Method and system for assigning environmental attributes of gasification of waste materials

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for attributing one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) to one or more output product(s), the one or more output product(s) produced via a gasification process using the waste material(s). The present disclosure also relates to a method and apparatus for attributing one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) to one or more supply chain product(s) produced using at least a part of one or more output product(s) produced via a gasification of waste material(s).

Description

[0001] 240716

[0002] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSIGNING ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES OF GASIFICATION OF WASTE

[0003] MATERIALS

[0004] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0005] The present disclosure relates to methods, apparatuses and systems for attributing one or more environmental attributes associated with waste material(s) to one or more output product(s) of a gasification processes using the waste materials and / or to one or more supply chain product(s) produced using the one or more output products.

[0006] TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0007] Environmental impact of supply chains is of great interest, in particular, environmental impact of each participant. Transparency of the environmental impact can and transparency between participants can aid in collectively reducing these. Acknowledgement of waste materials produced throughout the supply chain is highly relevant, as not all these waste materials are recycled, leading to environmental challenges. Therefore, there is a need to develop metrics that quantify the environmental impact of waste materials and supply chain products, simplify data standards related to environmental impact, and broadly enable a secure exchange of supply chain data.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Disclosed is in one aspect a method for attributing one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) to one or more output product(s), the one or more output product(s) being produced via a gasification process using the waste material(s), the method comprising: providing - from one or more database(s) - material data associated with material properties of the waste material(s) including material identifier(s); providing one or more output product identifier(s) associated with the produced one or more output product(s); determining - based on the provided material data - one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with the waste material (s); determining - via at least one attribution rule - units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the waste material(s); generating - based on the determined units - a digital asset by linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the provided one or more output product identifier(s); providing the linked digital asset including one or more digital asset identifier(s) for access by a decentral data consuming node under control of or controlled by a decentral providing node associated with data owner of the digital asset.

[0010] At least a part of the one or more output product(s) may be used to produce one or more supply chain product(s). 240716

[0011] 2

[0012] Disclosed is in a further aspect a method for attributing one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) to one or more supply chain product(s), the waste material(s) being used to produce one or more output product(s) via a gasification process, wherein at least a part of the one or more output product(s) is used to produce the one or more supply chain product(s), the method comprising: providing - from one or more database(s) - material data associated with material properties of the waste material(s) including material identifier(s); providing one or more output product identifier(s) associated with the produced one or more output product(s); determining - based on the provided material data - one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with the waste material (s); determining - via at least one attribution rule - units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the waste material(s); generating - based on the determined units - a digital asset by linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the provided one or more output product identifier(s); providing one or more supply chain product data associated with the produced one or more supply chain product(s) including one or more supply chain product identifier(s); determining - via the at least one attribution rule - units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the one or more output product(s) used to produce the one or more supply chain product(s); generating - based on the determined units associated with the fraction of the one or more output product(s) - the digital asset linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the one or more supply chain product identifier(s) providing the linked digital asset including one or more digital asset identifier(s) for access by a decentral data consuming node under control of or controlled by a decentral providing node associated with data owner of the digital asset.

[0013] Disclosed is in yet another aspect, an apparatus for attributing one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) to one or more output product(s), the one or more output product(s) being produced via a gasification process, the apparatus comprising: a data provider unit configured to provide at least one of: material data associated with material properties of the waste material(s) including material identifier(s), output product identifier(s) associated with the produced one or more output product(s), one or more environmental attribute(s); an attribution rule engine configured to provide one or more attribution rule(s) for attributing units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the waste material(s) to a fraction of the one or more output product(s) and / or a fraction of one or more token(s); an asset generator configured to generate digital asset(s) optionally including one or more digital certificate(s) and / or one or more token(s). 240716

[0014] 3

[0015] Disclosed is in yet another aspect, an apparatus for attributing one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) to one or more output product(s), the one or more output product(s) being produced via a gasification process, wherein at least a part of the one or more output(s) is used to produce one or more supply chain product(s), the apparatus comprising: a data provider unit configured to provide at least one of: material data associated with material properties of the waste material(s) including material identifier(s), output product identifier(s) associated with the produced one or more output product(s), one or more environmental attribute(s), supply chain product identifier(s) associated with the producer one or more supply chain product(s); an attribution rule engine configured to provide one or more attribution rule(s) for attributing units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the waste material(s) to a fraction of the one or more output product(s) and / or a fraction of the produced one or more supply chain product(s) and / or a fraction of one or more token(s); an asset generator configured to generate digital asset(s) optionally including one or more digital certificate(s) and / or one or more token(s).

[0016] Disclosed is in yet another aspect the use of the digital asset as generated according to the method as recited herein or the apparatus as recited herein for proving a waste free production to a supply chain product consumer.

[0017] Disclosed is in yet another aspect the use of the digital asset as generated according to the method as recited herein or the apparatus as recited herein for determining product carbon footprint of the produced one or more supply chain product(s).

[0018] Disclosed is in yet another aspect the use of the digital asset as generated according to the method as recited herein or the apparatus as recited herein for reducing product carbon footprint of the produced one or more supply chain product(s).

[0019] Disclosed is in yet another aspect the use of the digital asset as generated according to the method as recited or the apparatus as recited herein for allocating units of the one or more tokens to the produced one or more supply chain product(s).

[0020] In yet another aspect the present disclosure relates to a computer element with instructions, which when executed on one or more computing node(s) is configured to carry out the steps of the method(s) of the present disclosure or configured to be carried out by the apparatus(es) of the present disclosure.

[0021] Any disclosure, embodiments and examples described herein relate to the methods, the systems, apparatuses, chemical products and computer elements lined out above and below. Advantageously, the benefits provided by any of the embodiments and examples equally apply to all other embodiments and examples. 240716

[0022] 4

[0023] EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The methods, apparatuses, systems and computer elements disclosed herein provide an efficient way to track environmental attribute(s) in gasification process of waste material(s) and provided output product(s) and / or supply chain product(s) with positive environmental impact through the value chain. By converting environmental attribute(s) of waste material(s) to digital asset(s) such as units of environmental attribute(s), for example but not limited to, in a form of units of token(s), such environmental attribute(s) can be assigned to output product(s) of the gasification of the waste material(s) and / or supply chain product(s) produced using the output product(s). Thus, virtually balancing of environmental attributes may be implemented for instance on a digital inventory and can be efficiently assigned via attribution rules to corresponding output product(s) produced via gasification process of waste material(s) and / or supply chain product(s) produced in supply chain production networks using the output product(s). Specifically for supply chain production networks, that produce more than one supply chain product(s) from more than one recycled waste material via interconnected, connected and non-connected production chains, the use of such digital asset(s) in combination with attribution rules allows to reliably assign environmental attribute(s) in line with the physical setup of the supply chain production network and to tailor the digital asset(s) associated with the supply chain product(s) to the needs of customers. Virtual accounting and balancing of digital asset(s) and associated meta data structure further allows to decouple the complexity in material flow of supply chain production networks while still allowing to tailor environmental impact to each supply chain product. This way the environmental impact of the produced output product(s) via gasification and / or supply chain product(s) produced using the output product(s) can be determined in line with the physical set up of the supply chain production network and the tailored needs of customers. Moreover, the environmental property of the supply chain product(s)s produced by the supply chain production network can be made transparent to customers further processing the supply chain product(s)s. By providing supply chain product(s) identifiers, such as output product identifier(s) and supply chain product identifier(s), associated with at least one environmental attribute, the environmental attribute(s) to be allocated to the product and as such the units of environmental attribute(s), e.g., number of token(s), and associated units attached to the supply chain product(s) can be adjusted to customer needs.

[0025] By using attribution rules, environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) can be efficiently attributed to supply chain product(s)s. Specifically, for supply chain production networks that produce more than one supply chain product(s) from more than one material via interconnected, connected and non-connected production chains, the use of attribution rules allows to reliably adjust the attribution mechanisms in line with the physical setup of the supply chain production network. Digital asset(s), e.g., tokens, for accounting and / or balancing environmental attribute(s) further allows to abstract the complexity of supply chain production networks while still allowing to assign environmental impact to products. This way the environmental impact of the produced supply chain product(s) can be determined in line with the physical set up of the supply chain production network. Moreover, the environmental property of the supply chain product(s)s produced in the supply chain production network can be made transparent to customers further processing the supply chain product(s). By providing a supply chain product(s) identifier associated with at least one target environmental attribute the environmental attribute(s) to be allocated to the product and as such, for example, the number of token(s) and associated units attached to the supply chain product(s) may even be adjusted to customer needs.

[0026] By using token(s) and associated units linked (or assigned, attributed, allocated, attached) to a supply chain product(s), customers can easily select sustainable products (e.g., products produced with recycled waste material(s) in general and / or recycled waste material of a given type of waste material). They can use the token(s) and associated units to identify ways to make the value chain more sustainable. The token(s) also provide(s) a way for supply chain production networks to speed the transformation of the use of waste material(s) as source of sustainable feedstocks and the production of supply chain product(s)s at least partly based on recycled waste material(s). Specifically for production networks that produce more than one supply chain product(s) from more than one material via interconnected, connected and non-connected production chains, the use of digital assets such as certificates, token(s), enables the attribution of environmental attribute(s) in line with the physical setup of the supply chain production network. The use digital asset(s) enables the abstraction of the complexity of supply chain production networks while still allowing to assign environmental impact to supply chain product(s)s. This way the environmental impact of the produced supply chain product(s) can be determined in line with the physical set up of the supply chain production network. Moreover, the environmental property of the supply chain product(s) produced in the supply chain production network can be made transparent to customers further processing the supply chain product(s). By providing digital asset(s) and units of environmental attribute(s) associated with a supply chain product identifier associated with at least one target environmental attribute the environmental attribute(s) may even be adjusted to customer needs.

[0027] The digital asset(s) may be a representation of environmental attribute(s) of a physical asset, such as waste material(s) and / or supply chain product(s) and can be exchanged among participants of a decentral network and accordingly recorded. Digital asset(s) may be associated with units. Said units may specify a quantitative measure of the environmental attribute(s) the digital asset(s) is linked to, such as the amount of recycle waste material content of the supply chain product(s) produced using output product(s) of gasification of the waste material(s). Said units may specify a quantitative measure of the environmental attribute(s) the digital asset(s) are linked to, such as the amount of recycled waste material and / or amount of output product produced via gasification of the waste material(s) entering the supply chain production network. The digital asset(s) may specify a qualitative measure of the environmental attribute(s) the digital asset(s)are linked to, such as waste material type, waste material origin and / or recycled waste material. The digital asset(s) may include digital certificate(s). The digital asset(s) may include verifiable credential(s) . The digital asset(s) may include token(s). The token(s) may be fungible token(s) (e.g. an asset that is not unique and mutually interchangeable). The token(s) may be a non-fungible token (e.g. an asset that is unique). This may allow to uniquely link a token and hence the environmental attribute(s) the token is associated with to a particular order of a produced supply chain product(s). 240716

[0028] 6

[0029] The environmental attribute associated with the waste material(s) may be a digital asset. The environmental attribute may digitally specify the environmental impact of the waste material(s). The environmental attribute may relate to a carbon footprint. The environmental attribute may relate to a renewable, a bio-based and / or a recycled content e.g., of the waste material(s). The environmental attribute may relate to a sustainable origin of the waste material(s). The environmental attribute may include a qualitative data point relating to the type of impact e.g., in view of the waste material(s)v. The environmental attribute may specify a type such as sustainable origin, recycled, renewable and / or bio-based. The qualitative data point may be converted to a quantitative measure such as token units. The environmental attribute may include a quantitate data point relating to the type of impact e.g., in view of the waste material(s). The environmental attribute may specify a sustainable origin, recycled, renewable and / or bio-based content. The environmental attribute may include further environmental characteristics of the waste material(s).

[0030] Environmental attribute(s) may refer to any property or characteristic related to the environmental impact. Such property may be a property or characteristic of a waste material(s) and / or a supply chain product(s)(s). The environmental attribute may indicate an environmental performance of waste material(s), the gasification process of the waste material(s) and / or its output product(s), the supply chain production network and / or supply chain product(s). The environmental attribute may indicate certifications which document coherence to existing industry standards, in particular standards with respect to the environmental impact. The environmental attribute may be derived from properties of the waste material(s), the output product(s) of the gasification of the waste material(s), the s supply chain production network and / or the supply chain product(s). The environmental attribute may be associated with the environmental impact of one or more material(s) at any stage during their lifecycle. The stages of the material or product lifecycle may include the stages of providing raw material, producing products, such as intermediate products or end products, using products, treating end-of-life products, recycling end-of-life products, disposing end-of-life products, reusing components from end-of-life products or any subset of stages. The environmental attribute may be tracked through any activity of one or more entities participating at any stage of the lifecycle of one or more material(s) or product(s). Environmental attributes associated with any activity of one or more entities participating at any stage of the lifecycle of one or more waste material(s) or product(s) may be accumulated or aggregated. The environmental attribute(s) may be specified or may be produced or derived from any activity of one or more entities participating at any stage of the lifecycle of waste material(s) or supply chain product(s).

[0031] The environmental attribute may include one or more characteristic(s) that are attributable to environmental or sustainability impact of the waste material(s), supply chain product(s)(s), intermediate product(s) and / or endproduces). The environmental attribute may include environmental, technical, recyclability or circularity characteristics(s) associated with the environmental impact of the waste material(s), supply chain product(s)(s), intermediate product(s) and / or end-product(s). 240716

[0032] 7

[0033] Environmental characteristic(s) may specify or quantify ecological criteria associated with the environmental impact of waste material(s), intermediate product(s), and / or a supply chain product(s). Environmental characteristic(s) may be or may be produced or derived from measurements taken during the lifecycle of waste material(s), supply chain product(s)(s), intermediate product(s) and / or end-product(s). Environmental characteristic(s) may for example include impact categories such as carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions or global warming potential, primary energy demand, cumulative energy demand, biotic and abiotic resource consumption, air emissions, stratospheric ozone depletion potential, ozone formation, terrestrial and / or marine acidification, water consumption, water depletion, water availability, water pollution, noise pollution, freshwater and / or marine eutrophication potential, human carcinogenic and / or non-carcinogenic toxicity, photochemical oxidant formation, particulate matter formation, terrestrial, freshwater and / or marine ecotoxicity, ionizing radiation, agricultural and / or urban land occupation, land transformation, land use, indirect land use, deforestation, biodiversity, mineral resource consumption, and / or fossil resource consumption. Environmental characteristic(s) may be calculated from combinations of one of more environmental characteristics. Environmental characteristic(s) may for example include material or product characteristics related to the production of the material(s) used to produced product later rendered as waste material(s) or product like recycled content, bio-based content, renewable content, bio based content of waste material(s) use to produce the output product(s) via gasification and / or supply chain product(s) using the output products of the gasification of waste material(s).-

[0034] Technical characteristic(s) may specify or quantify material or product performance at least indirectly associated with the environmental impact. Technical characteristic(s) may for example include product composition data, bill of materials, product specification data, product component data, product safety data, application property data, application instructions or product quality data. Technical characteristic(s) may be or may be produced from measurements taken during the lifecycle of one or more material(s) or product(s). Technical characteristics may be determined at any stage of the material or product lifecycle and may characterize the material or product performance for such stage or up to such stage. Technical characteristic(s) may for example include composition data, input in the production process, bill of materials, product or material specification data, product or material component data, product or material safety data, application property data, application instructions or product or material quality data. Technical characteristic(s) may for example include physical, chemical or further properties of the material or product.

[0035] Circularity characteristic(s) may specify or quantify the material or product life cycle characteristics associated with circular uses. Circularity characteristic(s) may be or may be produced from measurements taken during the lifecycle of one or more material(s) or product(s). Circularity characteristic(s) may be or may be produced from circular data recorded in one or more prior lifecycle(s) including reuse. Circularity characteristics may be determined at any stage of the material or product lifecycle and may characterize the reuse or recycling performance for such stage or up to such stage. Circularity characteristic(s) may relate to technical, mechanical, chemical and / or biological recycling. Circularity characteristic(s) may for example include recycling data, reuse 240716

[0036] 8 rate, recycling rate, recycling loops, reuse reused product performance, reused material or product quality or the like. Further circularity material characteristics may be derived by combining circularity characteristic(s) .

[0037] Recyclability characteristic(s) may specify or quantify the material or product life cycle characteristics associated with recycling uses. Recyclability characteristic(s) may include the composition of the material including specifically tailored constituents making the material suitable for recycling. Recyclability characteristic(s) may be or may be produced from measurements taken during the lifecycle of one or more materials or product(s). Recyclability characteristic(s) may be or may be produced from recycling data recorded in one or more prior lifecycle(s). Recyclability characteristics may be determined at any stage of the material or product lifecycle and may characterize the recycling performance for such stage or up to such stage. Recyclability characteristic(s) may for example include recycling data, recyclability data, efficiency of recycling or the like.

[0038] The waste material(s) may include material(s) that may comprise any indiscrete material, e.g., may be a continuous volume of solid or liquid material. The waste material(s) may include materials that may include starting material used in any process performed in the supply chain production network to produce the supply chain product(s). The waste material(s) may include a chemical material, such as a natural, organic or inorganic chemical material. The waste material(s)may include waste material of products that were produced using a recycled material having undergone at least one recycling step. The sustainable origin of the waste material(s)may be associated with its production. Waste material(s)may be provided to a gasification plant.

