Aion, a spinoff of Aker BioMarine focused on plastic circularity and circular technology, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft to explore opportunities for joint innovation and co-selling related to digital traceability of circular plastic products.
Aion Loop, the digital platform developed by Aion, provides value chain traceability and documented environmental effects.
Under the MoU, Aion and Microsoft Norway will work together to scale Aion Loop globally and investigate how Microsoft’s cloud and artificial intelligence services can accelerate innovation and the adoption of circular products.
The partnership aims to address the urgent need to curb plastic pollution and reduce the need for energy-intensive plastic production.
Half of all greenhouse gas emissions globally and 90% of biodiversity loss are caused by extracting and processing primary raw materials. Moving toward more sustainable consumption requires cooperation across industries.
“Aion is in business to drive the transition towards a circular economy in industrial plastics. Value chain traceability and aggregated levels of circularity insights are core elements of this. We are delighted and very proud to partner with Microsoft on this journey. Industrial scale and global impact are both core to Aion’s growth ambitions. Microsoft has a global industrial outreach unlike any other player, and Microsoft’s own impact ambitions is a testimony to their commitment,” said Runa Haug Khoury, CEO of Aion.
Microsoft announced in 2020 its goal to achieve zero waste for its direct operations, products, and packaging by 2030.
“Microsoft Norway is pleased to see Norwegian technology and companies enabling global sustainable action, and we are actively focusing our efforts to empower Aion to scale the great work they are driving to have greater impact to create circular solutions at scale,” said Kristine Dahl Steidel, General Manager of Microsoft Norway.
“We are a strong supporter of the creation of circular models, not only for us to reach our own sustainability goals but also to allow our technology to enable others to do the same.”
The agreement was signed by Aion CEO Runa Haug Khoury and Microsoft Norway General Manager Kristine Dahl Steidel.