amount of the input material 102 provided to a plant or repository of the chemical production network 104 for producing one or more output materials from the input material 102, particularly a coating material 106. The input material identifiers associated with each input material 102, the environmental attributes associated with each input material 102, and the quantity of the input material 102 provided to the chemical production network 104 may be provided to the production operations system 108. Such data may be provided via a communications network upon entry into the chemical production network 104, or the data may be transferred from a computing system to the production operations system 108.

[0080] The inbound allocator 204 may be configured to allocate one or more environmental attributes to at least one balancing account 208 associated with each environmental attribute. For example, one balancing account 208 may be for environmental attributes from bio-based materials, and another balancing account 210 may be for environmental attributes from recycled materials. A balancing account may be associated with each environmental attribute type, such as bio-based or recycled. Based on such association, a balancing account associated with the environmental attribute type of each input material 102 may be selected. The environmental attributes may be allocated to the selected balancing account. For example, a balancing account 208 for recycled materials may be selected, and the environmental attributes may be allocated to such account 208.

[0081] For allocation, one or more environmental attributes may be converted into balancing units, and the balancing units may be allocated to balancing accounts 208. The conversion may be based on a conversion factor, such as mass, weight, carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms, methane equivalents, or any other suitable measure for quantifying the environmental impact of the environmental attribute. Thus, the conversion factor may account for differences between the production of chemical products from conventional input materials and non-conventional input materials, or the production of chemical products from a mixture of conventional and non-conventional input materials. The conversion factor may relate to differences in the chemical and / or physical properties of the conventional and non-conventional input materials.

[0082] The use of balancing accounts 208 may ensure that environmental attributes of input materials 102 can only be used once for allocation to coating materials 106. In this way, double counting of inputs or outputs is avoided, ensuring that positive environmental impacts can be reliably tracked and allocated to coating materials 106.

[0083] The identifier provider 212 may be configured to provide a coating material identifier (ID2) associated with a coating material produced by the chemical production network 104 and provided at an exit point from the chemical production network 104.

[0084] The outbound assigner 214 may be configured to assign at least one environmental attribute from at least one balancing account 208 associated with each environmental attribute to a painting material identifier ID2. One or more environmental attributes may be assigned to at least one painting material identifier ID2. The assignment may include deallocating one or more environmental attributes from a balancing account 208 associated with each environmental attribute type. The assignment may include converting one or more balancing units to one or more environmental attributes.

[0085] Assigning at least one environmental attribute associated with the input material to the machine fluid may include linking the environmental attribute to a coating material identifier ID2. The coating material identifier ID2 may be associated with the physical entity of the coating material. In this manner, a virtual identifier for a material, such as a coating material, may be uniquely linked to the physical material. Such linking may include a physical link or a virtual link of an identifier uniquely associated with the physical material. In the case of physical linking, a tag or code may be physically connected to the material, for example, by printing a QR code on packaging or embossing a code on the material. In the case of virtual linking, different identifiers associated with the physical material may be linked. For example, an order number, a batch number, a lot number, or a combination thereof may be linked.

[0086] The outbound signer 214 may be configured to provide environmental attributes associated with the painting material to a data consumer, such as a data consumption service 218 associated with a painting material consumer. The outbound signer 214 may be configured to provide environmental attributes associated with the painting material to a distributed network, such as the distributed network 216, as illustrated in the example of Figure 4. The environmental attributes may be provided via the identity-based schema described above in the form of a digital asset or painting material passport associated with the painting material physical entity.

[0087] 3 illustrates a schematic example of attributing environmental attributes of input materials 102 and chemical processes to a coating material 106 produced by a chemical production network 104. The chemical production network 104 includes a physical system boundary 202. The physical system boundary 202 may be defined as described above.

[0088] 1 and 2 , chemical production network 104 and its operation may be monitored and / or controlled by production operations system 108. Input materials 102, such as petroleum, natural gas, pyrolysis oil, bio-naphtha, and / or bio-methane, may be provided to chemical production network 104. Input materials 102 may be used in chemical production network 104 to produce one or more coating materials 106 from input materials 102.