[0039] Supply chain product(s) may include or be any material produced by the chain production network using at least one material. The supply chain product(s) may comprise or be any supply chain product(s) produced by the supply chain production network and provided at any exit point of the supply chain production network. The output material(s) may be produced by a gasification process. The supply chain product(s) or output material may comprise any material leaving the system boundary of the supply chain production network or recycling network, respectively. The supply chain product(s) may be produced from the output product(s) obtained via gasification of waste material(s) via one or more chemical and / or physical processes. Hence, chemical intermediate products produced from waste material(s) may be used to produce the supply chain product(s)(s) or output material(s). Chemical processes may include chemical reactions. Chemical reactions may include any chemical reaction commonly known in the state of the art in which the reactants are converted to one or more different supply chain product(s). Chemical reactions may involve, for example, the use of catalysts, enzymes, bacteria to achieve the chemical reaction between the reactants. Physical processes may include mixing, separation and / or extrusion.

[0040] Chemical production networks may include multiple types of production processes for producing different supply chain product(s)s from output product(s) produced via gasification of waste material(s). The supply chain production network may include a complex production network producing multiple supply chain product(s) in multiple production or value chains. A production or value chain may include one or more process(es) configured to produce one supply chain product(s) or supply chain product(s) class from one or more waste material(s). The supply chain production network may include connected, interconnected and / or non-connected production 240716

[0041] 9 chains. The production chains included in the supply chain production network may be defined by the physical system boundary of the supply chain production network. The system boundary may be defined by location or control over production processes. The system boundary may be defined by the site of the supply chain production network. The system boundary may be defined by production processes controlled by one entity or multiple entities jointly. The system boundary may be defined by the value chain with staggered production processes to an end-product, which may be controlled by multiple entities jointly or separately. The supply chain production network may include a waste collection and sorting step, a recycling step such gasification of waste material(s) to produce output product(s), a production step to produce supply chain product(s)using the output product(s) or intermediates from provided inbound material(s), a separation step to separate intermediates of one process step and further processing steps to convert such outputs to supply chain product(s) leaving the system boundary of the supply chain production network. The supply chain production network may produce from waste material(s) multiple intermediates and from intermediates one or more supply chain product(s). Output product(s) produced via gasification of waste material(s) may enter the supply chain production network at entry points. Th output products may be used with other type of input materials such as virgin materials entering the supply chain production network. Supply chain product(s) may leave the production network at exit points (or feed-out points).

[0042] The supply chain production network may comprise one or more entry points at which the output product(s) produce via gasifcation of waste material(s), and optionally other type of input materials are provided to the supply chain production network. Input materials may include fossil material, non-fossil material or both. Fossil input material may include crude oil, natural gas or coal. Non fossil input material may include renewable material, bio-based material or recycled materials. Input material may include for example pyrolysis oil from recycled waste, naphtha produced from bio-based material (bio-naphtha), methane from bio-based material (bio-methane), biogas produced from the decomposition of organic materials or combinations thereof. Input material may include, for example sustainably produced vegetable oil (sustainable vegetable oil), such as sustainable palm oil, sustainable palm kernel oil, sustainable coconut oil, sustainable rapeseed oil, sustainable soybean oil or combinations thereof.

[0043] Output product(s) produced via gasification of waste material(s)associated with one or more environmental attribute(s) provided to the entry point of the supply chain production network may include recycled waste material(s). Recycled chemicals may include, but may not be limited to, recycled ammonia, recycled methanol, recycled ethylene, recycled propylene, recycled benzene, recycled toluene, recycled xylene or combinations thereof. The recycled content may be physically and / or chemically traceable.

[0044] Output product(s) produced via gasification of waste material(s) associated with one or more environmental attribute(s) provided to the entry point of the supply chain production network may include renewable waste material(s) such as waste material from renewable chemicals. Renewable chemicals may include, but may not be limited to, renewable ammonia, renewable methanol, renewable ethylene, renewable propylene, renewable 240716

[0045] 10 benzene, renewable toluene, renewable xylene or combinations thereof. The renewable content may be physically and / or chemically traceable.

[0046] Output product(s) produced via gasification of waste material(s) associated with one or more environmental attribute(s) provided to the entry point of the supply chain production network may include bio-based waste material(s) including, but not limited to, bio-based pyrolysis oil, bio-based pyrolysis gas, bio-based synthesis gas, bio-based hydrogen, bio-based naphtha, bio-based methane, bio-based ethane, bio-based propane, biobased chemicals or combinations thereof. Bio-based chemicals may include, but may not be limited to, biobased ammonia, bio-based methanol, bio-based ethylene, bio-based propylene, bio-based benzene, bio-based toluene, bio-based xylene or combinations thereof. The bio-based content may be physically and / or chemically traceable.

[0047] Output product(s) produced via gasification of waste material(s) associated with one or more environmental attribute(s) provided to the entry point of the supply chain production network may include waste material(s) having a sustainable origin. The origin may refer to the geographical denomination that stands for the production and harvesting zone of the input material (e.g. waste of plant such as the vegetable oil). The origin may be deemed sustainable if the origin of the inbound material is deemed to comply with the established sustainability requirements for the respective inbound material. Such sustainability requirements may include biodiversity, carbon stock, peatland and / or land use change. Biodiversity requirements may include protection of primary forest and other (primary) wooded land, namely forest and other wooded land of native species, where there is no clearly visible indication of human activity, and the ecological processes are not significantly disturbed. Biodiversity requirements may include protection of nature protection areas designated by law or by the relevant competent authorities for nature protection purposes. Biodiversity requirements may include protection of rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems or species recognized by international agreements or included in lists drawn up by intergovernmental organizations or the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Carbon Stock Requirement may include protection of wetlands, e.g. namely land that is covered with or saturated by water permanently or for a significant part of the year and / or continuously forested areas namely land spanning more than one hectare with trees higher than five meters and canopy cover of more than 30% or trees able to reach those thresholds in situ and / or lands spanning more than one hectare with trees higher than five meters and a canopy cover between a given range, or trees able to reach those thresholds in situ, unless evidence is provided. Data acquired for each step may be checked with respect to certain criteria to ensure that no fraudulent data is stored, and that the origin of the waste material(s) is documented correctly. Such data may be associated with the certificate to allow verification of the origin of the waste material (s).

[0048] Creating digital asset(s) as token(s) linked to at least one determined environmental attribute associated with a decentral network may include generating transaction data and providing the generated transaction data to the decentral network. The transaction data may be recorded on-chain. The transaction data may be recorded off- chain. The transaction data may include a new token object that defines a token name, a token description, a 240716

[0049] 11 token symbol, the number of decimals to which each unit of the token can be sub-divided, an initial quantity (e.g. initial units) of the token, an address associated with the operating system and token control function(s) defining one or more functions of the token, such as minting functions, burning functions, transfer functions, approve functions and / or balancing functions. The new token object may be generated based on existing token templates. The token templates may include templates corresponding to (1) fungible assets (i.e., assets that are not unique and mutually interchangeable) with variable supply, (2) fungible assets with fixed supply, (3) non- fungible assets (i.e., assets that are unique) with variable supply, and (4) non-fungible assets with fixed supply. The token templates may include control functions. Use of a token template to generate the transaction data may simplify the token creation process and ensures that the generated token(s) contain all required token control functions to allow desired handling of the token.

[0050] The transaction data may include a first address associated with the operating system, a second address associated with the operating system and a quantity of tokens to be transferred. The transaction data may be provided to the distributed ledger network as previously described. Upon execution of the transaction, the quantity of the token specified in the transaction data is transferred from the first address to the second or further address. Hence, the balance of the first address decreased by the quantity specified in the transaction data while the balance of the second address increases by the same quantity. This allows to transfer previously minted units of a token to a further address.

[0051] The transaction data may be signed by a private key associated with the operating system. The generated transaction data may be provided to a node of the distributed ledger network for deployment (e.g. creation) of the token. The token may be created at the address specified in the transaction data. Hence, after successful deployment of the token, the balance of the address specified in the transaction data holds a token in a quantity specified in the transaction data. The generated transaction data may be provided to a node of the distributed ledger network for transfer to the specified units of the token to from the specified first address to the specified second address.

[0052] The distributed ledger network may be a peer-to-peer network with a plurality of nodes. Each node may comprise a peer-to-peer application in the form of a decentralized ledger. Each node may comprise a peer-to-peer application in the form of a shared database. Each node may comprise the same peer-to-peer application. The decentralized ledger may be configured to store data, e.g. tokens and associated units, transfers of token units, creation of tokens and associated units, burning of token units, etc., with certain proofs or signatures. The decentralized ledger may further be configured to store computer code in the form of executable means. In particular, an executable means can be invoked by a transaction to the (unique) communication address of the executable means in so called ‘smart contracts'. This executable means may be processed on the plurality of node(s) of the peer-to-peer network. That executable means (e.g. smart contracts) or processing logic may be stored and executed in so called ‘crypto conditions' of the Interledger protocol (ILP) such that not necessarily all code of an executable means needs be stored in a smart contract such as Ethereum smart contract. 240716

[0053] 12

[0054] Alternatively, the executable means (smart contract) may be stored and executed on a decentral computation market (e.g. Ethereum Computation Market, Trubit, Golem, Cryplets Microsoft).

[0055] The decentralized ledger or shared database may be readable by participating entities (participants), such as any entity of a product ecosystem including raw material manufacturers, supply chain product(s) manufacturers, part manufacturers, assembly manufacturers, end-product manufacturers, end-product users, end-of-life product collectors and recyclers, of the peer-to-peer network. The decentralized ledger or shared database may be readable at least by a part of the participants of the peer-to-peer network. The decentralized register, at least the public part (i.e. may be without private contracts) may be read at least by each participant of the peer-to- peer network. Peer-to-peer network nodes may send messages to or write messages to the peer-to-peer application. A message or transaction sent to an executable means may start the execution of a code of the executable means while using data (transaction criterions and / or other data) stored in the executable means. For instance, sending transaction data indicating generation of new units of a previously generated token to such executable means may result in generation (e.g. minting) of further units of such a token.

[0056] Information among peer-nodes may be exchanged by a peer-to-peer messaging system. This means a peer node may send a message to another peer node to submit an information or to trigger an action. Messages may be clear text, signed, hashed, time-stamped and / or encrypted. This means that not all data exchanged among peer nodes need be stored on the decentralized register.

[0057] The peer-to-peer application might be built upon the following elements: peer-to-peer network comprising Consensus System / Protocol, Data Structure, Merkle Trees, Public Key Signatures and / or Byzantine Fault Tolerance. It may replicate data based on a consensus principle. It may be auditable and traceable. The peer- to-peer application may be a decentralized ledger comprising at least two blocks coupled to each other (e.g. a block chain). The block chain may be a decentralized, peer-to-peer-based register in which tokens linked to environmental attribute(s) may be created, transferred and burned (e.g. transferred to an address not being associated with a private key). The block chain may be a permissionless block chain. The block chain may be permissioned. The block chain may be public. The blockchain may be a consortium block chain. The block chain may be a private block chain. Alternatively, the peer-to-peer application may be formed by multiple block chains which are connected via mechanisms, such as side chains or smart contracts. A peer-to-peer node may run one or more different block chain client(s). Data of the peer-to-peer application may be stored on the "decentral ledger technology”. The decentralized ledger may steer (encrypted) data storage accessible via the internet, such as in decentral data storage, object store and database (e.g. Interplanetary File System (IPFS) or storj), or in a distributed Blockchain database (e.g. BigChainDB). Access to encrypted data by third party entities may be managed via an access means formed as one or more smart contract(s) on the block chain.

[0058] The transaction data may be generated and sent to the distributed ledger network via a peer-to-peer module. The peer-to-peer module may provide an interface module, such as an application programming interface (API), and a decentral application for communication with the computer nodes of the peer-to-peer network or the peer- to-peer application, such as a block chain or a smart contract on the block chain, e.g. the peer-to-peer module may not comprise the peer-to-peer application and may not be a node of the peer-to-peer network. This allows reducing the required processing power of the peer-to-peer module. For instance, such a peer-to-peer module can either send clear text or encrypted information or generate a secure connection (e.g. tunnel) to a peer-to- peer gateway (or so called "remote node”) in order to communicate with the peer-to-peer network. The decentral application of software may comprise local algorithms at least configured to create and transmit data, such as the transaction data, to the peer-to-peer application via the API. The decentral application (so called "Dapp”) is at least configured to generate and transmit said data. For instance, the peer-to-peer module might be a so called "light node” or a decentral application (DAPP) connected to a remote node. Data and messages may be signed or encrypted. Data and messages may be transmitted via a cryptographically secured tunnel or a secured internet connection to a peer-to-peer node running the peer-to-peer application, such as the block chain. To securely deploy an executable means and or data into a device a trusted execution environment, such as Intel SGX or TPM or Direct Anonymous Attestation module, may be integrated with a peer-to-peer module.

[0059] Alternatively, the peer-to-peer module may be a peer-to-peer node comprising at least a part of the peer-to-peer application. For instance, the peer-to-peer module may comprise the total data content of the peer-to-peer application. The peer-to-peer module may comprise the decentral application, the API and the peer-to-peer application, such as the block chain or decentral ledger.

[0060] The peer-to-peer network may comprise one or more validating peers or full node(s). Such validating nodes may be configured to perform a validation process, e.g. creating new entries in the distributed ledger or shared database. The peer-to-peer network node may further comprise one or more observing nodes. The observing nodes may be configured to validate transactions to establish a trust level but does not validate all transactions which is done by the validating peer. The peer-to-peer network may comprise one or more mining nodes. Such mining nodes may participant in the proof-of-work consensus algorithm. Such mining nodes may append new blocks to the blockchain upon solving the mathematical problem associated with the proof-of-work algorithm.

[0061] Data stored on the distributed ledger may be stored in clear text. Data stored on the distributed ledger may be encrypted and the keys may be handled via the distributed ledger. Transactions of units of tokens may be stored in clear text on the block chain. Privacy preserving, secure transactions or execution of computer code may be achieved with cryptographic tools, such as zero knowledge (zk) proofs or zk Succinct Non-interactive Arguments (zk-SNARK). Transactions or algorithms may be separated into two parts: an executable means (e.g. a smart contract) on the distributed ledger and a further executable means (e.g. a private contract). A privacy preserving protocol may ensure the privacy of data and the correctness of code execution (SNARK verification may be done via the smart contract on chain). The private contract computation may be done by a set of nodes, off- chain computers or done in measured launch environment or a secure hardware enclave for attestation and sealing that cannot be manipulated by other software code running on the devices. Alternatively, secure Multi- 240716

[0062] 14

[0063] Party-Computing (sMPC) systems may be used for transactional privacy. Examples for privacy preserving protocols and computation include HAWK and MIT Enigma. Use of zero knowledge proof (zk Proofs) allows to verify that the algorithm is executed correctly in a private contract without disclosing the input data to the verifying party, zk Proofs may be stored in and / or validated by the peer-to-peer application. In addition, selective privacy may be achieved by sharing keys to decrypt transactions for reporting and auditing purposes.

[0064] The address holding token(s) linked to environmental attribute(s) may be considered a virtual balancing account that stores data related to environmental attribute(s) in the form of token(s) and associated units. The address may thus be used for balancing environmental attribute(s). The address may be associated with the operating system. The address may be associated with the supply chain product(s) network. The address may be associated with the entity operating the chain production network. The address may be associated with metadata identifying the environmental attribute(s) linked to token(s) and associated units allocated to the address. The address may be associated with metadata identifying the production chain the address is associated with. The address may be associated with metadata identifying the input or supply chain product(s) the address is associated with. The metadata may be stored in a database associated with the operating system and may be used to determine a suitable address for allocating units of token(s) to a supply chain product(s) identifier. The address may be part of a virtual balancing system including multiple addresses. The address may hold units of token(s) for transaction. Units of token(s) and hence environmental attribute(s) linked thereto may be transferred to (e.g. added) or from (e.g. deducted) the address. The address may be associated with an allocation scheme such as segregated allocation, non-segregated allocation like book and claim, mass balance with free attribution, mass balance without free attribution or combinations thereof.

[0065] The at least one attribution rule may specify the allocation scheme associated with the address. The at least one attribution rule may specify the attribution of environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) and the supply chain production network to environmental attribute(s) associated with supply chain product(s). The at least one attribution rule may depend on a supply chain product identifier and an environmental attribute. The at least one attribution rule may include instructions for attributing environmental attribute(s) of waste material(s) via token(s) and associated units to at least one address associated with the operating system. The at least one attribution rule may include instructions for transferring units of token(s) linked to environmental attribute(s) from at least one address. The at least one attribution rule may include instructions for linking units of tokens linked to environmental attribute(s) to supply chain product(s) or supply chain product identifiers. Such linking may comprise transfer of said units of token(s) from the address such that the balance of the address is reduced by the transferred units. This ensures that units of token(s) and hence environmental attribute(s) allocated to a produced supply chain product(s) are no longer available in the virtual accounting system, hence ensuring that the environmental attribute(s) of waste material(s) represented by the units of token(s) are only used once for assignment to the supply chain product(s). 240716

[0066] 15

[0067] The at least one attribution rule may be associated with environmental attribute types that relate to certified or non-certified environmental attribute(s). The at least one attribution rule may be associated with environmental attribute types that relate to material dependent environmental attribute(s). The at least one attribution rule may be associated with environmental attribute types that relate to chemical network or production chain dependent environmental attribute(s). The at least one attribution rule may be associated with environmental attribute types that relate to supply chain product(s) dependent environmental attribute(s). The at least one attribution rule may be associated with environmental attribute types that relate to certified or non-certified environmental attribute(s). The at least one attribution rule may be associated with environmental attribute types that relate to environmental attribute(s) certified under specific certification schemes. The at least one attribution rule may be associated with environmental attribute types that relate to environmental attribute(s) adhering to specific attribution schemes.

