Battery Traceability Platform Redefines Industry Data-Sharing

Amid rising global emissions, tightening resource constraints, and mounting regulatory and investor pressure, sustainability has become a defining force shaping markets and business models. Forward-looking companies recognize that this moment is about more than compliance – it’s a chance to lead. The ability to share accurate, trustworthy environmental data across complex supply chains is becoming a competitive advantage. Yet doing so securely, at scale, remains a major challenge.

NTT DATA Group (hereafter referred to as “NTT DATA”) launched its Battery Traceability Platform in May 2024 to turn this challenge into an opportunity. Built for the electric vehicle (EV) sector, the platform uses blockchain technology to track and visualize carbon footprint, recycling, and reuse data across the battery value chain. It enables seamless, secure data-sharing between companies while protecting sensitive corporate information and maintaining data sovereignty.

While it began in the EV sector, it has far-reaching potential. The platform lays the groundwork for industry-wide collaboration on sustainability, and opens new paths for growth and innovation for businesses across a range of sectors.

Meeting the demands of the rapidly changing EV sector

The automotive industry is undergoing a historic transformation, driven by four major trends: vehicles that are Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric (or “CASE”). As the “E” in CASE gains momentum, manufacturers face growing pressure to track and reduce the environmental impact of EV battery production.

Battery manufacturing is a major source of carbon emissions. New European regulations enacted in August 2023 now require companies to disclose the carbon footprint and recycling rates across the battery lifecycle. NTT DATA’s platform helps companies meet these requirements by tracing emissions from raw material sourcing to manufacturing and through to end-of-life recycling.

The platform is a strategic asset that enables companies to build trust with partners, customers, and regulators while maintaining control of their proprietary data.

Data sovereignty meets blockchain innovation

At the heart of the platform is the concept that every company should retain control of its data. Instead of relying on a central authority, NTT DATA’s platform uses blockchain and smart contract technologies to allow for decentralized, secure data exchange.

Each company stores its encrypted data independently. Information is shared only when the data owner chooses to disclose it. Built-in tamper detection ensures authenticity, while smart contracts govern how and when data can flow, enabling safe collaboration across organizational and national boundaries.

The architecture protects confidentiality while also enabling more open participation in shared ecosystems, which is essential for growing circular economies.

Enabling a cross-industry data infrastructure

The Battery Traceability Platform represents the first use case of the Uranus Ecosystem, a public-private initiative led by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). This initiative aims to build a cross-industry, cross-border data-sharing infrastructure to tackle pressing social and economic challenges from carbon neutrality to supply chain resilience.

Ultimately, NTT DATA plans to evolve this platform into a digital infrastructure that powers data flows across all industries, starting with batteries but extending to other parts, materials, and even smart cities.

NTT DATA is already exploring new use cases, such as tracking hazardous chemicals in manufacturing or enabling digital twins in urban infrastructure. In each case, the value lies in linking information across company lines without compromising competitiveness or confidentiality.

Why shared platforms matter

It’s inefficient for every industry to develop its own data systems. Instead, industries can create shared platforms for “cooperative domains,” where they don’t compete directly but still need to exchange information. This approach fosters fairer competition, faster innovation, and lower compliance costs.

By providing a common platform, NTT DATA helps companies avoid duplicating efforts and focus on value creation. Companies can connect and disconnect from the platform as needed, retrieving only the data relevant to their role in the supply chain.

This “mesh-like society” model, where each company remains autonomous but interoperable, could reshape industrial collaboration.

The future of data-sharing

The current focus is on deepening supply chain traceability for EV batteries. But NTT DATA sees opportunity for common industry platforms for managing product life cycles, enabling reuse and upcycling of materials, and creating infrastructure for tracking substances of concern.

One example is supporting the accurate tracing of chemical substances embedded in automotive products. Regulatory requirements, as well as growing consumer expectations around product safety and environmental transparency, make it essential for manufacturers to monitor and disclose the use of hazardous materials. Equally important is the seamless flow of data between companies across the supply chain. The manufacturing ecosystem today is a complex, interconnected network that relies on real-time information exchange to function efficiently. NTT DATA’s platform can allow for the sharing of proprietary data while protecting competitive advantages.

Data collaboration for the good of society

As concepts such as smart cities and intelligent infrastructure develop, the need for inter-company data interoperability becomes even more critical. In the smart city ecosystem, digital twins, AI-driven robotics, and intelligent services depend on a constant, accurate flow of information to operate effectively.
 
Ultimately, it is a way to realize a whole new type of “mesh-like” society, where companies won’t have to do everything on their own. Instead, they will focus on their core business areas, connecting or disconnecting from the platform for data they need.

What’s next for the Battery Traceability Platform?

Looking ahead, NTT DATA has set ambitious targets. Within the next five years, the company aims to onboard over 500 enterprises onto its Battery Traceability Platform. It also sees opportunity to enable interoperability with international data spaces to support global collaboration. By aligning with international standards and frameworks, NTT DATA seeks to help companies operate across borders without friction, supporting multinational supply chains and global sustainability efforts.

The platform can also support the circular economy, particularly around rare minerals and critical raw materials. As supply chains face increasing pressure from geopolitical instability, environmental concerns, and resource scarcity, the ability to track and reuse valuable materials becomes a strategic imperative.
 
To achieve these goals, NTT DATA intends to work with global industry bodies, governments, and standards organizations. Collaboration will be essential for scaling adoption and ensuring that data-sharing mechanisms meet the needs of a diverse and evolving ecosystem.
 
This work could redefine how industries manage and share information to meet the needs of a sustainable, resilient, and competitive economy.
 
With this platform, NTT DATA has shown that it’s possible to balance data transparency with data sovereignty, accelerate compliance without centralization, and support sustainability goals while preserving competitive advantage – potentially changing how industries operate, collaborate, and grow in a resource-constrained world.
 
The Battery Traceability project was recently honored with a Grand Prize award at the NTT Group Sustainability Conference.

• Improving Prosperity
• Protecting Nature