[0089] Upon input of the input materials 102, input material data 204 may be provided to a computing interface of the production operations system 108 via a communications network. A data provider, such as a QR code reader, may be configured to provide the input material data 204 for one or more input materials 102 and each environmental attribute to a computing interface configured to allocate the environmental attributes associated with the input materials 102. The input material data 204 may include an input material identifier and an environmental attribute associated with the input material 102. The input material identifier may be associated with the physical entity of the input material 102 entering the chemical production network 104. The input material identifier may be linked to the carbon footprint of the input material 102 as an environmental attribute. The material data may be provided when, before, or after one or more input materials are provided at an entry point to the chemical production network 104.

[0090] The inbound allocator 206 may be configured to obtain one or more environmental attributes and provide such attributes to the carbon footprint (CF) generator 304. The process data provider 302 may be configured to collect process data associated with the chemical processing of the input material 102 to produce the coating material 106. The process data provider 302 may be configured to collect energy data associated with the energy consumption of the chemical processing. The process data provider 302 may be configured to provide the process data and the energy data to the CF generator 304.

[0091] The CF generator 304 can be configured to determine a carbon footprint of a coating material produced by a chemical production network. The carbon footprint of the coating material can be determined based on process data, energy data, and the carbon footprint of the input materials 102 used to produce the coating material.

[0092] The identifier provider 212 may be configured to provide coating material identifiers associated with coating materials produced by the chemical production network 104 and provided from the chemical production network 104 at an exit point.

[0093] The outbound addresser 214 may be configured to assign the determined carbon footprint to a coating material identifier ID2. One or more environmental attributes may be assigned to at least one coating material identifier ID2 as described with respect to FIG.

[0094] The outbound signer 214 may be configured to provide environmental attributes, particularly carbon footprints, associated with the paint materials produced to data consumers, such as data consumption services 218 associated with paint material consumers. The outbound signer 214 may be configured to provide the environmental attributes associated with the paint materials to a distributed network, such as distributed network 216, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The environmental attributes may be provided via the identity-based schema described above in the form of a digital asset or paint material passport associated with the physical entity of the paint material.

[0095] FIG. 4 illustrates, in schematic form, another example of a method or apparatus for providing environmental attributes associated with coating materials to a material consumer as a data consumer via a distributed network.

[0096] The coating material 106 produced by the chemical production network 104 may be provided in association with a digital asset, as described with respect to Figures 2 and 3. The digital asset may include a coating material identifier. The digital asset may include one or more environmental attributes, such as a product's carbon footprint, recycled content, or bio-based content. The digital asset may relate to one or more environmental attributes, such as a product's carbon footprint, recycled content, or bio-based content. The digital asset may include a digital representation of one or more environmental attributes, such as a product's carbon footprint, recycled content, or bio-based content.

[0097] The digital asset may further include or relate to authentication and / or authorization information linked to the painting material identifier. The authentication and / or authorization information may be provided for authentication and / or authorization of the data providing service 402 and / or the data consuming service 218. The painting material identifier may include or relate to a decentralized identifier uniquely associated with the painting material. The decentralized identifier may be connected to a digital representation of the environmental attribute. The digital representation may include a representation for accessing the environmental attribute or a portion thereof. The decentralized identifier may include one or more universally unique identifiers (UUIDs) or digital identifiers (DIDs). The decentralized identifier may include any unique identifier uniquely associated with the data owner and / or the painting material. The data owner may be the producer of the painting material. Through the decentralized identifier and its unique association with the data owner and / or the painting material, access to the material composition data may be controlled by the data owner.

[0098] Digital assets including a digital representation of one or more environmental attributes, such as a product's carbon footprint, recycled content, or bio-based content, may be stored in a distributed database 404. The one or more environmental attributes, such as a product's carbon footprint, recycled content, or bio-based content, may be stored in a database 406 associated with a data owner, such as a producer of the coating material 106.

[0099] The painting material 106 may be physically delivered to a consumer of the painting material. A QR code may be attached to the painting material or may be embossed with a code encoding a painting material identifier. The consumer of the painting material may read the code through a code reader, such as QR code reader 410. The painting material identifier may be provided to a database 408 associated with the consumer of the painting material 106. In other embodiments, a consumer of the painting material may obtain the painting material identifier through the distributed database 404 .