[0068] The at least one attribution rule may be associated with at least one supply chain production network producing the at least one supply chain product(s)(s). The at least one attribution rule may be associated with at least one supply chain production network including one or more production chains. The at least one attribution rule may be associated with at least one supply chain production network including one or more process steps converting waste material(s) to one or more output product(s) via gasification and / or one or more supply chain product(s)using the one or more product output product(s). The at least one attribution rule may be associated with at least one process setup of the supply chain production network.

[0069] The at least one attribution rule may be associated with at least one attribution scheme specifying the balancing or environmental attribute(s). The at least one attribution rule may be associated with at least one segregated or non-segregated attribution scheme. The at least one attribution rule may be associated with at least one nonsegregated attribution scheme. The at least one attribution rule may be associated with one or more nonsegregated attribution schemes, such as a mass balance scheme with free attribution, a mass balance scheme without free attribution or a book-and-claim scheme.

[0070] The at least one attribution rule may be associated with at least one waste material characterized by at least one environmental attribute type. The at least one attribution rule may be associated with at least one waste material entering the gasification process and / or output product(s) of the gasification entering supply chain production network. The at least one attribution rule may be associated with at least one output product(s) used to produce one or more supply chain product(s).

[0071] The at least one attribution rule may be associated with at least one supply chain product(s) characterized by at least one environmental attribute type. The at least one attribution rule may be associated with at least one supply chain product(s) type exiting the supply chain production network. The at least one attribution rule may be associated with at least one supply chain product type produced from one or more output product(s) produced from the gasification of waste material(s). 16

[0072] The at least one attribution rule may be associated with token(s). The at least one attribution rule may be associated with environmental attribute types.

[0073] The token(s) and the at least one attribution rule may be associated at least in part with corresponding metadata. The token(s) and the at least one attribution rule may be associated with corresponding metadata. The token(s) and the at least one attribution rule may be associated with partially corresponding metadata. The set of metadata associated with a token and the at least one attribution rule may match in all data points of the meta data. The set of metadata associated with a token and the at least one attribution rule may relate to at least one environmental attribute type, at least one supply chain production network, at least one production chain, at least one attribution scheme, at least one material type, at least one supply chain product(s) type or combinations thereof.

[0074] The attribution rule may include instructions to determine one or more address(es) accessible (e.g. usable for transferring units of token(s)) for the at least one supply chain product(s). The at least one attribution rule may include instructions to determine one or more address(es) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s) and / or the units of token(s) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s). The attribution rule may be associated with metadata signifying the one or more address(es) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s). The attribution rule may include instructions to verify or validate the one or more address(es) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s). The attribution rule may include instructions to determine, verify and / or validate the one or more address(es) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s). For determination of the one or more address(es) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s), the attribution rule may be associated with the output product or supply chain product type.

[0075] The attribution rule may include instructions to determine the waste material(s) used to produce the supply chain product(s). The attribution rule may include instructions to access a bill of material comprising material data, supply chain product(s) data and process data. From the bill of material, the environmental attribute types and hence the units of token(s) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s) may be determined. From the environmental attribute types, the one or more address(es) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s) may be determined.

[0076] The attribution rule may include instructions to match the metadata of the token(s) with the supply chain product(s) type corresponding to the supply chain product(s). For determination of the one or more address(es) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s), the attribution rule may be associated with the production chain. The attribution rule may include instructions to match the metadata of the token(s) with the production chain. Such metadata matching may be executed for any combination of metadata associated to the token(s) and attribution rules as lined out above. 17

[0077] For verification of the one or more address(es) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s), the attribution rule may be associated with the supply chain product(s) type and one or more address(es). On verification the one or more address(es) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s) may be determined and compared to the one or more address(es) associated with the attribution rule. For verification of the one or more address(es) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s), the attribution rule may be associated with the supply chain product(s) type and one or more token(s). On verification the one or more address(es) holding token(s) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s) may be determined and compared to the one or more token(s) associated with the attribution rule.

[0078] For validation of the one or more address(es) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s), the attribution rule may be associated with the supply chain product(s) type and one or more address(es). For validation of the one or more address(es) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s), the attribution rule may be associated with the supply chain product(s) type and one or more token(s). On validation the metadata and / or the balance of the one or more address(es) accessible for the at least one supply chain product(s) may be checked to be validly accessible.

[0079] The supply chain product(s) may be produced by the supply chain production network to which the waste material(s) associated with one or more environmental attribute(s) were provided. The supply chain product(s) may be produced by a production chain of the supply chain production network to which the waste material(s) associated with one or more environmental attribute(s) were provided. The supply chain product(s) may be produced from the waste material(s) associated with one or more environmental attribute(s).

[0080] The supply chain product(s) may include one or more identifier(s) relating to the supply chain product(s). The identifier may relate to a supply chain product(s) class, a specific supply chain product(s) and / or properties of the supply chain product(s) such as environmental properties. The identifier may include a unique number uniquely associated with the supply chain product(s) class, the specific supply chain product(s) and / or the properties of the supply chain product(s). The identifier may include one or more specific identifier(s), such as supply chain product(s) class identifier, specific supply chain product(s) identifier and / or property of the supply chain product(s) identifier. Such specific identifier(s) may be uniquely linked to the supply chain product(s). For example, one or more property identifier(s) may be uniquely linked to the supply chain product(s) identifier. The supply chain product(s) identifier may be uniquely linked to the specific supply chain product(s). This way the supply chain product(s) can be uniquely linked to a digital twin of the supply chain product(s) specifying specific properties of the supply chain product(s).

[0081] The supply chain product(s) identifier may include one or more identifier(s) relating to one or more environmental attribute(s). The identifier may include an environmental attribute identifier, such as a unique environmental attribute identifier, relating to environmental attribute(s) assignable to supply chain product(s)s. The environmental attribute identifier may relate to the supply chain product(s) class or the specific supply chain 240716

[0082] 18 product(s) . For example, the environmental attribute identifier may relate to recycled content, bio-based content and / or renewable content as environmental attribute, each having their own unique each having their own unique material identifier. The specific environmental attribute or a specific combination of environmental attribute(s) may be related to the unique environmental attribute identifier.

[0083] The supply chain product(s) identifier may include, be linked to or be related to a batch and / or order number, such as a unique batch and / or order number. The batch number may be linked to the physical entity of produced supply chain product(s) batches. The order number may be linked to the transaction specifying the shipment of the supply chain product(s) batch from the producer of the supply chain product(s) to the user further processing the supply chain product(s).

[0084] The supply chain product(s) identifier is associated with a product specification for the supply chain product(s).

[0085] The supply chain product(s) identifier and target environmental attribute may be provided in response to receiving data related to an order associated with the supply chain product(s). The order data may be received from a supply chain product(s) consumer. Order data may include an indication that the supply chain product(s) should be associated with at least one environmental attribute. The supply chain product(s) identifier may be provided based on the order data. Triggering provision of the supply chain product(s) identifier and target environmental attribute(s) allows to assign environmental attribute(s) via units of tokens linked to said attributes to the produced supply chain product(s) if requested by a customer, thus ensuring that the produced supply chain product(s) fulfils the needs of the customer with respect to environmental attribute(s) while avoiding an automatic assignment process of environmental attribute(s) based on waste material(s) used to produce the respective supply chain product(s)s. This allows to provide supply chain product(s)s being associated with the required environmental attribute(s) while maintaining a flexible supply of waste material(s) and production of the supply chain product(s)s based on available waste material(s).

[0086] In an embodiment, the environmental attribute associated with the material relates to or is associated with a renewable, a bio-based and / or a recycled content and / or a sustainable origin. For example, material from organic waste may be associated with the environmental attribute(s) recycled and bio-based. Input material from organic waste may be bio-based and recycled material. Input material having a sustainable origin may be associated with the environmental attribute sustainable origin. Further for example, material from wooden waste may be associated with the environmental attribute(s) recycled, bio-based and renewable. Input material from wooden waste may be bio-based, renewable and recycled material. In the context provided here renewable, a bio-based and / or a recycled material may include any material that at least in part includes renewable, a biobased and / or a recycled content and / or is at least in part produced from renewable, a bio-based and / or a recycled content. The renewable, a bio-based and / or a recycled content may be physically and / or chemically traceable. The sustainable origin may be traceable by data acquired along the supply chain associated with the material. The sustainable origin may be traceable by data acquired during production of the material. For 240716

[0087] 19 instance, data on at least part of the production steps involving the production of the material may be stored on a distributed ledger network. Prior to storing such data, such data may be validated. This may ensure that only correct data is stored decentral network, hence avoiding storage of incorrect data which may be used for incorrect certification afterwards. For instance, data relating to a sustainable origin may be checked with respect to location data associated with the origin of materials prior to storing a sustainable origin for a supply chain product produced therefrom.

[0088] In an embodiment, the environmental attribute is associated with or corresponds to certificate data being indicative of a production of a material used at least in part to produce a supply chain product that was rendered as waste material, according to predefined production criteria. Predefined production criteria may include different areas of impact of the material production. Such areas may be defined by different data points, such as data points associated with prosperity, people and nature. Data points associated with prosperity may include data on ethical and transparent behavior, data on legal operation and respecting of rights. Data points associated with people may include data associated with respect of human rights and community, data on support of smallholder inclusion, data on respect of workers' rights and conditions. Data points associated with nature may include data on protection of ecosystems and environment. Predefined production criteria may include the above-mentioned biodiversity, carbon stock, peatland and / or land use change.

[0089] In an embodiment, the material data may include a measured or determined physical and / or chemical property of the material which may additionally or alternatively include waste material properties, data associated with the delivery of the waste material, a material identifier and optionally a waste material indentifier, a LOT number, a batch number, certificate data or a combination thereof. The inbound material identifier may comprise any identifier uniquely associated with the inbound material. The inbound identifier may relate to one specific physical entity of the inbound material such as a batch or a packaged material. The inbound identifier may relate to a group of physical entities of the inbound material such as batches or packaged material of a material produced from one production chain or site, such as a production chain or site included in the supply chain production. The inbound material identifier may be associated with continuous or semi-continuous stream of inbound material fed to the supply chain production. The identifier may refer to a stream of the inbound material, e.g. over a certain time period or from a certain supplier, fed to the supply chain production. The LOT number may be assigned to the inbound material on production of said materials. The LOT number may refer to an identification number assigned to a particular quantity or lot of inbound material from a single manufacturer. LOT numbers can typically be found on the outside of the packaging of the inbound material. The order number may be assigned to the transfer of a certain physical entity, quantity or group of inbound material(s) to the supply chain production network. The order number may be assigned to the inbound material transfer. The order number may relate to the inbound material producer identity and the entity operating the supply chain production network, certificate certifying the environmental attribute. The certificate data may include the certificate type, the allocation scheme, the environmental attribute, the quantity of inbound material associated with the environmental attribute, the amount of inbound material, the producer identifier, inbound 240716

[0090] 20 material identifier or combinations thereof. The certificate may be generated by a certifying authority and may indicate that the inbound material fulfils the requirements associated with said certificate. For example, the certificate may certify at least one environmental attribute of the inbound material, such as its sustainable origin.

[0091] In an embodiment, the material data may be provided via a physical identifier attached to the physical entity of the material. Material data may also include waste material data and waste material identifier. The physical identifier may include a code, such as a bar code, a QR code, an embossed code, an RFID tag, a marker, etc. The physical identifier may be associated with a decentral identifier. The decentral identifier may comprise any unique identifier uniquely associated with the waste material(s). The decentral identifier may include a Universally Unique IDentifier (UUID) or a Digital IDentifier (DID). The decentral identifier may be issued by a central or decentral identity issuer. The decentral identifier may be linked to authentication and / or authorization information. Via the decentral identifier and its unique association with the material producer and material data, access to the material data may be controlled by the material producer. This contrasts with central authority schemes, where identifiers are provided by such central authority and access to data is controlled by such central authority. Decentral in this context refers to the usage of the identifier in implementation as controlled by the data owner, such as the material producer.

[0092] The material suppliers and the supply chain product(s) producer may be part of a product ecosystem. The product ecosystem may include different stages including manufacturing, use and re-use. In these stages one or more ecosystem participant(s) may contribute to the manufacture, use or re-use of the product. For example, the manufacturing stage may include raw material manufacturers, supply chain product(s) manufactures and / or end-product manufacturers. Further for example, the use stage may include a product user, product maintainers and / or product distributors. Further for example, the re-use stage may include collectors, sorters, dismantlers, recyclers, restorers and / or re-furbishers.

[0093] The participants of the product ecosystem may be connected via a decentral network. The decentral network may include computing nodes associated with participants of the product ecosystem and may be configured to perform data transactions. The computing nodes associated with participants of the product ecosystem may be associated with producers, users or re-users of physical products, such as material producers, supply chain product(s) producers, intermediate product producers, end product producers, end product users, used product users or product re-users. The data transactions may be based on a transaction protocol including authentication and / or authorization mechanism(s). Based on the authentication and / or authorization mechanism(s) a peer-to- peer communication between computing nodes associated with participants of the product ecosystem may be established. The supply chain product(s) manufacturer may access material data via a decentral data consuming network node configured to access data at a decentral data providing network node based on decentral identifiers. For instance, the decentral data consuming network node may access material data at a decentral data providing network node associated with the material producer. The material data may be accessed upon or after entry of the material to the supply chain production network. The material data may be stored on a 240716

[0094] 21 dedicated storage associated with the decentral data providing network node. The dedicated storage and hence access to the material data may be under control of the material data owner, such as the material producer.

[0095] In an embodiment, determining the environmental attribute(s) associated with the material comprises determining the amount of the material. In case more than one material is provided, the amount of at least part of the provided waste material(s) may be determined. The determination may be based on a bill of materials, a sales receipt, a recipe and / or any of a wide range of digital documents (e.g., material data) associated with receipt of waste material(s). An operating system may parse the material data to determine the amount of material that was received. The "amount” of the material may refer to the volume, amount of substance, and / or mass of the material. The amount of material entering the supply chain production network may be stored in one or more material storages, such as tanks and / or warehouses. The material storage(s) may be connected to one or more production plants of the supply chain production network, for example via pipes allowing continuous or batch-wise supply of material to the respective plant.

[0096] In an embodiment, determining the environmental attribute(s) associated with the material further comprises determining a value associated with the material. In case more than one material is provided, the value for at least part of the waste material(s) may be determined. For example, the operating system may compute the difference in cost between a sustainable material and the corresponding equivalent fossil material to determine the value associated with the material. The value may be based on average price, actual price, market price or other suitable values to determine the cost of the equivalent amount of fossil waste material(s). The operating system may store and track the amounts and values corresponding to sustainable waste material(s). For example, the values may be stored in digital inventories associated with the token(s).

[0097] In an embodiment, the environmental attribute(s) associated with the material may be determined via a virtual production process. Virtual production may refer to receiving material data for a sustainable material (e.g. a recycled material, renewable material, bio-based material, material with sustainable origin) and producing environmental attribute(s) (based on the sustainable material) and also generating conventional material data (e.g., data describing the corresponding amount and / or value of the conventional material). The virtual production process may be performed by a virtual production module configured to receive material data associated with the at least one material and to produce environmental attribute(s) associated with the at least one material. The virtual production module may further be configured to determine an amount of the material. The virtual production module may further be configured to determine a value associated with the material.

[0098] In an embodiment, the token(s) decouple the material flow of the waste material(s) through the supply chain production network from the environmental attribute(s) associated with said waste material(s). Decoupling of the environmental attribute(s) via the tokens from the physical flow of waste material(s) within the supply chain production allows to flexibly assign such environmental attribute(s) to supply chain product(s)(s) produced from such waste material(s) irrespective of the environmental attribute(s) associated with the particular waste 240716

[0099] 22 material(s) used for the production of a particular product. This way, environmental attribute(s) can be assigned in line with target environmental data provided by customers of the supply chain product(s) irrespective of the environmental attribute(s) associated with the waste material(s) supplied to the supply chain production. By flexible allocation of environmental attribute(s) to supply chain product(s)(s), the environmental attribute(s) can be more efficiently allocated, since allocation is more independent of the supply of waste material(s) associated with environmental attribute(s) requested by the customer(s).

[0100] In an embodiment, the determined environmental attribute(s) may be verified. Verification may include verifying the determined environmental attribute "sustainable origin” of the material. Verifying may include determining a decentral identifier associated with the received material. The decentral identifier may be used to gather data associated with the environmental attribute of the material from a peer-to-peer network as previously described. The gathered data may be used to validate the determined environmental attribute(s). For instance, the gathered data may be used to validate whether the determined sustainable origin is indeed sustainable or not. The gathered data may be compared to databases storing certificate data associated with the origin of material. The gathered data may be compared to geographic data to determine whether the sustainable origin claimed according to the certificate data is true or not. The gathered data may be compared to a rule set associated with the certificate data. For instance, the rule set may include rules to be fulfilled for a certificate to be valid.

[0101] Verifying may include determining a digital asset associated with the received waste material based on the provided material data. The digital asset may correspond to a non-fungible token associated with the material. The digital asset may be used to determine production data associated with the received material. For instance, the digital asset may be linked to one or more further digital asset(s), such as tokens, each digital asset representing a production step, such as growing, harvesting, transport, milling, crushing or refining. The further digital asset(s) may be stored on a distributed ledger network and may be used to verify the sustainable origin of the material. The data associated with the further digital asset(s) may be gathered and may be used to verify the determine environmental attribute as previously described.

