Dangerous goods
Transparency and protection against manipulation for all parties involved
The transport of dangerous goods has increased significantly in recent years. Around 149 million tons of dangerous goods travel German roads every year – with a rising trend (Federal Office of Statistics, 2018). Reasons for that, among other things, are battery-powered domestic appliances and the rising proportion of electric vehicles in Germany. The accompanying documents, that are essential for every means of transport, are rarely available in digital form – and are even less likely to be stored in a tamper proof manner.
Transport, storage, and handling of dangerous goods are subject to strict legal regulations and a high level of documentation is required. Many parties and control bodies are involved in the supply chain, from the consignors to carriers to the consignees. Therefore, the handling of dangerous goods is a very complex process. One solution could be the electronic transport document, and in the medium-term, the continuous digital handling of dangerous goods via blockchain technology.
The blockchain technology enables the trustworthy, secure, and transparent exchange of sensitive data as well as an efficient handling of dangerous goods in compliance with existing legal and regulatory requirements. Every party involved in the dangerous goods process, from the consignor to the carrier to the consignee, has individual access rights to information that is relevant to them, which is transparent and tamper-proof at all times. That way, efficient and paperless handling is enabled, which also reduces mistakes in individual work steps as well as the administrative costs.
A digital, collaborative exchange of information along the entire process chain of dangerous goods handling not only reduces the need for various paper-based transport documents, but it also enables a faster and targeted reaction to dangerous situations (e.g., dangerous goods accidents) because of an improved information situation. The rapid provision of necessary information supports the work of emergency services and rescue services and as a result, the risks to people and the environment, that arise from an uncontrolled leakage of dangerous goods, can be reduced. Likewise, a contribution to ecological and social sustainability is made.
“To minimize risks, there is a large number of legal regulations for dangerous goods to protect people and the environment. The challenges for companies to comply with these regulations on all levels of logistics are increasing. Sustainable, company-wide solutions, creating a transparent, secure and seamless management of dangerous goods, are essential.”
Giuseppe Perez | Blockchain Europe
“Blockchain-based handling of dangerous goods holds great potential to digitalize and automate this logistics process that is influenced strongly by legal regulations and involves a large number of parties and control bodies. In combination with the so-called Blockchain Device, the carrying and updating of corresponding transport documents on a stage-by-stage basis and in digital form, including history, is ensured and complemented via event-controlled triggering of transactions through smart contacts.”
Max Emanuel Schwarzer | Community Member
“A digital, collaborative exchange of information along the dangerous goods process not only reduces the need for multiple paper-based transportation documents, but also enables a faster and more focused response to dangerous situations by improving the information available.”
Sebastian Brüning | Blockchain Europe
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