[0100] The data owner in this example may be the input material producing vehicle, the output material producer, the output material user, or the final product producer. The data owner may include any entity that generates data. The data producing node may be coupled to the data owner or the entity that owns or produces the physical product from which the data was generated or to which the generated data relates. The data may be generated by a third party on behalf of the entity that owns the physical product from which the data was generated or to which the generated data relates.

[0101] The data consumption service 218 may include computer-executable instructions for accessing and / or processing data, such as painting material data, associated with a data owner. The data providing service 402 may include computer-executable instructions for providing and / or processing data, such as painting material data, associated with a data owner for access and / or processing by the data consumption service 218.

[0102] Based on the received coating material identifier, a request to access environmental attributes associated with the coating material identifier may be triggered by the data consumption service 218, as indicated by arrow 412. The coating material identifier may be associated with or provided to the data providing service 402 by a producer of the coating material. Additionally, authentication and / or authorization information may be provided.

[0103] The request may be authenticated and / or authorized to access the environmental attributes associated with the coating material identifier. Based on successful authentication and / or authorization, access to the environmental attributes associated with the coating material identifier may be granted.

[0104] For access, the painting material identifier may be provided to the data providing service 402, as indicated by arrow 412. The data providing service 402 may use the received painting material identifier to obtain environmental attributes associated with the received painting material identifier, as indicated by arrows 416 and 418. The obtained environmental attributes associated with the received painting material identifier may be provided to the data consuming service 218, as indicated by arrow 414. The environmental attributes associated with the painting material 106 may be stored in a database 408 associated with a consumer of the painting material 106, as indicated by arrow 418.

[0105] Through the output identifier or distributed identifier, the environmental attributes can be uniquely associated with the coating material. Through the distributed network, the environmental attributes can be transferred between the coating material producer and the coating material consumer. In this way, the environmental attributes can be shared directly between value chain players without a central intermediary, with a unique association to the coating material. This enables transparency of environmental attributes across the value chain, and allows the tracking of positive environmental impacts from coating materials produced by the chemical production network 104 throughout the value chain.

[0106] FIG. 5 illustrates generally an example of a method or apparatus for providing coating materials and associated environmental attributes across a value chain via a distributed network.

[0107] The example of Figure 5 shows a fully connected value chain including a chemical production network 104. In this example, input material providers, coating material producers, coating material consumers, and end product producers may be connected in a distributed network as described with respect to Figure 4. Environmental attributes, in the form of coating material passports or digital assets associated with the physical entities of the input materials, coating materials, any intermediate products, or end products, may be provided via the ID-based schema described with respect to Figures 2-4.

[0108] An input material provider may provide input materials 102. The input materials 102 may include bio-based input materials or recycled materials. The environmental attributes of the input materials 102 may be provided through a data providing service connected to the distributed network, as described with reference to FIG. 4 . A coating material producer may produce coating materials from input materials 506 provided to the chemical production network 104. The coating material producer may access the environmental attributes associated with the input materials 102 through a data consuming service 218 connected to the distributed network, as described with reference to FIG. 4 . The environmental attributes may be obtained from a data providing service 402 associated with each input material provider. The coating material producer may manage the environmental attributes through the production operation system 108, as described with reference to FIGS. 1-3 . The coating material producer may assign environmental attributes associated with the input materials 102 or environmental attributes associated with the chemical production network 104, such as a carbon footprint, to the produced coating materials 106, as described with reference to FIGS. 1-3 . A coating material producer may provide environmental attributes associated with the coating material 106 produced through a data providing service 402 connected to the distributed network, as described with respect to Figure 4. A coating material consumer or end product producer may access environmental attributes associated with the coating material 106 produced through a data consuming service 218 connected to the distributed network, as described with respect to Figure 4.