[0102] In an embodiment, the token(s) relate to or is / are associated with one or more characteristic(s) of the material associated with one or more environmental attribute(s). The token(s) may relate to one or more characteristic(s) of the material that are attributable to environmental impact of the material and the supply chain product(s) produced by the supply chain production network. The characteristic(s) of the material may include, and may not be limited to, an material type, a waste stream type, a biomass type, a renewable type, an origin type, an allocation scheme, or combinations thereof. By specifying the characteristics of the material, the environmental attribute and characteristics of waste material(s) used to produce the supply chain product(s) may be tracked with more granularity. This enables a system to track the environmental attribute(s) and characteristics of the material more granularly. More granular tracking via the token(s) in return enables allocation of units of token(s) linked to environmental attribute(s) to supply chain product(s)s that are tailored to customer needs. 240716

[0103] 23

[0104] In an embodiment, the token(s) relate(s) to or is / are associated with an material type, a waste stream type, a biomass type, a renewable type, an origin type, an allocation scheme, or combinations thereof. The virtual balancing system or the token(s) may be associated with metadata specifying the material associated with one or more environmental attribute(s). The metadata may specify the material associated with one or more environmental attribute(s) provided to the entry point of the supply chain production network. The material type may, for instance, synthesis gas. Chemicals may include, but may not be limited to, ammonia, methanol, ethylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, xylene, fatty acids, fatty alcohols or combinations thereof.

[0105] In an embodiment, the token(s) may be associated with metadata specifying an material type, a waste stream type, a biomass type, a renewable type, an origin type, an allocation scheme, or combinations thereof. As one example, output product(s) produced from plastics waste via gasification may be provided to the supply chain production network. The metadata may specify the material type plastic waste material, the environmental attribute type recycled, the waste stream type mixed plastics waste, specific end product waste, post-consumer waste or pre-consumer waste, and / or the allocation scheme non-segregated scheme such as mass balance. As another example, output product(s) of a bio-based waste material may be provided to the supply chain production network. The metadata may specify the bio-based wate material, the environmental attribute type bio-based, the biomass type waste from agriculture and / or the allocation scheme non-segregated scheme such as mass balance.

[0106] In an embodiment, the token(s) relate(s) to or is / are associated with waste stream types. The waste stream types may be linked to at least the environmental attribute recycled. The waste stream types may relate to one or more waste materials or waste categories. Waste categories may include, and are not limited to, non-synthetic waste such as animal waste, vegetable or wooden waste, or synthetic waste, such as textile waste, paper waste, plastics waste, or rubber waste. The waste stream types may relate to the origin of the waste, such as the end- of-life product, the producer of the end-of-life product, the geolocation of the end-of-life product, the habitat of the end-of-life product, the consumer of the end-of-life product, or combinations thereof and may not be limited thereto. For example, in the case of recycled as environmental attribute and output product(s) of gasification of waste material(s) as material type, the waste type may specify plastics waste from tires, mixed plastics waste from packaging or mixed plastics waste from ocean cleanup.

[0107] In an embodiment, the token(s) relate(s) to or is / are associated with biomass types or renewable types. The biomass type may be linked to at least the environmental attribute bio-based or renewable. The biomass type may relate to one or more raw materials the material is produced from. Raw materials may include, and are not limited to, agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, plant material, sewage, green waste, food waste, natural occurring fats, natural occurring oils, mixtures of natural occurring fats and oils, cooking oil, or animal fats. The biomass type may relate to the origin of the biomass, such as the producer of the biomass, the geolocation of the biomass, the habitat of the biomass, the consumer of the biomass, or combinations thereof and may not be limited thereto. 24

[0108] In an embodiment, the token(s) is / are associated with metadata specifying the relationship between the waste material(s) associated with one or more environmental attribute(s) and the supply chain product(s). In another embodiment the relationship relates to the supply chain production network, one or more production chain(s), one or more supply chain product(s)(s), one or more supply chain product(s) classes or combinations thereof. The relationship may relate to the supply chain production network. For example, the waste material(s) associated with one or more environmental attribute(s) may be provided to the supply chain production network producing the supply chain product(s). The relationship may relate to one or more production chain(s) of the supply chain production network producing the supply chain product(s). For example, the waste material(s) associated with one or more environmental attribute(s) may be provided to one or more production chain(s) of the supply chain production network producing the supply chain product(s). The relationship may relate to one or more supply chain product(s) class(es) produced by the supply chain production network. For example, the waste material(s) associated with one or more environmental attribute(s) may be provided to one or more production chain(s) of the supply chain production network producing the supply chain product(s) class(es). The relationship may relate to one or more supply chain product(s)(s) produced by the supply chain production network. For example, the waste material(s) associated with one or more environmental attribute(s) may be provided to one or more production chain(s) of the supply chain production network producing the one or more supply chain product(s). The relationship may relate to the supply chain production network, one or more production chain(s), one or more supply chain product(s)(s), one or more supply chain product(s) classes or combinations thereof. By tagging with the relationship metadata the waste material(s) may be physically and / or chemically traceable. The metadata may be derived from a digital twin of the supply chain production network (or a portion of the supply chain production network). The metadata may be derived from a digital twin of the supply chain production network (or a portion thereof) and a production schedule.

[0109] In one embodiment, creating token(s) includes generating transaction data and providing the generated transaction data to the distributed ledger network. Generating transaction data includes determining the units of token based on the determined environmental attribute(s). The units of token may be determined based on a rule set. The rule set may define correlations between an material, an environmental attribute of the material, an amount of material and the associated units of a token. The material may be identified in the rule set via the material identifier. The environmental attribute may be identified via an environmental attribute identifier. The rule set may include correlations for several waste material(s) and / or for several environmental attribute(s) and / or for several amounts of material. For instance, the rule set may define that a predefined amount, such as a kilogram or a ton, of a predefined inbound material associated with a predefined environmental attribute, such as sustainable origin, may represent defined units of the token "sustainable origin”. The rule set may define correlations between environmental unit(s) associated with a defined amount of material and the units of the token. The rule set may define rules to determine the environmental unit(s) from the determined environmental attribute(s). For instance, the rule set may define rules to convert a determined environmental attribute to said environmental unit(s) based on the amount of inbound material provided to the supply chain production network. The environmental unit(s) may relate to a methane equivalent, an energy property such as heating value, a 25 number of carbon atoms or any other suitable measure for the environmental impact of the environmental attribute.

[0110] By converting the environmental attribute(s) of inbound material to units of token(s), said token(s) may act as a digital environmental currency and may be used to transfer the environmental attribute(s) associated with said token(s) supply chain product(s)s produced by the supply chain production network as described later on. The digital environmental currency may allow to decouple the material flow of the waste material(s) through the supply chain production network from the environmental attribute(s) associated with said waste material(s) and may allow to allocate such environmental attribute(s) to supply chain product(s)s produced by said supply chain production network fully or at least partially independent of material flows. Hence, the token(s) may be balanced independent from the physical flow of inbound material(s) used during production of supply chain product(s)(s) by the supply chain production network. The token(s) linked to the respective environmental attribute(s) may be balanced based on the system boundary of the supply chain production network. The token(s) linked to the respective environmental attribute(s) may be balanced based on the waste material(s) entering the system boundary of the supply chain production network and the produced supply chain product(s)(s) exiting the supply chain production network.

[0111] In an embodiment, the target environmental attribute may relate to or be associated with a renewable, a biobased, recycled and / or sustainable origin content. The target environmental attribute may further be related to or associated with metadata specifying an material type, a waste stream type, a biomass type, a renewable type, an origin type, an allocation scheme, or combinations thereof. Based on such metadata, the metadata associated with or related to the token(s) may be matched, and addresses holding matching token(s) may be selected. The units of matching token(s) may be transferred from the selected addresses, for example as described later on. The transferred units may be assigned to the supply chain product(s), for example as described later on. Owing to the token(s) and associated metadata granular target environmental attribute(s) can be achieved.

[0112] In an embodiment, assigning determined units of token(s) to the supply chain product(s) identifier comprises retiring the determined units of token(s) and creating one or more further token(s) specifying the retired units of the token(s), the one or more environmental attribute(s) linked to the token(s) and the provided supply chain product(s) identifier. Retiring the units of token(s) may include transferring said units to an address not associated with a private key (e.g. burning said units of token). Retiring the units of token(s) may include transferring said units to an address not associated with, e.g. not being under control of, the supply chain production network / operating system / entity operating the supply chain production network. The address may be associated with a third party creating the one or more further token(s). Transfer of said token units may include generating transaction data specifying the address the units are to be transferred to, the units to be transferred and the provided supply chain product(s) identifier. The transaction data may be generated by a decentral application. The decentral application may be configured to provide the generated transaction data to a 240716

[0113] 26 distributed ledger network. Creating one or more further token(s) may include generating transaction data specifying the retired units of token(s), the one or more environmental attribute(s) linked to token(s) associated with the retired units and the provided supply chain product(s) identifier and providing the generated transaction data to the distributed ledger network for creating the one or more further token(s). The transaction data may be generated by the operating system. The transaction data may be generated by a third party on behalf of the entity operating the supply chain production network.

[0114] The one or more further token(s) may specify a value associated with the material, wherein the value associated with the material is related to a difference in cost between the material and a corresponding amount of fossil material. The value may be provided in the transaction data.

[0115] The one or more further token(s) may uniquely specify the supply chain product(s) with the combination of the supply chain product(s) identifier, the one or more environmental attribute(s) and retired units of the token(s). Hence, the one or more further token(s) may be non-fungible token(s) uniquely specifying the supply chain product(s) via the supply chain product(s) identifier.

[0116] The one or more further token(s) may specify or be associated with metadata. The one or more further token(s) may contain a digital representation pointing to the metadata or parts thereof. This allows to store metadata of the token(s) off chain, hence allowing to update or change the metadata without having to burn and mint another token. For instance, the one or more non-fungible tokens may include a link pointing to an off-chain storage location of the meta data.

[0117] The one or more further token(s) may be created at an address associated with the supply chain production network. The one or more further token(s) may be created at an address associated with a third party and may be transferred to an address of the supply chain production network. Upon transfer of the supply chain product(s) associated with said one or more token(s) to a supply chain product(s) consumer, the one or more token(s) may be transferred to an address (e.g. address associated with the distributed ledger network) associated with the supply chain product(s) consumer.

[0118] In another embodiment, assigning determined units of token(s) to the supply chain product(s) identifier comprises transferring the determined units to a further address associated with the distributed ledger network, the further address being associated with the provided supply chain product(s) identifier. The further address may further be associated with the operating system of the supply chain production network. For instance, further addresses may be associated with metadata indicating the provided supply chain product(s) identifier and such metadata may be used to determine the further address. The further address may further be associated with the recipient of the produced supply chain product(s). 240716

[0119] 27

[0120] In yet another embodiment, assigning determined units of token(s) to the supply chain product(s) identifier comprises locking the determined units by transferring said units to a vault address associated with the distributed ledger network, wherein the determined units are transferred by generating transaction data including the determined units and locking data associated with the supply chain product(s) identifier and sending the transaction data to the distributed ledger network to lock the determined units, and wherein the locked units can be unlocked and transferred from said vault address using the locking data. The vault address corresponds to an executable means which may be invoked by sending the transaction to said (unique) communication address of the executable means. The transaction allows to look the determined units token(s) using a secret. The secret may, for example, be a hash value of the supply chain product(s) identifier. The produced supply chain product(s) associated with said supply chain product(s) identifier may be provided to a consumer. The supply chain product(s) may be associated with a physical identifier having encoded a decentral identifier. The decentral identifier may be used to access supply chain product(s) data from a decentral data providing network node of the supply chain product(s) producer as described previously. The supply chain product(s) data may include the secret used to look the units of token(s). The supply chain product(s) consumer may use the secret to generate transaction data including the secret and the vault address and may provide the transaction data to the distributed ledger network for unlocking the units (e.g. transferring said units to an address of the distributed ledger network associated with the supply chain product(s) consumer).

[0121] In an embodiment, assigning the determined units of token(s) to the supply chain product(s) identifier includes, checking the balance of addresses holding token(s) associated with the determined token units and assigning the determined units of token(s) from the associated address to the supply chain product(s) identifier if the balance is sufficient, and / or checking that the respective token(s) are associated with waste material(s) used to produce the supply chain product(s) and assigning the determined units of token(s) from addresses holding said units to the supply chain product(s) identifier if the respective token(s) is / are associated with waste material(s) used in the production chain of the supply chain product(s).

[0122] Input material(s) used to produce the supply chain product(s) may include waste material(s) associated with environmental attribute(s) at the entry to the supply chain production network. Input material(s) used to produce the supply chain product(s) may include waste material(s) associated with environmental attribute(s) and waste material(s) not associated with environmental attribute(s). The respective environmental attribute(s) may be decoupled from the material flow by generating token(s) and associated units.

[0123] Assignment of determined units of token(s) to the supply chain product(s) identifier may be performed prior to, during or after production of the supply chain product(s). Creation prior to production ensures that the environmental attribute(s) requested by a customer can be associated with the produced supply chain product(s). Moreover, this allows to determine the remaining units of token(s) and hence environmental attribute(s) available for allocation to produced supply chain product(s)s independent from the production, hence 240716

[0124] 28 ensuring that customer needs with respect to environmental attribute(s) associated with an ordered product can be fulfilled.

[0125] In an embodiment, providing material data associated with the waste material(s) may include providing a first material data associated with the waste material and providing a second material data associated with the second waste material. In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises providing at least one token linked to one or more environmental attribute(s) of the first waste material and the second waste material. In another embodiment, assigning the determined units of token(s) to the supply chain product(s) identifier may include generating one or more further token(s) that specify the supply chain product(s) identifier, the determined units of token(s) and the one or environmental attribute(s) of at least one of the first waste material and the second waste material.

[0126] In one embodiment, at least a part of the one or more output product(s) is used to produce one or more supply chain product(s), wherein the method may comprise: providing one or more supply chain product data associated with the produced one or more supply chain product(s) including one or more supply chain product identifier(s); determining - via the at least one attribution rule - units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the one or more output product(s) used to produce the one or more supply chain product(s); generating - based on the determined units associated with the fraction of the one or more output product(s) - the digital asset linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the one or more supply chain product identifier(s).

[0127] In a further embodiment, the digital asset may include one or more digital certificate(s) certifying the units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with the fraction of the waste material(s).

[0128] In a further embodiment, generating the digital asset(s) may include: creating one or more token(s) associated with the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with the fraction of the waste material(s); including at least a part of the created one or more token(s) in the digital asset.

[0129] In one embodiment, the method may comprise linking the created one or more token(s) included in the digital asset to the provided one or more output identifier(s). Additionally or alternatively, the method may further comprise linking at least a part of the created one or more token(s) included in the digital asset to the provided one or more supply chain product identifier(s). Moreover, the method may include: assigning at least a part of the created one or more token(s) to a digital inventory configured to allocate the one or more token(s) and optionally a digital inventory identifier; creating transaction data including the one or more environmental attribute(s), a token symbol, a token supply, a token decimal; providing the created transaction data to a distributed ledger network for access by a decentral data consuming node under control of or controlled by a decentral providing node associated with data owner of the digital asset.

[0130] In a further embodiment, the method may further comprise allocating unit of the one or more token(s) assigned in the digital inventory to further digital inventory associated with a data consuming node associated with a supply chain product production network.

[0131] Additionally or alternatively, allocation may comprise allocating to a digital repository. Additionally or alternatively, allocation may comprise allocating to a virtual balancing account. The virtual balancing account may be a digital repository. The virtual balancing account may be a digital inventory.

[0132] Moreover, the method may further comprise: providing multiple input waste material(s) to each associated with one environmental attribute(s) to the gasification process, including at least a first input waste material and as second waste material; providing a first waste material data associated with the first input waste material including one or more material identifier(s) associated with the first input waste material; providing a second waste material data associated with the second input waste material including one or more material identifier(s) associated with the second input waste material.

[0133] In another embodiment, the method may further comprise: determining via the at least one attribution rule units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the first input waste material and / or the second input waste material; generating - based on the determined units - the digital asset by linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the provided one or more output product identifier(s);

[0134] In yet another embodiment, the method may further comprise: determining via the at least one attribution rule units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the first input waste material and / or the second input waste material; generating - based on the determined units - the digital asset by linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the one or more supply chain product identifier(s).

[0135] Moreover, the method may further comprise: determining via the at least one attribution rule units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the first input waste material and / or the second input waste material; 240716

[0136] 30 generating - based on the determined units - the digital asset by linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the created one or more token(s) in the generated digital asset.

[0137] In one embodiment, the method may further comprise: determining via the at least one attribution rule units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the first input waste material and / or the second input waste material; generating - based on the determined units - the digital asset by linking to units of the one or more token(s) assigned in the digital inventory.

[0138] Additionally or alternatively, the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with the produced one or more output product (s) may be determined via a virtual gasification process.

[0139] Additionally or alternatively, the units of environmental attribute(s) associated to at least a part of the one or more supply chain product(s) may be determined via a virtual production process.

[0140] In one embodiment, at least a part of the one or more output product(s) is used to produce one or more supply chain product(s), wherein the app the data provider unit is configured to provide supply chain product identifier(s) associated with the produced one or more supply chain product(s); the attribution rule engine is configured to provide one or more attribution rule(s) for attributing units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the waste material(s) to a fraction of the one or more supply chain product(s).

[0141] Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus may further include one or more digital inventory configured to allocate units of the one or more token(s). The apparatus may further include one or more digital repository configured to allocate units of the one or more token(s). The apparatus may further allocation may comprise allocating to a virtual balancing account. The virtual balancing account may be a digital repository. The virtual balancing account may be a digital inventory.

[0142] Digital asset as generated according to the method as recited herein or the apparatus as recited herein may be used for determining product carbon footprint of the produced one or more supply chain product(s).

