A new study in the International Journal of Production Economics looks at when blockchain adds real commercial value to low-carbon products. It models a low-carbon manufacturer selling through a platform and compares resale and agency arrangements. The key finding: the payoff depends on who controls pricing, how much the blockchain service costs, and whether consumers trust the verified carbon data. The article also points to SAP's decision to drop blockchain from Green Token and use a simpler database architecture instead. That is a useful reminder that demand for sustainability data does not automatically mean demand for blockchain. Companies should evaluate measurement costs, verification, and contract terms together before buying traceability software. For anyone tracking carbon markets or clean supply chains, the practical takeaway is that credible carbon data only works if the party producing it can capture some of the premium. If not, the data will not be maintained.