[0109] Each data owner in this example may be an input material producer, an output material producer, an output material consumer, or an end product producer. A data owner may include any entity-generated data. A data-generating node may be coupled to the data owner or an entity that owns or produces the physical product from which the data was generated or to which the generated data relates. Data may be generated by a third party on behalf of the entity that owns the physical product from which the data was generated or to which the generated data relates.

[0110] The data consumption service 218 may include computer-executable instructions for accessing and / or processing data, such as painting material data, associated with a data owner. The data providing service 402 may include computer-executable instructions for providing and / or processing data, such as painting material data, associated with a data owner for access and / or processing by the data consumption service.

[0111] In the example of Figure 5, the decentralized identifier may be related to the final product. Such a decentralized identifier may be provided to value chain participants. Through the final product-specific decentralized identifier, data associated with the final product produced from the coating material may be collected throughout the production chain and assigned to the final product-specific decentralized identifier. For example, one or more environmental attributes associated with the final product may be derived from environmental attributes associated with the coating material, input materials 102, or any other product entity present in the final product's value chain.

[0112] In this manner, the environmental attributes of the input materials 102, the resulting coating materials 106, and any products produced from the coating materials can be tracked through the value chain to the final product. Tracking the environmental attributes of materials in this manner allows for information transparency throughout the value chain, while still allowing the flow of information to be controlled by the supply chain participants. Additionally, the environmental attributes can be handled by the production operations system according to the needs of individual participants, as described with respect to Figures 1-3. Overall, such tracking allows for transparency of positive environmental impacts and allows for the attribution and tracking of positive environmental impacts by individual supply chain participants.

[0113] 6A is a schematic diagram of an example of a chemical production network that produces a coating material associated with a coating material passport or digital asset. The coating material may be a base coat material, a primer material, or a clear coat material. The example of FIG. 6A is an illustrative example and should not be considered limiting.

[0114] In the example of FIG. 6A, fossil feedstocks, biofeedstocks, and recycled feedstocks can be provided to a chemical production network to produce, for example, coating materials (see, for example, FIGS. 1-5). The fossil feedstocks can include natural gas or petroleum. The biofeedstocks can include biomethane. The recycled feedstocks can include pyrolysis oil. In this example, natural gas / petroleum, biomethane, and pyrolysis oil are input materials as mixed feedstocks, and other products can be produced, such as natural gas / petroleum, biomethane, and pyrolysis oil, melamine formaldehyde, acrylic acid, diols, and intermediate or output materials. Poly(meth)acrylates and other intermediate or output materials can be produced from acrylic acid. Polyesters and other intermediate or output materials can be produced from diols. Melamine formaldehyde, poly(meth)acrylates, and polyester(s) can be used as output materials to produce coating materials.

[0115] In the example of FIG. 6A , the biomethane biobased content and the pyrolysis oil recycled content may be tracked as non-fossil input materials. As described with respect to FIG. 2 , at the beginning of the coating material production chain, the biomethane content and the pyrolysis oil may be registered through the production operations system 108 (not shown) of the chemical production network 104 (not shown). Here, the biobased content may be allocated to a balancing account 210 associated with metadata, such as metadata indicating that the balancing account is allocated to the biobased material. Thus, the environmental attributes of the biomethane are decoupled from the mass flow of chemical processing in the chemical production network, as shown in FIG. 6A . Here, the recycled content may be allocated to a balancing account 208 associated with metadata, such as metadata indicating that the balancing account is allocated to the recycled material. Thus, the environmental attributes of the pyrolysis oil are decoupled from the mass flow of chemical processing in the chemical production network 104, as shown in FIG. 6A .

[0116] The attribution of the biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content used to produce the coating material may be specified for the biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content. The biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content attributable to the coating material production may be based on the conservation of mass attributable to the coating material produced. For example, only half of the bio-based content of the biomethane and only half of the recycled content of the pyrolysis oil may be attributable to the coating material, with the remaining half attributable to other output products resulting from the biomethane and pyrolysis oil as input materials. The environmental attributes biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil may be attributable to the coating material produced to such an extent.