[0143] Digital asset as generated according to the method as recited herein or the apparatus as recited herein may be used for reducing product carbon footprint of the produced one or more supply chain product(s).

[0144] Digital asset as generated according to the method as recited herein or the apparatus as recited herein may be used for allocating units of the one or more tokens to the produced one or more supply chain product(s). 240716

[0145] 31

[0146] Additionally or alternatively, the allocated units of the one or more tokens may be transferred with transferred of the produced one or more supply chain product(s). Additionally or alternatively, the transferred units of the one or more tokens may be allocated to a recycled content of one or more suppl chain product(s).

[0147] Digital asset as generated according to the method as recited herein or the apparatus as recited herein may be used for allocating units of the one or more tokens to the produce one or more output product(s) and / or the produced one or more supply chain product(s).

[0148] In one embodiment, origin waste material(s) may also be allocated to the one or more output product(s) produced via the gasification of the waste material(s). In another embodiment, origin waste material(s) may be allocated to the produced one or more supply chain product(s) using at least part of the one or more output product(s). This is particularly advantageous, for closed loop recycling of a fraction of waste material(s) originated from single industry.

[0149] In yet another embodiment, the method may include selecting an equivalent amount of supply chain product(s) produced using a given amount of waste material(s) to demonstrate that waste material(s) were recycled. Additionally or alternatively, the method may include selecting an amount of supply chain product(s) produced using waste material(s) surpassing the amount used to the one or more supply chain product(s) to demonstrate that waste material(s) were recycled. The selection may part of a transaction of the decentral network.

[0150] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0151] In the following, the present disclosure is further described with reference to the enclosed figures. The same reference numbers in the drawings and this disclosure are intended to refer to the same or like elements, components, and / or parts.

[0152] FIG. 1 illustrates a first example of a participant network of a product ecosystem associated with a decentral peer-to-peer network for exchange of material data associated with waste material(s).

[0153] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a recycling network for producing one or more output product(s) via gasification process from waste material(s).

[0154] FIG. 3A conceptually depicts a gasification process using waste material(s) for producing output product(s) and assigning environmental attribute(s) to the output product(s).

[0155] FIG. 3B conceptually depicts supply chain product(s) produced using output product(s) of a gasification process using waste material(s) and assigning environmental attribute(s) to the supply chain product(s).

[0156] FIG. 4A illustrates a flowchart of an example of a method for assigning one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) to one or more output products produced via a gasification process.

[0157] FIG. 4B illustrates a flowchart of an example of a method for assigning one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) to one or more supply chain product(s) produced using output product(s) produced via a gasification process. 240716

[0158] 32

[0159] FIG. 5A illustrates an example of an apparatus for producing one or more output product(s) via a gasification process and linking to environmental attribute(s) of waste material(s).

[0160] FIG. 5B illustrates an example of an apparatus for producing supply chain product(s) using the output product(s) of the gasification process, and linking of the supply chain product(s) to environmental attribute(s) of waste material(s) used in the gasification process.

[0161] FIG. 6A illustrates an example of a rule set for generating units of token(s) or allocating units of token(s) linked to environmental attribute(s) based on environmental attributes associated with waste material(s).

[0162] FIG. 6B illustrates examples of attribution rules for assigning units of token(s) to an output product identifier based on an attribution rule.

[0163] FIG. 6C illustrates examples of attribution rule instructions for determining units of at least one token linked to one or more environmental attributes.

[0164] FIG. 6D illustrates examples of attribution rule instructions for a compatibility check of token units.

[0165] FIG. 7 illustrates an exchange of digital asset(s) linked to environmental attributes and being associated with output product(s) provided by the recycling network via gasification of waste material(s) to an output product consumer via a decentral peer-to-peer network.

[0166] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0167] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a participant network of a supply chain product ecosystem associated with a decentral peer-to-peer network for transfer of data associated with materials and produced products used within the supply chain product ecosystem.

[0168] FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a circular material loop 130 including material participants 102 to 112 connected through a decentral network 134 including decentral network nodes 128 to 126 associated with the material participants 102 to 112.

[0169] The participant network shown in FIG. 1 may be a material chain network. The material chain network may include one or more linear material chain(s), such as production chain(s) and / or recycling chain(s). The linear material chain(s) may include a material production chain(s), in which the material is produced by a material producer 102 and used to produce an end-product, for example by an original equipment manufacturer such as chemical product user 104. The linear material chain(s) may include a material recycling chain, in which the produced end-product is collected, sorted and recycled up to a recycler 112 and the recyclate is used to produce new material by the material producer 102. End-product(s) collected and sorted for recycling may be referred to as waste material(s). Waste material may refer to product(s) such as supply chain product(s) which are discarded, disposed or deemed unwanted after the completion of a process, activity and / or lifecycle. Waste material(s) may originate from various sources including households, industries, agriculture and commercial activities. The material chain may include one or more production and / or recycling chain(s). The material chain may include one or more connected production and / or recycling chain(s). One or more linear material chain(s) may be connected to the material loop 130. 240716

[0170] 33

[0171] The material chain network may include a material loop network 130 including the use of recycled material(s) to produce new materials. One or more material loop(s) 130 may allow to use materials resulting from recycling of end-of-life products to produce new products, such as chemical products or materials, associated with one or more material chain(s). The material chain network, preferably the material loop 130, may include the production, use and / or recycling of physical materials or products containing such materials. The product may be a material, a chemical product, an intermediate chemical product, a discrete component containing material, a discrete component assembly, an end-product, an end-of-life product, a product to be recycled, a recycled product or a recyclate.

[0172] Material or chemical product may refer to a chemical compound, a chemical ingredient, a chemical molecule, a chemical composition, a chemical mixture, a chemical formulation, an intermediate chemical product, or a chemical base material that may be used to produce discrete products. Chemical material or product flows may include non-discrete material flows that may be further processed to produce discrete products or components. Chemical material or product flows may include liquids, pellets, beats, powders or the like. The discrete product may refer to a discrete component, a discrete component assembly, an end-product, an end-of-life product, a product to be recycled, or a recycled discrete product.

[0173] The chemical material or product may be produced using raw materials and / or recyclate. The recyclate may refer to a mechanically or chemically recycled material. Recyclate or recycled material flows may include nondiscrete material flows that may be further processed to produce new materials or chemical products. Recyclate or recycled material flows may include liquids, pellets, beats, powders or the like. The raw materials may refer to starting materials used to produce the material or chemical product, such as virgin raw material(s). Virgin raw material may be unused raw material that has not been subjected to any processing other than for its production.

[0174] End-product may refer to a product that is the result of a material chain. End-product may refer to a product that is used by the end-product user. End-of-life (EOL) product may refer to a product that has been used by endproduct user. End-of-life product may refer to a product that does no longer fulfil the requirements for its use. End-of-life product may refer to a product that is no longer required. End-of-life products may be products disposed in waste, such as plastic waste. A recycled product may refer to any product or material that has been produced using end-of-life product(s). A recycled product may refer to a new product or material that has been produced using end-of-life product(s).

[0175] The material loop 130 illustrated in FIG. 1 may include multiple participants 102 to 112 forming the material loop 130. The material loop 130 may include all stages of the material from production of the material via use of the material to re-use of the material. The material may hence flow in a closed loop from production of constituents, the end-product via use to re-use. Re-use may include re-purposing of the end-of-life product, re-furbishing of the end-of-life product and / or recycling of the end-of-life product to refeed recyclate into material production. 240716

[0176] 34

[0177] The participant(s) 102 to 112 of the material loop may be associated with the production of any material or product and / or recycling of any material or product. The participant(s) of the material loop 130 may include the chemical product producer 102, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) 104, the end-product user 106, maintenance shops for the end-product 108, the EOL product collector and / or sorter 110, the recycler 112 or combinations thereof. The participant(s) may include various participant(s) of the material chain or loop not shown in FIG. 1.

[0178] The participant(s) 102 to 112 of the material loop 130 may be connected through material flow(s) 136. The loop material flow 136 may correspond to the flow of product or material from one participant 102 to 112 of the material loop to the downstream participant 102 to 112 of the material loop 130. The loop material flow 136 may refer to a continuous or a discontinuous flow of product or material. The flow of product or material may include any means of transportation suitable to transport the product from one participant 102 to 112 to another downstream participant 102 to 112. The means of transportation may include pipes, containers, barrels, packages or the like. The material flow 204 may be a one-sided flow, such as a directional loop material flow 136. The loop material flow 136 may flow from the up-stream participant 102 to 112 to the downstream participant 102 to 112 of the material loop 130, such as the loop material flow 136 from the recycler 112 to the chemical product producer 102. The material flow may include reverse loop material flow 136 from the downstream participant 102 to 112 to the upstream participant 102 to 112 of the material loop 130. For example, material may loop material flow 136 from the chemical product producer 102 to the recycler 112, e.g. when the recycled product or recyclate does not adhere to quality specifications and needs further treatment.

[0179] The loop material flow 136 may be associated with raw materials used to produce the material or chemical product, such as virgin raw material(s). Instead of or in addition to virgin raw material(s) the loop material flow 136 may include recycled material(s). The raw and recycled materials may be provided to the chemical product producer for producing material(s), chemical product(s) and / or intermediate chemical product(s) (not shown).

[0180] The material loop 130 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be based on the example of feedstocks for chemical production and their circular loops. The chemical production may produce one or more chemical products (e.g. output products) from one or more materials (e.g. input materials) entering the chemical production. The output product may be an intermediate chemical product. The output product may be a chemical product. Feedstocks for chemical production may include any type of feedstock entering chemical productions. The feedstock may include raw materials used to produce the chemical product, such as virgin raw material(s). The feedstock may include fossil and / or non-fossil feedstock. The feedstock may include output product(s) produced via gasification of waste material(s). Examples of fossil feedstock include crude oil, naphtha, methane or the like. Examples of non-fossil feedstock include recycled, bio-based or renewable feedstock. Examples of recycled feedstock include pyrolysis oil, pyrolysis gas, mechanically recycled polymer material or chemically recycled polymer material. Examples of bio-based or renewable feedstock include bio-based pyrolysis oil, bio-based pyrolysis gas, bio-based synthesis gas, bio-based hydrogen, bio-based naphtha, bio-based methane, bio-based ethane, 240716

[0181] 35 bio-based propane, bio-based chemicals, renewable pyrolysis oil, renewable pyrolysis gas, renewable synthesis gas, renewable hydrogen, renewable naphtha, renewable methane, renewable ethane, renewable propane or renewable chemicals or any combinations thereof.

[0182] The chemical product may be produced by the chemical product producer 102 from one or more materials. Materials may include recycled material, such as pyrolysis oil, supplied by recycler 112 and / or virgin material(s) supplied by virgin material producer 138. The produced chemical product may be provided to a chemical product user 104. The chemical product user 104 may use the received chemical product(s) to produce one or more discrete products, such as tires. The discrete product(s) may be provided to an end-product producer 106. The end-product producer may produce one or more end-product(s), such as vehicles, from discrete product(s) received from chemical product user 104. The end-product may be provided to an end-product user 108. Endproduct user 108 may use the end-product. At the end-of-life of the end-product or part(s) thereof, such as the tires, the end-product or parts thereof may be disposed by the end-product user 108. The disposed end-product or parts thereof may be provided to the waste collector and / or sorter 110. The waste end-product or parts thereof may be collected by EOL product collector / sorter 110. The collected waste end-product or parts thereof may be sorted by EOL product collector / sorter 110. The collected waste end-product or parts thereof may be provided to a sorter for sorting fractions of the end-products or parts thereof, such as tires, to be recycled. The sorted fractions may be provided to a recycler for recycling the fraction(s), such as tires. The recycled material produced by recycler 112 may be provided to the chemical product producer 102 for producing new chemical products thus closing the material loop 130. The loop material flow 136 may close the loop between the material participants.

[0183] The material participants may include the chemical product producer 102, chemical product user 104, endproduct producer 106, end-product user 108, such as the retailer or end-product consumer, EOL product collector / sorter 110, recycler 112 and certification service 114. Certification service 114 may be configured to certify material data received from, for instance, by recycler 112 and to generate digital assets associated to one or more environmental attribute(s), for instance, certifying, a waste free production by the end-product producer 106. Certification service 114 may also be configured to certify that waste material(s) were recycled, for instance, via gasification. Hence, certification service 114 may be configured to generate waste free certificate(s). Moreover, digital assets may be allocated to intermediate products such as output product(s) of a gasification process and / or end-product(s) such as supply chain product(s) produced using the output product(s) of the gasification process.

[0184] In addition to the connection through loop material flow 136 the material participants 102 to 112 of the circular material loop 130 may be connected through data flow 132 via the decentral network 134. The decentral network 134 may include one or more decentral network nodes 128 to 126 associated with material participants 102 to 112 of the material loop 130. In a decentralized or decentral network 134, the decentral network nodes 128 to 126, in contrast to a centralized network, do not exclusively rely on a central network node. In other words, no 240716

[0185] 36 single entity is the sole authority of the network. The decentral network 134 may include decentral and central network nodes. The decentral network 134 may include central network nodes that may control and / or monitor the decentral network nodes 128 to 126. For example, central network node(s) may provide authentication information, which allow at least two decentral network nodes 128 to 126 to establish a peer-to-peer communication channel between respective decentral network nodes 128 to 126.

[0186] The network nodes 128 to 126 may be computing nodes. The computing node may be any device or system that includes at least one physical and tangible processor, and a physical and tangible memory capable of having thereon computer-executable instructions that are executed by a processor. Computing nodes are now increasingly taking a wide variety of forms. Computing nodes may, for example, be handheld devices, monitoring systems, control systems, laptop computers, desktop computers, mainframes and / or data centers. The memory may take any form and depends on the nature and form of the computing node. The decentral network nodes 128 to 126 may be connected via a wired and / or wireless connection such as one of Ethernet, USB, LAN, WLAN and the like. Wireless communication may use, for example, WLAN, Wi-Fi, cellular, and / or Blue-tooth. The decentral network nodes 128 to 126 may be configured to perform peer-to-peer data transactions, illustrated by the arrows 132 indicating data flow.

[0187] The decentral network nodes 128 to 126 may be configured as data consuming and / or providing network nodes. The decentral network nodes 128 to 126 may be configured to provide data to other network node(s) of the decentral network 134 and / or to consume data from other nodes of the decentral network 134. For instance, the decentral network node 116 associated with the chemical product producer 102 may be configured to provide machine fluid data and / or monitoring data associated with properties of the machine fluid and / or the used machine fluid to downstream participants such as the end-product user 108, or the recycler 112. Further for instance, the decentral network node 128 to 126 associated with the EOL product collector / sorter 110 or the recycler 112 may be configured to access data from the network node 128 to 126 associated with upstream participants such as the chemical product producer 102.

[0188] The decentral network node(s) 116 to 128 may be configured as data consuming and / or providing network nodes. The decentral network node(s) 116 to 128 may comprise computer-executable instructions configured to provide, consume and / or process data, such as data associated with the materials produced or processed within the circular material loop 130. The network node(s) may run a data providing service configured to provide data to another decentral network node 116 to 128 of the decentral network 134. The decentral network node(s) 116 to 128 configured to provide data may be associated with a data owner or a data generating node associated with a material or product produced or processed within the circular material loop 130. The decentral network node(s) 116 to 128 may be connected to one or more dedicated data storage(s) storing the data associated with material or product produced or processed in the circular loop 130 (see for example FIG. 12. The dedicated data storage(s) may be under control of the data owner or data generating node associated with the material or product produced or processed in the circular loop 130. The data owner may be the respective participant 102 240716

[0189] 37 to 112 of the circular loop 130, the data generating node 116 to 128 is associated with. The data generating node 116 to 128 may have access to the dedicated data storage(s). Access to data associated with material or product produced or processed within the circular loop 130 may hence be under control of the data owner the respective decentral network node 116 to 128 is associated with. This allows to retain full control over data associated with material or product produced or processed within the circular loop 130 by the data owner. At the same time this enables sharing of data associated with material or product produced or processed within the circular loop 130 under controlled conditions, for example by using appropriate protocols including authorization and authentication mechanisms or schemes to establish peer-to-peer communication.

[0190] The decentral network node 116 to 128 configured to consume data may comprise computer-executable instructions for accessing and / or processing data within the decentral net-work decentral network 134, such as data associated with material produced or processed within the circular loop 130 and provided by a decentral data providing network node 116 to 128. The decentral data consuming network node 116 to 128 may be controlled or owned by or associated with any upstream or downstream participant of the circular material loop 130. For instance, the decentral data consuming network node 116 may be associated with chemical product producer 102 to allow access to material data associated with the recycled material supplied by recycler 112 through the decentral data providing network node 126 associated with the recycler 112.

[0191] The decentral network 134 may include further decentral network nodes. The further decentral network nodes may not be associated with further participants of the circular loop 130. The further nodes may be decentral infrastructure service nodes (not shown in FIG. 1). The decentral infrastructure service nodes may provide services for decentral participant nodes 128 to 126, such as verifying the identity of the decentral network participant nodes 116 to 128 prior to performing a data ex-change. The decentral network participant node(s) 116 to 128 may be associated with or include certificate(s), such as X.509 certificate(s). The certificate(s) may be associated with an identity manager including e.g. a certificate issuing service and / or a dynamic provisioning service providing dynamic attribute tokens (e.g. OAuth Access Tokens). This way the decentral network node(s) 128 to 126 may be associated or connected to a unique identifier embedded in a X.509 certificate that identifies the respective decentral network node(s) 116 to 126. The information required to verify the certificate may be provided via an authentication registry associated with the certificate issuing service and / or a dynamic provisioning service. For instance, in the IDSA Reference Architecture Model, Version 3.0 of April 2019, a decentral data providing network node associated with the data owner, a Certification Authority (CA), a Dynamic Attribute Provisioning Service (DAPS) and a decentral data consuming network node associated with the data consumer are used to verify the identity prior to performing a data exchange (not shown).

