IBM Blockchainsolutions have been featured recently in some pretty impressive venues. IBM Executive Chairman Ginni Rometty shared a video on the Learning Credential Network at the White House in September at a meeting of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, led by the White House and the U.S. Department of Commerce. And Paul Roma, General Manager of IBM Watson Health, launched commercial availability of IBM Digital Health Pass at the HLTHhealthcare innovations virtual conference earlier this month.
Both solutions use blockchain to improve outcomes for people and companies — the first by connecting learners and job seekers with employers, and the second by helping people reconnect with the world as companies rethink how to return to work. In both solutions, blockchain allows safe distribution of personal data by giving individuals control over who sees what information when, whether it’s a training certificate or a medical record. Read on for news about ways blockchain is helping companies improve outcomes of their environmental efforts and other business initiatives.
Blockchain in the news
Blockchain projects energize efforts for environmental and social progress
Blockchain technology contributes to a wide range of initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impact of human activities. It starts with transparency. KPMG has announced a blockchain Climate Accounting Infrastructure that clients can use to measure and manage greenhouse gas emissions, for example, and a Porsche-backed project CarbonBlock recently won an award for using blockchain to track emissions in the car company’s supply chain.
See how blockchain solutions transform industries
Blockchain is also helping to remove friction from carbon trading markets in projects like IBM’s partnerships with Veridium Labs and Energy Blockchain Labs, as well as fintech company Ripple’s partnership with the nonprofit Energy Web Foundation. Others, including the InterWork Alliance, are working on blockchain tools to prevent “double-spending” of carbon credits.
IBM is helping a consortium including Ford Motor Company to apply blockchain’s strength in track and trace for documenting ethical sourcing of cobalt, an essential mineral in lithium-ion batteries. Sustainable agriculture is also getting a visibility boost from blockchain. JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker, will use blockchain to monitor its beef supply chain to drive out deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Farmer Connect, built on IBM Food Trust, provides visibility into sustainable coffee production for brands like J.M. Smucker and Nestlé.
What else we’re reading
Driving regulatory response in the automotive industry
Groupe Renault, in collaboration with industry partners and IBM, developed a blockchain-based solution for certifying compliance of vehicle components, from design through production, and enabling faster response to regulatory agencies.
More automotive blockchain news
Nonprofit automotive alliance Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative (MOBI) has launched a global standard for using blockchain in a decentralized vehicle charging system. And BMW Korea is launching a blockchain-based rewards app for car customers.
Blockchain legislation moves forward
The Digital Taxonomy Act, which defines “digital asset and “digital unit,” and the Blockchain Innovation Act, which would require the FTC to report on the role of blockchain in commerce and consumer protection, have passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and are headed to the Senate for consideration.
Celebrating a two-year collaboration
The Columbia-IBM Center for Blockchain and Data Transparency recognized its second anniversary with a series of virtual sessions showcasing results: Building incentives for data transparency and blockchains, Systems implementation for technology (this one is technical!), Economics, policy, privacy and ethics, and Supply Chain.
October’s features of “watch, read and listen”
Blockchain Opportunity Summit
Join IBM and Momentum for this 2-day virtual leadership summit November 17–18. Speakers from our clients, Business Partners and IBM will share real-world blockchain use cases and address topical issues such as sustainability, advancing global trade and recovering or strengthening business in the face of today’s challenges.
Report and webinar:Emerge stronger at a time of uncertainty: Blockchain for supply chain
Martha Bennett, VP and Principal Analyst at Forrester Consulting, and Kaushik Malladi of IBM Blockchain Services share findings from a recent study on how supply chain leaders are using data to handle today’s disruptions.
Solution brief: The Learning Credential Network
Learn how this innovative application of blockchain technology makes managing learning credentials easier for everyone: learners, job seekers, employers and education providers across industries and countries.
BlockpARTy: It’s a wrap!
BlockpARTy episode 5 Driving end-to-end efficiency wraps up this virtual celebration of the transformative power of blockchain. All episodes are available on demand, so you can still watch our visionary clients and hear artists describe their interpretations of blockchain.
Our solutions and how to get started
No matter where you are in your adoption journey or what industry you’re in, we’re here to help you use blockchain technology to reach your business goals.
- Develop your own network using our platform or start that project you’ve been talking about with help from our Blockchain Services.
- Join our existing networks: Food Trust, our food supply chain network, and TradeLens, our containerized freight transport network.
- Jump start your journey to building your own supply chain ecosystem with Blockchain Transparent Supply.
Still not sure where to start? Schedule time to talk with one of our experts specific to your industry, and they can help guide you in the right direction.
Thanks for reading our October edition of “Blockchain News You Can Use.” We’ll be back next month with more. In the meantime, if someone forwarded you this email and you’d like to subscribe, sign up here.
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