[0117] Registration of the biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content of the input material and attribution of the registered environmental attributes to the produced coating material may be performed as described with respect to FIG. 2. In the system shown in FIG. 2, environmental attributes related to the production of the coating material may be attributable to the coating material by associating a decentralized ID with the coating material and assigning the environmental attributes to the decentralized ID. By linking the decentralized ID and the environmental attributes, the environmental attributes may be uniquely linked to the produced coating material. The produced coating material may be delivered to a coating material consumer. Packaging, such as a container or tank, may include a code, such as a QR code or an embossed code. The decentralized ID may be included in or encoded in the code. In this manner, the coating material consumer may access the environmental attributes associated with the produced coating material via the ID-based protocol described with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0118] Similar to this example, the registration of carbon footprint data associated with input materials and production processes and the attribution of said carbon footprint attributes to the produced coating materials may be based on the method shown in Figure 3 for carbon footprints.

[0119] 6B is a schematic diagram of a further example of a chemical production network that produces coating material components associated with a coating material passport or digital asset. The example of FIG. 6B is an illustrative example and should not be considered limiting.

[0120] In the example of Figure 6B, fossil, bio, and recycled raw materials can be provided to a chemical production network to produce coating material components, such as, for example, a binder solution and a hardener composition (see, for example, Figures 1-5). The binder solution can be a mixing clear or binder containing components of a multi-component coating material, such as a 2K clear coat material.

[0121] In the example of FIG. 6B, fossil feedstocks, biofeedstocks, and recycled feedstocks can be provided to a chemical production network to produce a binder solution, for example (see, for example, FIGS. 1-5). The fossil feedstocks can include natural gas or petroleum. The biofeedstocks can include biomethane. The recycled feedstocks can include pyrolysis oil. In this example, natural gas / petroleum, biomethane, and pyrolysis oil are input materials as mixed feedstocks, and other products can be produced, such as natural gas / petroleum, biomethane, and pyrolysis oil, ammonia, acrylic acid, diols, and intermediate or output materials. Isocyanates, such as polyisocyanates, and other intermediate or output materials can be produced from ammonia. Isocyanates can be used to produce blocked isocyanates. Isocyanates can be used as an output material to produce a curing agent composition. Poly(meth)acrylates and other intermediate or output materials can be produced from acrylic acid. Polyesters and other intermediate or output materials can be produced from diols. Blocked isocyanates, poly(meth)acrylates and polyesters can be used in the production of binder solutions as output materials.

[0122] In the example of Figure 6B, the bio-based content of the biomethane and the recycled content of the pyrolysis oil can be tracked as non-fossil input materials, as described with respect to Figure 6A above.

[0123] The attribution of the biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content used in the production of the hardener composition and binder solution may be specified as the biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content. The biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content attributable to the hardener composition production may be based on the mass conservation attributable to the hardener composition produced. For example, only half of the biomethane content may be attributable to the hardener composition, while the remaining biomethane and / or pyrolysis oil content may be attributable to other output products resulting from the mixed feedstock as an input material. The environmental attribute biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content may be attributable to such an extent to the hardener composition produced. The biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content attributable to the binder solution production may be based on the mass conservation attributable to the binder solution produced. For example, only half of the pyrolysis oil content may be attributable to the hardener composition, while the remaining biomethane and / or pyrolysis oil content may be attributable to other output products resulting from the mixed feedstock as an input material. Environmental attributes Biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content may be attributed to such an extent to the binder solution produced.

[0124] Registration of the biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content of the input material and attribution of the registered environmental attributes to the produced hardener composition and binder solution may be performed as described with respect to FIG. 2. In the system shown in FIG. 2, environmental attributes associated with the production of a hardener composition may be attributable to the produced hardener composition by associating a distribution ID with the hardener composition and assigning the environmental attributes to the distribution ID. Similarly, environmental attributes associated with the production of a binder solution may be attributable to the produced binder solution by associating a distribution ID with the binder solution and assigning the environmental attributes to the distribution ID. By linking the distribution ID and the environmental attributes, the environmental attributes may be uniquely linked to the produced hardener composition and binder solution. The produced hardener composition and / or binder solution may be delivered to a consumer of the hardener composition and / or binder solution, such as a manufacturer that uses the received hardener composition and / or binder solution to produce further products, e.g., coated substrates. Packaging, such as a container and / or tank, containing the hardener composition or binder solution can include a code, such as a QR code or an embossed code. A decentralized ID can be included in or encoded into the code. In this manner, consumers of the hardener composition and / or binder solution can access environmental attributes related to the hardener composition and / or binder solution via the ID-based protocol described with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0125] Similar to this example, the registration of carbon footprint data associated with input materials and production processes and the attribution of said carbon footprint attributes to the produced hardener compositions and binder solutions may be based on the method shown in FIG. 3 for carbon footprints.