[0192] The material or product produced by participant(s) 102 to 1 12 of the circular loop 130 may be associated with material or product data associated with properties of the material or product produced by participant(s) 102 to 112 of the circular loop 130. The material or product data may be provided for access by the decentral data providing network node 116 to 128 associated with the material or product producer. Access to the material or 240716

[0193] 38 product data may be controlled by the decentral data providing network node 116 to 128. The material or product data may be accessed by decentral data consuming network node(s) 116 to 128 associated with further participants 102 to 112 of the material loop 130, such as any downstream participant 102 to 112.

[0194] The data flows 132 between decentral network nodes 116 to 128 may be directly or indirectly associated with the loop material flows 136 between the participants 102 to 112 of the material loop 130. For instance, the data flow 132 may be directly associated with the loop material flow 136 if data associated with a chemical product provided from the chemical product producer 102 to the chemical product user 104 is accessed by a decentral data consuming network node 118 associated with said chemical product user 104. For instance, the data flow 132 may be indirectly associated with the loop material flows 136, if data associated with a chemical product produced by chemical product producer 102 is accessed by a decentral data consuming network node 126 associated with recycler 112.

[0195] Data transactions between decentral network nodes 116 to 128 may be based on a decentral identifier associated with the material or product data to be accessed. The decentral identifier may be associated with the physical entity of the material or product. The decentral identifier may be uniquely associated with the physical entity of the material or product. The decentral identifier may uniquely identify the material or product within the decentral network 134. The decentral identifier may be associated with further decentral identifier(s), such as decentral identifier(s) of material(s) or product(s) used to produce the end-product. This may allow to track the material(s) or product(s) used to produce a product, such as an end-product. The decentral identifier(s) may be associated with digital asset(s) generated upon validating the material data. The decentral identifier may be included in an access element associated with the material or product.

[0196] In particular, the generation of access elements associated with digital asset(s) allows for reliable, secure and simple validation of chemical and / or physical properties of input material(s) entering a chemical production, hence improving the environmental impact of the circular material loop 130 by allowing to use recycled material as input material in chemical production without a negative impact on the operation of the chemical production.

[0197] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a recycling network 232 for producing one or more output product(s) via gasification process from waste material(s) in connection with an operating system 232 including an attribute management system 216 to manage environmental attribute(s).

[0198] Operating system 232 is a digital operating system configured to collect, store, manage and interpret a wide range of production and / or business data for recycling network 232. Operating system 232 may be part of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. Alternatively, operating system 232 may be partly implemented in an ERP system and partly implemented in one or more additional systems coupled with an ERP system. Operating system 232 may also be implemented in one or more systems outside of an ERP system. 240716

[0199] 39

[0200] Waste material(s) are provided to recycling network 232 at a feed-in point. The waste material(s) may include a plurality of material, for instance, but not limited to, biomass such as agriculture residues, wood waste, organic waste from a plurality of industries such as food processing industries, municipal solid waste such as paper, plastics, textiles, yard waste, industrial waste such as manufacturing byproducts, sludge, fossil fuels such as coal, oil, conventional fossil feedstock such naphtha, sustainable waste materials waste biogas and / or bionaphtha and / or recycled input materials such as pyrolysis oil. The waste material may also include material from end-of-life product rendered as waste material such as parts including wood, plastics, papers. After they are delivered to recycling network 232, the waste material(s) may be combined (e.g., by being fed into the same tank) as they enter the gasification process. This allows combining different batches of waste material(s) delivered by same waste material provider and / or different batches of waste material(s) originated from different sources, for example, collected by the waste material provider from different sources.

[0201] Material data associated with material properties of the material(s) is provided to operating system 232 upon delivery. For example, the goods receipt (and / or a BOM and / or a chemical production recipe) including the material data for each delivered waste material may be electronically provided to operating system 232 when waste material(s) are delivered to recycling network 232. Operating system 232 may receive material data 210, 206 through an interface to a local or a remote database or an ERP system, in particular its supply chain module, or any computing system or apparatus, such as a centralized or decentralized computing system or apparatus including processing and storage. The material data for each waste material may hence be gathered from an ERP system or any computing system or apparatus, such as a centralized or decentralized computing system or apparatus including processing and storage. In some cases, the material data of each waste material is gathered through an interface to more than one database. It therefore may be necessary to convert the information retrieved from different databases into a single format to allow further processing. In particular, the material data obtained from databases may be attributed to the waste material via the identification of a waste material in the database that has to be translated to the identification of the waste material of the process data used in the process according to the present disclosure.

[0202] Operating system 232 may initiate a virtual production step after it receives the material data for waste material(s). Virtual production refers to receiving material data for a waste material and producing environmental attributes (based on the waste material) (e.g., data describing the corresponding amount and / or value of waste material).

[0203] For example, operating system 232 may initiate a virtual production process when it receives material data for waste material(s)210, 206. Using material data 210, 206, the virtual production process may parse the material data and apply corresponding processing specifications. For example, the virtual production process may determine the volume (or mass) and type of waste material that was received from the material data. It may then apply one or more virtual production step(s) to the waste material 210, 206. The virtual production step(s) may "produce” both environmental attributes 212, 214212, 214 and output product(s) 218. The amount of output 40 product(s) (virtually) produced may be equal to produced output product(s) 222. Digital asset(s) 228 associated with output product(s) may be provided.

[0204] Operating system 232 may then credit a digital inventory, which may also be referred to as a virtual balancing account with the amount of output product(s) that was created by the virtual production process(es). Operating system 232 may also convert the environmental attributes to units such as balancing units and allocate or credit those units to digital unit inventories (and / or virtual units accounts, and / or virtual balancing unit accounts and / or digital balancing unit inventories) 212, 214. The conversion may include a conversion factor that takes account of conversion loss during gasification process. The conversion factor may relate to, but not limited to, energy loses such as heat loss and / or incomplete conversion, material losses such as char formation and / or tar production, operational factors such as design of equipment and / or waste material properties, operational parameters such as temperature, pressure, oxidant type and ratio, thermal efficiency, carbon conversion efficiency. For instance, one waste material may have lower heating value than that of another waste material. This way the material properties differences between waste material (s) and / or conversion losses can be taken into account. Moreover, the conversion factor may also relate, but not limited to, energy input, energy output, conversion efficiency, carbon footprint, material efficiency, process temperature, process duration. The conversion factor may also be taken into account for generation of units of tokens corresponding to a given fraction of waste material(s).

[0205] Digital inventories 212, 214 may determine and track both the amount (e.g., volume and / or mass) and the value of waste material(s). For example, operating system 232 may parse material data 210, 206 to determine the amount of waste material(s) that was received. Operating system 232 may then credit digital inventories 212, 214 with the amount of waste material(s) that was received.

[0206] Operating system 232 may also determine a value associated with the balancing units it credits to digital inventories. For example, operating system 232 may compute the difference in cost between waste material(s) to determine the value of the balancing units. Operating system 232 may use average price, actual price, market price or other suitable values to determine the cost of the equivalent amount of waste material(s). Operating system 232 stores and tracks the amounts and values corresponding to waste material(s) in digital inventories 212, 214. For example, the balancing units stored in digital inventories 212, 214 may include the amount and / or value information corresponding to waste material(s).

[0207] For producing one or more output product(s) different waste material (s)waste material(s) may be provided as physical inputs from waste material providers or suppliers or collector or recycler. The output product(s) produced from the waste material(s) may have one or more properties related to the environmental impact of the waste material(s) or the output product(s) produced from the waste material(s), that may be signified by the environmental attributes. 41

[0208] The recycling network 232 may include multiple interlinked processing steps. The recycling network 232 may be integrated into chemical production network with connected or interconnected production chains. The chemical production network may include multiple different production using the output product(s) of the gasification process. The chemical production network may include multiple stages of the value chain. The chemical production network may include the producing, refining, processing and / or purification of gas or crude oil or vegetable oil. The chemical production network may include a stream cracker, or a syngas plant or a hydrolysis plant connected to multiple production chains that output product(s) from the effluent of the steam cracker or syngas plants or the hydrolysis plant. The chemical production network may include multiple production chains that produce from one or more waste material(s) output product(s) that exit the chemical production network. The output product(s) may be used to produce further supply chain product(s). The chemical production may include multiple tiers of a chemical value chain. The chemical production network may include physically connected or interconnected supply chains and / or production sites. The production sites may be at the same location or at different locations. In the latter case, the production sites may be connected or interconnected by means of dedicated transportation systems such as pipelines, supply chain vehicles, like trucks, ships or other cargo transportation means.

[0209] The chemical production network may chemically convert output product(s) of the gasification process to one or more chemical product(s) that exit the chemical production network. The chemical production network may convert output product(s) of the gasification process by way of chemical conversion to one or more chemical product(s). The chemical production network may use output product(s) of the gasification processes for energy generation.

[0210] The waste material(s) may be fed into the recycling network 232 at any entry point. The waste material(s) may be fed into the recycling network 232 at the start of the recycling network 232. Waste material(s) may for example make up the feedstock of a gasification process.

[0211] The chemical production network may include multiple production steps. The production steps included in the chemical production network may be defined by a system boundary of the chemical production network. The gasification steps of the gasification process may be defined by the system boundary of the chemical product network. The gasification steps of the gasification process may be defined by the system boundary of the recycling network 232. The system boundary may be defined by location or control over production processes. The system boundary may be defined by the site of the chemical production network and / or recycling network 232. The system boundary may be defined by production processes controlled by one entity or multiple entities jointly. The system boundary may be defined by a value chain with staggered production processes to an endproduct, which may be controlled by multiple entities separately. The chemical production network may include a waste collection and sorting step, a recycling step such as the gasification process and further processing steps to convert such output product(s) of the gasification to supply chain product(s) such as a chemical product leaving the system boundary of the chemical production network. 240716

[0212] 42

[0213] The operating system 234 of the recycling network 232 may monitor and / or control the recycling network 232 based on operating parameters of the different processes. One process step monitored and / or controlled may be the feed of waste material(s) or the discharge of output product(s). Another process step monitored and / or controlled may be the attributing of at least one environmental attribute associated with a waste material to one or more output product(s)(s) produced via the recycling network 232. Yet another process step monitored and / or controlled may be the tokenization of environmental attributes associated with waste material(s) entering the system boundary of the chemical production network. Yet another process step monitored and / or controlled may be the management of tokens linked to environmental attributes associated with waste material(s) and tokens linked to output product(s) for the gasification of waste material(s) and / or supply chain products produced using the output product(s) produced by recycling network 231 such as chemical product(s) produced by the chemical production network and / or supply chain product(s) produced by a supply chain production network.

[0214] The operating system 234 may be configured to access data related the waste material(s), the process(es), output product(s) produced by the recycling network 232 and / or the chemical product(s) produced by the chemical production network and / or supply chain product(s) produced by the supply chain product production network. The operating system 234 may be configured to convert a recycled, renewable, or bio-based content of waste material(s) used in the gasification process to units of environmental attribute(s) corresponding to a given fraction of waste material (s). The operating system 234 may be configured to determine environmental attributes associated with the waste material(s) to environmental attribute(s). The operating system 234 may be configured to determine units of token(s) using the determined environmental attributes. The operating system 234 may be configured to generate transaction data and to provide the generated transaction data to a distributed ledger network for creating tokens and associated token units linked to the environmental attribute(s) or for transferring units of token(s) linked to the environmental attributes to a specified participant of the decentral network. The operating system 234 may be configured to allocate units of token(s) to output product(s) of the gasification and / or to supply chain product(s) produced using the output product(s) of the gasification and / or to a digital inventory.

[0215] The operating system 234 may be configured to manage tokens and associated token units related to waste material(s) and output product(s) produced by the recycling network 232 and supply chain product(s) produced using the output product(s). In particular, the operating system 234 may be configured to determine token units associated with the use of waste material(s) impacting the environmental property / attribute of the output product(s) produced by the recycling network 232. The operating system 234 may be configured to determine token units associated with the chemical product(s) and the environmental property of the chemical product(s). This way the operating system 234 may be configured to allocate tokens and associated token units to one or more addresses or to transfer token units from the one or more addresses to deduct said units from the total balance of said addresses. The token units may be viewed as a credit that may be deposited to or deducted from a digital inventory related to the waste material(s) provided to recycling network 232. 240716

[0216] 43

[0217] The operating system 234 may be configured to convert environmental attributes associated with waste material(s) to token units and / or to assign token units to produced output product(s) of the gasification and / or chemical product(s) produced using the output product(s) and / or supply chain product(s) produced using the chemical product(s) and / or the output product(s), and to manage token creation / token unit transfer as well as assignment of token units to output product(s), chemical product(s) and / or supply chain product(s). Operation system 234 may be configured to convert environmental attributes associated with waste material(s) to digital asset(s) which may allow to certify that the waste material(s) were recycled, and such digital asset(s) may be allocated to the output product(s) of the gasification and / or chemical product(s) produced using the output product(s) and / or supply chain product(s) produced using the chemical product(s) and / or the output product(s).

[0218] Recycling network 232 may include measured value provider (not depicted). Measured value provider may be configured to measure a sample of output product(s) 224 to determine how much waste material(s) is in the output product being tested. For example, if waste material(s) include biocarbon-containing materials, measured value provider may apply biocarbon content (or radiocarbon) dating to produce a biocarbon content value for the output product being tested. The biocarbon content value may specify or quantify the amount of radiocarbon remaining in a sample (of the output product). Radiocarbon is a radioactive isotope of carbon with a half-life of approximately 5700 years. When an organism dies, it stops taking in biocarbon and the radiocarbon in the organism begins to decay. By measuring the remaining amount of radiocarbon in the material, it is possible to determine the fractional share of biocarbon to other carbon isotopes (e.g., carbon 12) in the sample. The fractional share of carbon-14 in the sample can be used to determine the relative share of bio-based material in the waste material(s) used to produce the output product(s). Thus, measured value provider can provide a measured biocarbon content value that demonstrates the output product(s) has the measured amount of (sustainable) carbon. The measured biocarbon content value is independent of environmental attributes that may be allocated to the output product(s) via mass balance. Measured value provider may be part of operating system 232 or may be communicatively coupled to operating system 232 (and provide the measured biocarbon content value to operating system 232). Via at least one attribution rule, units of the environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of waste material(s) may be determined and digital asset(s) 228 may be generated by linking determined units of environmental attribute(s) to output product(s) such as to output product identifier(s).

[0219] FIG. 3A conceptually depicts a gasification process using waste material(s) for producing output product(s) and assigning environmental attribute(s). to the output product(s) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0220] Gasification process may take place as part of recycling of waste materials. Gasification process may take place as part of chemical production network. A chemical product producer may be capable of receiving waste material(s) and via a gasification process product output product(s). Waste material(s) may be delivered for gasification by one or more entities, for instance, by one or more waste material collectors, one or more supply 240716

[0221] 44 chain product producers, one or more recyclers. The gasification process may be part of a system boundary of a recycler. The gasification process may be part of a system boundary of a chemical product producer.

[0222] Upon delivery of waste material (s), material data associated with material properties of the delivered waste material(s) may be provided. The material data may, for example but not limited to, include material identifier(s), waste material identifier(s), batch identifier(s), waste material composition data, amount of delivered waste material. At least a fraction of the delivered material may enter the gasification process. For each amount of waste material that is gasified, unit of environmental attribute(s) may be determined as recited herein. Determined units of environmental attribute(s) may be assigned to units of gasified. Determined units of environmental attribute(s) may subsequently be assigned to units of output product(s) of the gasification process. This is particularly advantageous, as it allows to relate units of waste material are subjected to gasification process to corresponding units of environmental attribute(s). Moreover, this also beneficial, as it allows to relate units of environmental attribute(s) to units of produced output product(s) by using given units of waste material(s). For instance, gasification process may, for example, yield synthesis gas (syngas) primary comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. Moreover, the gasification process may also yield further output products such as methane, water vapor, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide, nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, and volatile organic compounds. Furthermore, the gasification process may also yield even further output product(s), for instance, byproducts such as tar comprising a complex mixture of organic compounds, solid residues such carbon-rich solid remains, e.g., char, and / or inorganic materials left over such as ash. To each of these products, units of environmental attribute(s) can be assigned.

[0223] Upon output product(s) are produced, output product data may be provided. Output product data may, for example but not limited to, include output product identifier(s), batch identifier(s), composition data associate with composition of output product(s), and environmental attribute data. Digital assets may be generated based on units of determined environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of waste material used to produce an amount of output product(s). Generated digital asset(s) may also to link the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the one or more output product for instance by linking the data to output product identifier(s). Determining the units of environmental attribute(s) associate with the fraction of the waste material(s) may be performed via at least one attribution rule. Digital asset(s) linking the units of environmental attribute(s) for given amount of output product(s) to a given fraction waste material(s) may be generated. Generate digital asset(s) may be provided to a decentral network.