[0126] 6C is a schematic diagram of a further example of a chemical production network that produces coating material components associated with a coating material passport or digital asset. The example of FIG. 6C is an illustrative example and should not be considered limiting.

[0127] In the example of Figure 6C, fossil, bio, and recycled raw materials can be provided to a chemical production network to produce coating material components, such as binder dispersions (see, for example, Figures 1-5). The binder dispersions can be binders containing components of multi-component coating materials, such as electrodeposition coating materials.

[0128] In the example of FIG. 6C, fossil feedstocks, biofeedstocks, and recycled feedstocks can be provided to a chemical production network to produce, by way of example, a binder dispersion (see, for example, FIGS. 1-5). The fossil feedstocks can include natural gas or petroleum. The biofeedstocks can include biomethane. The recycled feedstocks can include pyrolysis oil. In this example, natural gas / petroleum, biomethane, and pyrolysis oil are mixed feedstock inputs, and other products can be produced, such as natural gas / petroleum, biomethane, and pyrolysis oil, ammonia, epoxy-functional compounds, diols, and intermediate or output materials. Ammonia can be used to produce isocyanates, such as polyisocyanates, and other intermediate or output materials. Isocyanates can be used to produce blocked isocyanates and other intermediate or output materials. Epoxy-functional compounds can be used to produce epoxy resins and other intermediate or output materials. Diols can be used to produce polyesters and other intermediate or output materials. Blocked isocyanates, epoxy resins and polyesters can be used in the production of binder dispersions as output materials.

[0129] In the example of Figure 6C, the biomethane content of the biomethane, the bio content of the biomass, and / or the pyrolysis oil content of the pyrolysis oil may be tracked as non-fossil input materials, as described with respect to Figure 6B above.

[0130] The attribution of the biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content used in the production of the binder dispersion may be specified. The biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content attributable to the binder dispersion production may be based on conservation of mass attributable to the binder dispersion produced. For example, only half of the biomethane content may be attributable to the binder dispersion, while the remaining biomethane and / or pyrolysis oil content may be attributable to other output products resulting from the mixed feedstock as input materials. The environmental attribute biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content may be attributable to such extent to the binder dispersion produced.

[0131] Registration of the biomethane content and / or pyrolysis oil content of the input material and attribution of the registered environmental attributes to the produced binder dispersion may be performed by associating a decentralized ID with the binder dispersion and assigning the environmental attributes to the decentralized ID, as described with respect to FIGS. 2, 6A, and 6B. By linking the decentralized ID and the environmental attributes, the environmental attributes may be uniquely linked to the produced coating material. The coating material may be delivered to a coating material consumer. Packaging, such as a container and / or tank, may include a QR code. The decentralized ID may be included in or encoded in the QR code. In this manner, the coating material consumer may access the environmental attributes associated with the coating material via the ID-based protocol described with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0132] As with this example, the registration of carbon footprint data associated with the input materials and production process and the attribution of said carbon footprint attributes to the produced binder dispersion may be based on the method shown in Figure 3 for carbon footprints.

[0133] Although the disclosure has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments and examples, other variations can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the claims.

[0134] Any steps presented herein may be performed in any order. The methods disclosed herein are not limited to these steps in any particular order. Furthermore, different steps are not required to be performed at any particular location or on any particular computing node of a distributed system. That is, each of the steps may be performed on a different computing node using different equipment / data processing.

[0135] As used herein, "determining" also includes "initiating or causing a determination," "generating" also includes "initiating or causing a generation," and "providing" also includes "initiating or causing a determination, generation, selection, transmission, and / or reception." "Initiating or causing the performance of an action" includes any processing signal that triggers a computational node or device to perform the respective action.