[0224] FIG. 3B conceptually depicts supply chain product(s) produced using output product(s) of a gasification process using waste material(s) and assigning environmental attribute(s) to the supply chain product(s) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0225] Upon producing supply chain product(s) using the output product(s), supply chain product data may be provided. The supply chain product data may, for example but limited to, include supply chain product identifier(s), batch 240716

[0226] 45 identifier(s), supply chain product composition data, and environmental attributes data. Digital assets may be generated based on units of determined environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of one or more output product(s) used to produce given amount of the one or more supply chain product(s). Determined units of environmental attribute(s) may be obtained by applying at least one attribute rule. Generated digital asset(s) may to link the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to given amounts of the one or more output product(s) used to produce the amount of the one or more supply chain product(s), for instance, by linking the data supply chain product identifier(s). This is particularly advantageous, as it allows to establish the corresponding relation between units of environmental attribute(s) allocated to a given amount of produced supply change product(s) to corresponding amount of output product(s) used to produce the given amount of supply change product(s). In turn, this is beneficial, as it allows to link units of environmental attribute(s) to a given amount of produced supply change product(s) to corresponding amount of waste material(s) subject to gasification process. Digital asset(s) linking units of environmental attribute(s) for given amount of supply chain product produced a given amount of output product(s) of the gasification process to a given fraction waste material(s) used to produce the given amount of output product(s) may be generated. Generate digital asset(s) may be provided to a decentral network.

[0227] In simple terms, FIG. 3A and 3B conceptually depicts attributing environmental attribute(s) to output product(s) and / or supply chain product(s) according to embodiments of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 3A discloses assigning environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) to output product(s) produced via subjecting to a gasification process waste material(s). Waste material(s) may be delivered to a processing plant, for instance, installation of a recycler, wherein the waste material(s) may be subjected to gasification process(s) to produce one or more output products. The processing plant may also refer to processing installations. The processing plant may be part of a chemical production network. The processing plant may be part of a chemical production site. The processing plant may be part of a chemical product production system. Upon delivery of waste material (s), material data associated with material properties of the delivered waste material(s) may be provided. The material data may, for example but not limited to, include material identifier(s), waste material identifier(s), batch identifier(s), waste material composition data. The gasification process may, for example, yield synthesis gas (syngas) primary comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. Moreover, the gasification process may also yield further output products such as methane, water vapor, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide, nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, and volatile organic compounds. Furthermore, the gasification process may also yield even further output product(s), for instance, byproducts such as tar comprising a complex mixture of organic compounds, solid residues such carbon-rich solid remains, e.g., char, and / or inorganic materials left over such as ash.

[0228] For attributing the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the one or more output products produced via the gasification process, material data associated with material properties of the waste material(s) may be provided. The material data may be provided from one or more database(s). The material data may also include one or more material identifier(s). Moreover, one or more output product identifier(s) associated with the produced one 240716

[0229] 46 or more output product(s) may be provided. Based on the provided material data, one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with the waste material(s) may further provided. Via at least one attribution rule, units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the waste material(s) may be determined. Based on the determined units - a digital asset by linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the provided one or more output product identifier(s) may be generated. For instance, the units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) may be balancing units. Hence, the units may be allocated or deallocated from, for instance, the one or more output product(s). In one embodiment, the units may be viewed as a credit that may be deposited in an account or deducted from an account related to the waste material(s) and / or the one or more output product(s) produced via the gasification process and / or the one or more supply chain product(s) produced using the one or more output product(s). The attribution rule may define the units of environmental attributes to be associated with a given fraction of waste material(s). The attribution rule may define a correspondence of units of environmental attributes to a unit of waste material(s). The attribution rule may define a correspondence of units of environmental attributes to a fraction of waste material(s). The attribution rule may define a correlation of units of environmental attribute(s) to a fraction of waste material(s). The attribution rule may define a correlation of units of environmental attribute(s) to unit(s) of waste material(s). The attribution rule in combination with the amount of waste material(s) may define units of token(s). The attribution rule in combination with the amount of output product(s) may define units of token(s). The attribution rule in combination with the amount of supply chain product(s) may define units of token(s).

[0230] FIG. 4A illustrates a flowchart of an example of a method for assigning one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) to one or more output products produced via a gasification process, for instance, by recycler 112. The one or more output product(s) may be used to produce one or more supply chain product(s).

[0231] In simple terms, the method of FIG. 4A may comprise:

[0232] Providing material associated with material properties of waste material(s) (see textbox 402) which may include material identifier(s);

[0233] Providing one or more output product identifier(s) associated with the produced one or more out product(s) (see textbox 404);

[0234] Determining based on the provided material data, one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with the waste material (s) used to produce the output product(s) of the gasification process;

[0235] Determining via at least one attribute rule, units of the determined environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the waste material(s) used to produce via the gasification a given amount of output products (see textbox 408). For instance, 100 Ton of waste material(s) may yield 50 Ton of output product(s). Nevertheless, 240716

[0236] 47 a unit of the environmental attribute(s) allocated to an output product may equal to several units of environmental attribute(s) associated with a unit of waste material and vice versa;

[0237] Generating based on the determine units, digital asset(s) by linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the provided one or more output product(s) identifier(s) (see textbox 410).

[0238] For attributing the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the one or more output products produced via the gasification process, material data associated with material properties of the waste material(s) may be provided. The material data may be provided from one or more database(s). The material data may also include one or more material identifier(s). Moreover, one or more output product identifier(s) associated with the produced one or more output product(s) may be provided. Based on the provided material data, one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with the waste material(s) may further provided. Via at least one attribution rule, units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the waste material (s) may be determined. Based on the determined units - a digital asset by linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the provided one or more output product identifier(s) may be generated. For instance, the units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) may be balancing units. Hence, the units may be allocated or deallocated from, for instance, the one or more output product(s). In one embodiment, the units may be viewed as a credit that may be deposited in an account or deducted from an account related to the waste material(s) and / or the one or more output product(s) produced via the gasification process and / or the one or more supply chain product(s) produced using the one or more output product(s).

[0239] Additionally or alternatively, the linked digital asset including one or more digital asset identifier(s) for access by a decentral data consuming node under control of or controlled by a decentral providing node associated with data owner of the digital asset may be provided.

[0240] FIG. 4B illustrates a flowchart of an example of a method for assigning one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) to one or more supply chain product(s) produced using output product(s) produced via a gasification process, for instance, by recycler 112. The one or more output product(s) may be used to produce one or more supply chain product(s). Additionally or alternative, the output product(s) may be used to produce chemical product(s) for producing one or more supply chain product(s).

[0241] The gasification process may be part of a chemical production network. The gasification process be part of a recycling plant. The gasification process may be performed in a recycling plant of a chemical production network. The method may be performed by operating system. The waste material(s) may include end-of-life product rendered as waste. The waste material(s) may include product and / or by product of one or more production chain rendered as waste. The waste material(s) may be carbon-containing waste. The waste material(s) may be plastic waste(s). The waste material(s) may be biomass material. The environmental attribute may be associated with properties of the waste material(s). The environmental attribute may be associated with or 240716

[0242] 48 correspond to certificate data being indicative of recycling of waste material(s) according to predefined recycling process criteria. The environmental attribute may be associated with or correspond to certificate data being indicative of recycling of waste material(s) according to predefined gasification process criteria. The predefined recycling process criteria may relate to the gasification of waste material(s) via which output product(s) are produced. The predefined production criteria may relate to the transport of the produced output product(s) using the waste materials and / or transport of the produced supply chain product(s) using the output product(s) of the gasification process using the waste material(s). The production criteria may relate to the production of the supply chain product(s) using the output product(s) of the gasification process using the waste material(s).

[0243] Material data associated with material properties of waste material(s) may be provided upon delivery of waste material(s) to the recycling point. The provided material data may include material identifier(s). Additional or alternatively, the material identifier(s) may include waste material identifier(s).

[0244] Environmental attributes associated with the waste material(s) may be determined based on the provided material data. The environmental attributes may be determined by parsing the provided material data. In case material data for a first waste material and waste material for a second waste material is provided, the environmental attributes may be determined based on the first material data and the second material data.

[0245] The determined environmental attributes may be verified. This may ensure that the environmental attributes are correctly determined and avoids generation of digital asset(s) for environmental attributes not associated with waste material(s). Hence, correct determination of environmental attributes for waste material(s) entering the gasification process may be ensured, thus ensuring correct attributing of environmental attributes from waste material(s) entering the gasification process to output products produced by said gasification process.

[0246] Verification may include verifying the origin of the waste material. Verifying may include determining a decentral identifier associated with the waste material. The decentral identifier may be used to gather data associated with the environmental attribute of the waste material from a peer-to-peer network. For instance, data associated with the environmental attribute may be gathered from at least part of the participants involved in the chain value where the waste materials were generated. For instance, the participant(s) may be associated with a decentral peer-to-peer network configured to transfer data associated with waste material between participants of the peer-to-peer network. The output product producer may gather via a decentral data consuming network node data associated with the waste material from said participants. The gathered data may be used to validate the determined environmental attributes. For instance, the gathered data may be used to validate whether the determined origin is indeed sustainable or not. The gathered data may be compared to databases storing certificate data associated with the origin of the waste material. The gathered data may be compared to geographic data to determine whether the origin claimed according to the certificate data is true or not. The gathered data may be compared to a rule set associated with the certificate data. For instance, the rule set may include rules to be fulfilled for a certificate to be valid. 240716

[0247] 49

[0248] Verifying may include determining a digital asset associated with the received waste material based on the provided material data. The digital asset may correspond to a non-fungible digital asset associated with the waste material. The digital asset may be transferred to output product producer upon receipt of the waste material at the entry point of the gasification process. The digital asset may be transferred to node associated with the operating system. The digital asset may be used to determine production data associated with the received waste material. For instance, the digital asset may be linked to one or more further digital assets, each digital asset representing a production step, such as growing, harvesting, transport, milling, crushing or refining. The further digital assets may be stored on a decentral network and may be used to verify the origin of the waste material. The data associated with the further digital assets may be gathered and may be used to verify the determine environmental attribute as previously described.

[0249] One or more digital asset(s) linked to at least one determined environmental attribute may be created at an address associated with a distributed ledger network. The address may further be associated with the operating system of the gasification process.

[0250] An output product identifier associated with the output product and optionally at least one environmental attribute may be provided. The output product identifier may be provided based on order data associated with an order of the output product received from a customer. The order data may include data being indicative of the output product. Such data being indicative of the output product may include an output product ID, an output product name, an order number or a combination thereof. The order data may further include the environmental attribute desired by the customer. The order data may be received by operating system 102. Operating system may parse the order data to determine the data being indicative of the output product and / or the environmental attribute. Based on the result of the data parsing, operating system may determine the output product identifier. The output product identifier may be associated with an environmental attribute. Based on the parsed data, the operating system may provide an environmental attribute identifier associated with the environmental attribute. The environmental attribute identifier and / or the output product identifier may be associated with defined units of the digital asset.

[0251] At least one attribution rule for attributing digital asset(s) linked to one or more environmental attributes(s) associated with waste material(s) to output product (s) may be selected based on the output product identifier and optionally the environmental attribute.

[0252] Units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) may be assigned to the output product identifier. Assignment may include checking the balance of digital asset(s) such as balance associated with the token units and assigning the determined units of environmental attribute(s) to the output product identifier if there is sufficient units, and / or checking that the respective digital asset(s) are associated with waste material(s) used to produce the output product and assigning the determined units of environmental attribute(s) to the output product 240716

[0253] 50 identifier if the environmental attribute(s) are associated with waste material(s) used in the gasification process to produce the output product.

[0254] In simple terms, the method of FIG. 4B may comprise:

[0255] Providing one or more supply chain product data associated with the produce one or more supply chain product(s) including one or more supply chain product identifier(s) (see textbox 412);

[0256] Determining via at least one attribution rule, units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the one or more output product(s) used to produce the one or more supply chain product(s) (see textbox 414). The supply chain product(s) may also include chemical product(s) used for producing other supply chain product(s) such end-product(s) and / or components of end-product(s);

[0257] Generating based on the determined units associated with the fraction of the one or more output product(s), digital asset(s) linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the one or more provided supply chain product data including supply chain product identifier(s) and / or the provided supply chain product identifier(s) (see textbox 416).

[0258] FIG. 5A and 5B illustrate examples of an apparatus for producing one or more output product(s) via a gasification process and supply chain product(s) using the output product(s) of the gasification process, respectively, wherein the output product(s) and the supply chain product(s) may be linked to environmental attribute(s) of waste material(s) in the gasification process, including an example method for assigning environmental attribute(s) to the produced output product(s) and / or supply chain product(s), respectively.

[0259] The apparatus for producing the output product(s) may correspond to recycling network 232. The method may be performed by operating system 234 of recycling network 232.

[0260] FIG. 5A and 5B conceptually depict two distinct layers: a physical layer 512 and a virtual layer 514. On the physical layer 512, waste material(s) may be provided as physical inputs to the recycling network 232 to be used in the gasification process. The recycling network 232 may produce one or more output product(s)(s) from the provided waste material(s). The produced output product(s)s may be provided at exit points of the recycling network 232. The produced output product(s)s may be provided to an output product(s) consumer (not depicted).

[0261] On the virtual layer 514, operating system 234 may perform method steps 402 to 410 of FIG. 5A and 412 to 416 of FIG. 5B. Hence, operating system 234 may perform - on the virtual layer 514 - the method illustrated in FIG. 4A and 4B, respectively. 240716

[0262] 51

[0263] FIG. 5B illustrates a further example of an apparatus for producing output product(s) associated with one or more environmental attribute(s) including an example method for assigning at least one environmental attribute to the produced output product(s). The apparatus for producing the output product(s) may correspond to recycling network 232. The method may be performed by operating system 234 of recycling network 232. The operating system 234 may be operating system 234.

[0264] On the physical layer 512, waste material(s) may be provided as physical inputs to the recycling network 232. The recycling network 232 may produce one or more output product(s)(s) from the provided waste material(s). The produced output product(s)s may be provided at exit points of the recycling network 232. The produced output product(s)s may be provided to output product(s) consumer (not depict) to product supply chain product(s).

[0265] On the virtual layer 514, operating system 234 may perform blocks 402 to 416. Hence, operating system 234 may perform - on the virtual layer 514 - the method of FIG. 4A and 4B.

[0266] A mere example, waste material(s) may be provided to the gasification process, for instance, 100 kg of waste material(s), for example, 100 kg of plastic waste material. On providing the waste material(s) to the gasification process, the waste material(s) enter the recycling network. The environmental attributes of the recycled waste material(s) may be then determined as recited herein. Based on the determined environmental attributes, units of environmental attribute(s) may be determined and linked to the output product(s), for example as digital asset(s). Upon execution of the transaction associated with such transaction data, allocated units may be transferred upon providing an amount of the output product(s), for example, to a supply chain product producer. In one embodiment, the units of environmental attributes may be allocated as token assigned to output product(s), a waste free certification and / or any combination thereof. For instance, units of tokens may be determined based on the amount of respective waste material(s). In the example, an environmental attribute for output product(s) from plastic waste material may correspond to 3 units of a recycled waste material, and hence, for instance, 3 tokens. However, a 100 kg of a different waste material may correspond to different units of environmental attribute(s) and / or tokens. The example a simplified weight-based approach used for illustrative purposes only. Other approaches may be based on energy, atom counting such as carbon atoms, molecule counting and / or include losses that occur in the gasification process and / or during production of supply chain product(s).

[0267] In more elaborate embodiments the units may be determined based on a more complex conversion factor taking into account chemical and / or physical differences between waste material(s) and their associated yield of output product(s) and / or between output product(s) and their associated yield of supply chain product(s) and / or even waste material(s) and supply chain product(s). The conversion factor may quantify the differences in chemical and / or physical properties of using different types of waste material(s) and / or even in comparison to producing supply chain product(s) non-recycled products such as virgin material(s). The conversion factor may relate the 240716

[0268] 52 use of waste material(s) to the use of waste material(s) associated with one or more environmental attribute(s). The conversion factor may depend on carbon atoms, methane molecules, energy properties, process properties or any other suitable factors for quantifying the environmental impact of the environmental attribute. For instance, lower or higher heating value (LHV, HHV) of the waste material(s) may be considered. Furthermore, for instance, material losses that occur in the processing of waste material(s) may be considered. Further, for instance, exempted gasification process products, intermediates or production chains may be considered. Further, for instance, only pre-selected production chains may be considered. This way the environmental impact of the waste material(s) may be quantified with reference to one or more type(s) of waste material(s) or with reference to other type of material(s) such non-recycled material(s), e.g., virgin material.

[0269] The gasification process may also output product(s), which may be further processed and chemically converted. Hence, units may be determined and assigned to consider environmental impact of the corresponding processes. Based on the determined environmental attributes, units of environmental(s), such as in a form of token(s), may be linked to output product(s) of the gasification process and / or supply chain product(s) produced using the output product(s). Upon execution of a transaction associated with output product(s) and / or supply chain product(s), units allocated to output product(s) and / or supply chain product(s) may be reflected in transaction data, which may be assigned to a database associated with the operating system 234 of the recycling network 232. The units of environmental attribute(s) may be determined based on the amount of respective waste material(s). As example, a simplified weight-based approach may be used for illustrative purposes only. Other approaches may be based on energy, atom counting such as carbon atoms, molecule counting such as methane, or include losses that occur in production and / or other approaches as described above. Output product identifier(s) may be uniquely linked to the physical entity of the output product(s). Similarly, supply chain product identifier(s) may be uniquely linked to the physical entity of the supply chain product(s). In one embodiment, batch identifier(s) and / or order identifier(s) of the output product(s) and / or supply chain product(s) may be provided and / or linked to output product identifier(s) and supply chain product identifier(s), respectively. This way the output product identifier(s) and / or the supply chain product identifier(s) may be uniquely linked to the physical entity of the output product(s) exiting the recycling network and the supply chain product(s) produced using the output product(s), respectively. In other embodiments a chemical identifier may be linked to the physical entity of a chemical product produced using the output product(s) by way of a physical identifier with encoded chemical product identifier(s) and physically connected to the chemical product. For example, a tag or a QR code may be physically connected to the chemical product(s) and the output product identifier may be encoded into the tag or QR code. This way the chemical product identifier may be uniquely linked to the physical entity of the chemical product(s) exiting the chemical production network. Simila implementation may be performed for output product(s) exiting the recycling network and supply chain product exiting the supply chain production network.