[0136] In the claims and this description, the word "comprise" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several entities or items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage in implementations.

Claims

1. 1. A system for producing a painting material passport or a painting material associated with a digital asset, comprising: a chemical production network configured to produce said coating material from one or more input materials through one or more chemical processes of said chemical production network, said one or more input materials and / or said one or more chemical processes being associated with environmental attributes; - production operating equipment, - providing a decentralized identifier associated with the produced coating material; a production operations device configured to generate the coating material passport or digital asset by linking the decentralized identifier to the environmental attributes associated with the one or more input materials and / or the one or more chemical processes. A system including:

2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the coating materials associated with a coating material passport or digital asset are selected coating materials and coating material components, in particular, the coating materials are selected from electrocoating materials, primer materials, primer surfacer materials, filler materials, putty materials, base coat materials, clear coat materials, or tinted clear coat materials, and / or the coating material components are selected from hardener compositions, additive compositions, thinners, diluents, spot blender compositions, pigment pastes, or binder compositions.

3. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the painting material passport or digital asset associated with the painting material includes mass balance environmental attributes for the input material.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more environmental attributes associated with the coating material are provided from at least one balancing account configured to store environmental attributes associated with input materials.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more environmental attributes are associated with at least one characteristic related to the environmental impact of the one or more input materials and / or the chemical process.

6. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the production operations device is configured to collect environmental attributes associated with the produced coating material before, during, and / or after production of the coating material by the chemical production network.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the environmental attributes associated with the coating material produced through a chemical process from one or more input materials provided to the chemical production network include the environmental attributes associated with the input materials, the chemical process, and / or the chemical production network.

8. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the environmental attributes associated with input materials are provided before, during, and / or after production of the coating material by the chemical production network, and the environmental attributes associated with input materials are allocated to at least one balancing account before, during, and / or after production of the coating material by the chemical production network.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the environmental attributes associated with the coating material produced relate to environmental characteristics generated from process data associated with chemical processing of the input material and / or energy data associated with energy consumption of the chemical processing.

10. 1. A method of producing a painting material passport or painting material associated with a digital asset, comprising: producing said coating material from one or more input materials through one or more chemical processes of a chemical production network, wherein said one or more input materials and / or said one or more chemical processes are associated with environmental attributes; - the painting material passport or digital asset, - providing a decentralized identifier associated with the produced coating material; generating the decentralized identifier by linking it to the one or more environmental attributes associated with the one or more input materials and / or the one or more chemical processes; - providing said produced painting materials in association with said painting material passport or digital asset.

11. 1. A method for generating a coating material passport or digital asset associated with a coating material, wherein the coating material is produced from one or more input materials through one or more chemical processes of a chemical production network, the one or more input materials and / or the one or more chemical processes being associated with environmental attributes, the method comprising: - providing a decentralized identifier associated with said produced coating material; - linking said decentralized identifier to said environmental attributes associated with said one or more input materials and / or said one or more chemical processes used to produce said coating material; - providing a painting material passport or digital asset associated with the produced painting material passport or digital asset to a distributed network, wherein the environmental attributes associated with the produced painting material are made accessible to consumers of the produced painting material through the painting material passport or digital asset.

12. A method of using a generated digital asset in the production of a product produced from a coating material associated with the digital asset, comprising: the digital asset is for generating a coating material passport or digital asset associated with the coating material, the coating material being produced from one or more input materials through one or more chemical processes of a chemical production network, the one or more input materials and / or the one or more chemical processes being associated with environmental attributes, the method comprising generating the digital asset; generating the digital asset - providing a decentralized identifier associated with said produced coating material; - linking said decentralized identifier to said environmental attributes associated with said one or more input materials and / or said one or more chemical processes used to produce said coating material; providing the painting material passport or digital asset associated with the produced painting material passport or digital asset to a decentralized network, wherein the environmental attributes associated with the produced painting material are made accessible to consumers of the produced painting material through the painting material passport or digital asset; How to use digital assets.

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