[0270] FIG. 6A to 6D conceptually illustrate example of 6Aattribution rules for attributing environmental attribute(s) a token as an example of digital asset(s). 240716

[0271] 53

[0272] Possible inbound attribution rules 1 to 5 mapping environmental attributes to tokens are illustrated in FIG. 6A. The attribution rule may depend on the environmental attribute type such as recycled waste material. The attribution rule may depend on the environmental attribute type such as plastic waste material. The attribution rule may depend on the environmental attribute type such as waste material and the attribution scheme such as mass balance with and without free attribution. The attribution rule may depend on the environmental attribute type such as waste material and the output product type such as syngas.

[0273] Based on such attribution rules the environmental attributes registered on entry to the system boundary may be converted to units of token(s) associated with the respective environmental attribute(s). Environmental attribute types may include bio-based, recycled, renewable or the like.

[0274] FIG. 6B illustrate examples of attribution rules for assigning or attributing at least one environmental attribute to an output product id based on an attribution rule.

[0275] Possible outbound attribution rules 1 to 5 mapping units of tokens to an output product is illustrated. The attribution rule may depend on the environmental attribute type such as waste material. The attribution rule may depend on the environmental attribute types such as plastic waste material and the bio-based waste material type such. The attribution rule may depend on the environmental attribute type such as waste material and the attribution scheme such as mass balance with and without free attribution. The attribution rule may depend on the environmental attribute type such as waste material and the output product type such as syngas.

[0276] Based on such attribution rules the units of tokens may be created and / or transferred and / or may be assigned to respective output products. Environmental attribute types may include bio-based, recycled, renewable or the like.

[0277] FIG. 6C illustrate examples of attribution rule instructions for selecting a digital inventory to allocate the tokens.

[0278] Similar to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the waste materials are provided to the recycling network and output products are produced by gasification of the waste materials. On registration of the waste materials, environmental attributes associated with the waste materials are converted to units of tokens as described herein.

[0279] FIG. 6C illustrates attribution rule instructions configured to select units of token(s). Depending on the output product and the waste materials such output product is produced from different token(s) may be accessible for the output product. The waste materials may be determined from a bill of materials including the recipe for the production chain up to the output product. The production chain may include the waste materials that enter the system boundary of the recycling network at any stage. From the waste materials used to produce the output products the accessible tokens associated with such waste material types may be determined. 240716

[0280] 54

[0281] For each accessible token, accessible token units may be determined from the digital inventory and the waste material type used to produce output product. Such determination may result in one or more tokens being accessible for the output product and the environmental attribute. For example, the environmental attribute may refer to gasification of the waste stream. The token(s) for gasification from different waste streams may hence be accessible. Depending on the respective digital inventory one or more combinations of token(s) may be accessible. One combination of accessible tokens may be selected for example based on the combination with the digital inventory with highest address balance. This way the environmental attributes required by other stricter environmental attributes may still be fulfillable.

[0282] On providing the output product, the token units from the digital inventory may be assigned to the output product identifier. This way the output product can be uniquely associated with the environmental attribute via the output product identifier.

[0283] FIG. 6D illustrate examples of attribution rule instructions for the compatibility check of tokens.

[0284] Similar to FIG. 6A to FIG. 60, the waste materials are provided to the recycling network and output products are produced via gasification. On registration of the waste materials units of token(s) are allocated to the digital inventory described herein.

[0285] FIG. 6D illustrates attribution rule instructions configured to check compatibility between attribution schemes. Depending on the tokens accessible to accommodate the environmental attribute different attribution schemes may apply. For instance, one token may be associated with a book and claim scheme, while another token may be associated with a segregated scheme. Further for instance, one token may be associated with a mass balance scheme, while another token may be associated with a segregated scheme. Further for instance, one token may be associated with a mass balance scheme with free attribution, while another token may be associated with a mass balance scheme without free attribution. The different attribution schemes may be mutually exclusive. The different attribution schemes may be compatible with each other in the sense that token units associated with a first attribution scheme may be combined with token units associated with a second attribution schemes and vice versa. The different attribution schemes may be compatible with each other in the sense that token units of first token associated with a first attribution scheme may only be combined with token units of a second token associated with a second attribution schemes. A reverse combination may be excluded. Similarly, the attribution rule associated with the environmental attribute may be compatible or not compatible with the tokens. Compatibility rules specifying the compatibility of different attribution schemes associated with respective tokens may be provided from a data base. Compatibility rules specifying the compatibility of different attribution schemes associated with respective tokens may relate to accounts and / or the environmental attribute. The environmental attribute and / or the tokens may include respective metadata specifying the attribution scheme. Depending on such compatibility rules the compatible combination of accessible tokens and / or 240716

[0286] 55 environmental attribute may be determined by matching the metadata. This way it can be ensured that the environmental attribute includes only compatible environmental attributes.

[0287] FIG. 7 illustrates an exchange via a decentral peer-to-peer network of material data associated with waste material(s) used in a gasification process to produce output product(s) that may be provided to supply chain network for producing supply chain product(s). FIG. 7 illustrates an exchange of material data associated with waste material provided to a recycling network via a decentral peer-to-peer network. Access to the material data twin data may be requested by a decentral data consuming service associated with a participant of the decentral network 130. The participant may be an output product producer 706 receiving waste materials from a waste material supplier 708 and / or a recycler 708. The waste material 702 may be associated with a digital twin including material data. The digital twin may include a decentral identifier and material data. The material data may comprise one or more environmental attributes associated with the waste material. For instance, waste material received from recycler may be associated with the environmental attribute "waste” and waste type "tires”. The environmental attribute "waste” and the waste type "tires” may be contained within the material data including waste material data and / or in the waste material data. The waste material may be associated with a digital access element generated upon collecting, sorting and / or delivery of waste material(s). The digital access element may be associated with the digital twin or the part thereof. The digital access element may contain a decentral passport identifier and digital twin location data. The decentral passport identifier may correspond to or be associated with the decentral identifier of the digital twin. The digital twin location data may include digital representation(s) pointing to the digital twin or parts thereof. The digital access element may further include or relate to authentication and / or authorization information linked to the decentral passport identifier. The authentication and / or authorization information may be provided for authentication and / or authorization of the decentral data providing network node 712 and / or the decentral data consuming network node 710. The digital access element may be provided to a decentral registry 728. Decentral registry 728 may store decentral passport identifier(s) and associated digital twin location data.

[0288] The waste material 702 as produced by waste material supplier 708 and / or recycler may be provided in association with the digital access element to output product producer 706. The output product producer 706 may process the waste material to produce further products such as supply chain product. The output product producer 706 may provide the output product to a further supply chain product producer (not depicted). The waste material 702 may be connected to a code, such as a bar code or QR-code, having encoded the decentral passport identifier. The output product producer 706 may read the code through a code reader 716. The code reader 716 may be a smartphone running a code reading application, such as a QR code reader app. The data obtained by the code reading application may be used to determine the decentral passport identifier. The data obtained by the code reading application may be used to determine the decentral identifier. The data obtained by the code reading application may be used to determine the waste material identifier. The data obtained by the code reading application may be used to determine the digital twin location data. The decentral passport identifier, decentral identifier, waste material identifier and digital twin location data may be determined by code 240716

[0289] 56 reader 716. For instance, the decentral passport identifier determined by the code reader 716 may be a DID and the code reader 716 may be configured to retrieve the associated DID document containing the decentral digital twin identifier and the digital twin location data, for example using a DID resolver. In another instance, the waste material identifier is determined by code reader 716 and used to retrieve the decentral passport identifier and associated digital twin location data, for example from a database, decentral registry 728. Hence, code reader 716 may be configured to retrieve the digital access element containing the decentral passport identifier and digital twin location data from decentral registry 728. Code reader 716 may be configured to provide the decentral passport identifier and / or the decentral identifier to a database, such as database 704, associated with output product producer 706. Code reader 716 may be configured to provide the determined decentral passport identifier, decentral identifier and digital twin location data to decentral data consuming network node 710.

[0290] Code reader 716 may be configured to display determined / retrieved data on a user interface as. The user interface may display the determined decentral passport identifier (PP identifier), the determined decentral identifier (DT identifier) and the determined digital twin location data (DT location). In this embodiment, the decentral passport identifier and the decentral identifier differ from each other. In another embodiment, the decentral passport identifier is equal to the decentral identifier. The user interface may further display the determined waste material identifier (IP identifier). The user interface may also allow to initiate retrieval of the digital twin or a part thereof based on the decentral passport identifier and the digital twin location data as described in the following. This process may be initiated by the button denoted "Access DT”. Upon pressing said button, code reader 716 may send a request to access the digital twin or the part thereof to decentral data consuming network node 710.

[0291] Decentral data consuming network node 710 may generate a request to access the digital twin data. Decentral data consuming network node 710 node may generate the request based on the data received from code reader 716. For instance, decentral data consuming network node 710 may generate the request based on the decentral digital twin identifier received from code reader 716. Decentral data consuming network node 710 may generate the request based on the decentral passport identifier and / or decentral identifier provided to database 704. For example, decentral data consuming network node 710 may be configured to retrieve the decentral identifier and digital twin location data from decentral registry 728 based on the decentral passport identifier stored in database 704. The request generated by decentral data consuming network node 710 may include the decentral identifier and the decentral participant identifier of the output product producer 706 associated with decentral data consuming network node 710. The request may include one or more actions to be performed on the digital twin data. Decentral data consuming network node 710 may be configured to determine the decentral data providing network node 712 associated with the digital twin based on the digital twin location data provided by code reader 716 or retrieved from decentral registry 728. 240716

[0292] 57

[0293] Decentral data consuming network node 710 may sent the request to access the digital twin data to the determined decentral data providing network node 712 as signified by arrow 720. The decentral data providing network node 712 may be associated with the waste material supplier 708. The decentral data providing network node 712 may be associated with recycler. The decentral data providing network node 712 may be associated with the chemical production producing the waste material. The decentral data providing network node 712 may be associated with the data owner of the digital twin. In addition to the request, authentication and / or authorization information may be provided by decentral data consuming network node 710.

[0294] The request may be authenticated. Access to the waste material data may be authorized based on access policy data associated with the waste material data. This allows to filter decentral data consuming network nodes requesting access based on the decentral participant identifier(s) associated with said network nodes and requested actions to be performed on the accessed data. If the request is not authorized, e.g. if decentral data consuming network node 710 is not authorized to access the digital twin data, the peer-to-peer communication channel will be terminated by decentral data providing network node 712 and no waste material data will be provided.

[0295] If the request is authorized, decentral data providing network node 712 may initiate contract negotiations with decentral data consuming network node 710 prior to providing waste material data. Decentral data providing network node 712 may provide an electronic contract to decentral data consuming network node 710. The electronic contract may include one or more authorization rule(s) associated with the decentral identifier. This allows the data consumer to determine access and usage conditions associated with the desired data. Decentral data providing network node 712 and decentral data consuming network node 710 may be configured to negotiate an electronic contract and to sign the negotiated electronic contract. Use of the electronic contract ensures that the decentral data consuming network node and further systems handling the digital twin are complying to one or more authorization rule(s) associated with the digital twin. Upon signature of the electronic contract, waste material data may be gathered, and access rights may be applied to the gathered data as signified by arrows 722 and 724. The waste material data resulting from applying access rights to gathered waste material data may be provided by decentral data providing network node 712 to decentral data consuming network node 710 as signified by arrow 726.

[0296] The waste material data provided by decentral data providing network node 712 may be stored in database 704 associated with the decentral data consuming network node 710 according to the access data as signified by arrow 704.

[0297] Through the decentral identifier, waste material data can be uniquely associated with the waste material. Through the decentral network, the digital twin or a part thereof may be transferred between waste material supplier 708 and / or recycler and output product producer 706 in a standardized and secure way, allowing waste material supplier 708 and / or recycler to control access to the waste material data by multiple decentral data 240716

[0298] 58 consuming network nodes existing within the decentral network. This way, the waste material data including environmental attributes can be shared with unique association to the waste material and without central intermediary directly between the participants of the product ecosystem 130. This allows for transparency of digital twins and standardized and secure sharing of environmental attributes within the product ecosystem 130.

[0299] The present disclosure has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments and examples as well. However, other variations can be understood and effected by those persons skilled in the art and practicing the claimed invention, from the studies of the drawings, this disclosure and the claims.

[0300] Any steps presented herein can be performed in any order. The methods disclosed herein are not limited to a specific order of these steps. It is also not required that the different steps be performed at a certain place or in a certain computing node of a distributed system, i.e., each of the steps may be performed at different computing nodes using different equipment / data processing.

[0301] As used herein "determining” also includes "initiating or causing to determine”, "generating” also includes "initiating and / or causing to generate” and "providing” also includes "initiating or causing to determine, generate, select, send and / or receive”. "Initiating or causing to perform an action” includes any processing signal that triggers a computing node or device to perform the respective action.

[0302] In the claims as well as in the description the word "comprising” or "including”, or similar wording does not exclude other elements or steps and shall not be construed limiting to the elements or steps lined out. 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 the mutual different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used in an advantageous implementation or further elements may be included.

[0303] Providing in the scope of this disclosure may include any interface configured to provide data. This may include an application programming interface, a human-machine interface such as a display and / or a software module interface. Providing may include communication of data or submission of data to the interface, in particular display to a user or use of the data by the receiving entity.

Claims

24071659CLAIMS1 . A method for attributing one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) to one or more output product(s), the one or more output product(s) being produced via a gasification process using the waste material(s), the method comprising: providing - from one or more database(s) - material data associated with material properties of the waste material(s) including material identifier(s); providing one or more output product identifier(s) associated with the produced one or more output product(s); determining - based on the provided material data - one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with the waste material(s); determining - via at least one attribution rule - units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the waste material(s); generating - based on the determined units - a digital asset by linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the provided one or more output product identifier(s); providing the linked digital asset including one or more digital asset identifier(s) for access by a decentral data consuming node under control of or controlled by a decentral providing node associated with data owner of the digital asset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the one or more output product(s) is used to produce one or more supply chain product(s), the method comprising providing one or more supply chain product data associated with the produced one or more supply chain product(s) including one or more supply chain product identifier(s); determining - via the at least one attribution rule - units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the one or more output product(s) used to produce the one or more supply chain product(s); generating - based on the determined units associated with the fraction of the one or more output product(s) - the digital asset linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the one or more supply chain product identifier(s).

3. The method of claims 1 or claim 2, wherein the digital asset includes one or more digital certificate(s) certifying the units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with the fraction of the waste material(s).

4. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein generating the digital asset(s) includes: creating one or more token(s) associated with the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with the fraction of the waste material(s);60 including at least a part of the created one or more token(s) in the digital asset.

5. The method of claims 1 and 4, further comprising linking the created one or more token(s) included in the digital asset to the provided one or more output identifier(s).

6. The method of claims 2 and 4, further comprising linking at least a part of the created one or more token(s) included in the digital asset to the provided one or more supply chain product identifier(s).

7. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising providing multiple input waste material(s) to each associated with one environmental attribute(s) to the gasification process, including at least a first input waste material and as second waste material; providing a first waste material data associated with the first input waste material including one or more material identifier(s) associated with the first input waste material; providing a second waste material data associated with the second input waste material including one or more material identifier(s) associated with the second input waste material.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining via the at least one attribution rule units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the first input waste material and / or the second input waste material; generating - based on the determined units - the digital asset by linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the provided one or more output product identifier(s).

9. The method of claims 2 and 7, further comprising determining via the at least one attribution rule units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the first input waste material and / or the second input waste material; generating - based on the determined units - the digital asset by linking the determined units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) to the one or more supply chain product identifier(s).

10. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with the produced one or more output product (s) are determined via a virtual gasification process.

11. An apparatus for attributing one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with waste material(s) to one or more output product(s), the one or more output product(s) being produced via a gasification process, the apparatus comprising: a data provider unit configured to provide at least one of: material data associated with material properties of the waste material(s) including material identifier(s), output product identifier(s) associated with the produced one or more output product(s), one or more environmental attribute(s);24071661 an attribution rule engine configured to provide one or more attribution rule(s) for attributing units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the waste material(s) to a fraction of the one or more output product(s) and / or a fraction of one or more token(s); an asset generator configured to generate digital asset(s) optionally including one or more digital certificate(s) and / or one or more token(s).

12. The apparatus of the preceding claim, wherein at least a part of the one or more output product(s) is used to produce one or more supply chain product(s), wherein: the data provider unit is configured to provide supply chain product identifier(s) associated with the produced one or more supply chain product(s); the attribution rule engine is configured to provide one or more attribution rule(s) for attributing units of the one or more environmental attribute(s) associated with a fraction of the waste material(s) to a fraction of the one or more supply chain product(s).

13. The apparatus of any of claims 11 and 12, further including one or more digital inventory configure to allocate units of the one or more token(s).

14. Use of the digital asset as generated according to the method of any of claims 1 to 10 or the apparatus of any of claims 11 to 13 for proving a waste free production to a supply chain product consumer.

15. Use of the digital asset as generated according to the method of any of claims 1 to 10 or the apparatus of any of claims 11 to 13 for allocating units of the one or more tokens to the produce one or more output product(s) and / or the produced one or more supply chain product(s).

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