WO2016112099A1 - System and method for differentiating commodities based on environmental impact - Google Patents

Abstract

A central management system for a commodity tracks production of a new commodity, tracks sale and distribution of the commodity via data embedded in a physical component associated with the commodity, tracks recycling of the commodity to generate a refurbished commodity, and calculates an environmental value for the refurbished commodity based on the embedded data. The central management system enables separation of the environmental value from the refurbished commodity.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIFFERENTIATING COMMODITIES BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/101,086 entitled "System and Method for Differentiating Commodities Based On Environmental Impact" filed January 8, 2015, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This application relates in general to methods and systems for managing commodity streams by providing embedded information throughout the lifecycle of a commodity, and based on the ability to derive independent value from the

displacement of new commodity material by a recycled or refurbished commodity.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Various environmental commodities (allowances, offsets, credits, etc.) have come into use as tradable financial instruments Such instruments typically represent quantified metrics for a standardized unit of measurement relating to environmental impact (e.g., metric tons of CO₂ equivalent "mtCO₂e" for climate impact, "gallons" for water use, hectares for land use, etc.). The environmental "benefits" and/or "savings" may be derived in relation to an established normative baseline for standard practices. Markets have formed, often defined by policy and/or regulation, to trade such environmental commodities among buyers and sellers.

[0004] When conventional commodities are traded in markets, the commodity materials are undifferentiated as end products with no (or very little) consideration given to the relative impacts of the materials based on their source, physical composition, or expected disposition. [0005] While there are companies that assist organizations in calculating and managing their environmental footprints, it is generally difficult to quantify the relative environmental impacts for commodities in the market place, particularly with respect to commodities with disaggregated points of origin. A system is needed that integrates the relative environmental impact for commodities in which environmental value can be assigned to and either sold together with or decoupled and sold

separately from the underlying commodity itself.

SUMMARY

[0006] An embodiment provides systems, methods, devices, and non-transitory processor-readable storage media for managing a commodity lifecycle by tracking production of a new commodity, tracking sale and distribution of the commodity via data embedded in a physical component associated with the commodity, tracking recovery and recycling of the commodity, and calculating environmental metrics for the commodity based on the embedded data.

[0007] In an embodiment, the recycling generates a refurbished commodity and the environmental value is separable from the refurbished commodity. In an embodiment, the physical component associated with the commodity includes a container housing the commodity. In an embodiment, the data is embedded using a barcode affixed to the container.

[0008] In various embodiments, the environmental value for a commodity derived from recycling and/or a renewable source may be separated from the commodity and tracked using a cryptocurrency. Information about the production of the commodity, such as supply chain information, may be used to assign a value to the cryptocurrency. In various embodiments, the value of the cryptocurrency may be a climate impact factor (CIF) which may represent a verified emission reduction, such as a selected number of pounds of green house gas abated by the production of the commodity. In various embodiments, the block chain for the cryptocurrency may be tied to the supply chain of the commodity such that every unit of cryptocurrency may be tied to a particular recycler. [0009] In some embodiments methods for managing a commodity lifecycle may include tracking production of a new commodity at a processor of a computing device, tracking sale and distribution of the commodity via data embedded in a physical component associated with the commodity at the processor of the computing device, tracking recovery and recycling of the commodity at the processor of the computing device, wherein the recycling generates a refurbished commodity, and calculating, at the processor of the computing device, an environmental value for the refurbished commodity based on the embedded data, wherein the environmental value is separable from the refurbished commodity. The physical component associated with the commodity may include a container housing the commodity, wherein the data is embedded using a barcode affixed to the container. The method may further include trading the refurbished commodity in a commodity market via the processor of the computing device, wherein the refurbished commodity has the same market value and the new commodity. The method may further include trading the environmental value in an environmental asset market via the processor of the computing device. The method may further include generating a cryptocurrency based on the environmental value, wherein trading the environmental value in an environmental asset market via the processor of the computing device includes trading the cryptocurrency in an environmental asset market via the processor of the computing device. The embedded data may include tracking information and an environmental metric, and the

embedded data may be updated throughout the lifecycle of the commodity. The tracking information may include an identifier associated with the production of the new commodity, a quantity of the commodity, and geolocation data associated with transportation of the commodity. The environmental metric may include one or more commodity class base and an environmental impact of transportation of the

commodity. The embedded data may further include an amount or percentage of the commodity that is recycled to become the refurbished commodity. The environmental metric may further include environmental impact information associated with processes or materials used in the recycling of the commodity. Calculating the environmental value for the refurbished commodity may be based on at least the commodity class base and the amount or percentage of the commodity that is recycled. The one or more commodity class base may include a value per unit for one or more class derived from the commodity, wherein each class is defined by differentiation of the commodity based on environmental impact. The one or more commodity class base may be dynamically updated based on real time information. Tracking recycling of the commodity may include receiving a confirmation of the recycling verified by an independent entity. The geolocation data may be derived from reading the embedded data by entities in a supply chain for the commodity. The geolocation data may be derived from signaling exchanged with an independent location module associated with the commodity. The independent location module may include at least one of a Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitter and a radio frequency (RF) transmitter. The tracking may be performed through communication with a central management server running a virtual platform. The tracking production of the new commodity may include tracking origin of the new commodity. The tracking information may be used as an input to a block chain of a cryptocurrency generating based on the environmental value.

[0010] Further embodiments may include a computing device, comprising a processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations of the methods described above. Further embodiments may include a computing device comprising means for performing operations of the methods described above. Further embodiments may include a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations of the methods described above. Further embodiments may include a system of computing devices configured to perform operations of the methods described above.

[0011] Various embodiments may include a central processing entity, including a memory, a network circuit, and a processor connected to the network circuit and the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations including receiving gas recycling information via the network circuit from a recycler computing device, generating a cryptographic token based at least in part on the received gas recycling information, updating a block chain tracking cryptographic tokens stored in the memory with data related to the generated cryptographic token, and transmitting the generated cryptographic token to a server via the network circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary aspects of the invention. Together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, the drawings serve to explain features of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of refrigerant or other commodity management system according to an embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 2A is a process flow diagram illustrating a commodity management method according to an embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 2B is a process flow diagram illustrating a recycling method for a commodity according to an embodiment.

[0016] FIG. 2C is a process flow diagram illustrating an example recycling method applied an example commodity according to an embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 3 A is a process flow diagram illustrating commodity management according to an embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 3B is a process flow diagram illustrating operation of a commodity management system for an example refrigerant according to an embodiment.

[0019] FIGs. 3C, 3D, and 3E are process flow diagrams illustrating alternative operations in the commodity management system continued from FIG. 3B.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a component block diagram of a laptop computer suitable for implementing the various embodiment methods. [0021] FIG. 5 is a component block diagram of a server suitable for implementing the various embodiment methods.

[0022] FIGS. 6 and 7 are respective component block diagram and front view of a mobile computing device suitable for implementing the various embodiment methods.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. References made to particular examples and implementations are for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the claims.

[0024] As used herein, "green house gas" or "GHG" refers to a gas in the

atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range, thereby contributing to the greenhouse effect.

[0025] As used herein, the term "commodity" refers to any consumable, non- differentiated tradable good from which the production, trade, and/or use directly or indirectly impacts the environment. Such commodities may include, for example, various refrigerants, including ozone depleting substances (ODS) (e.g.,

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), perfluorocarbons (FCs), etc.). Such commodities may further include, for example, motor oil, plastic, glass, oil, coal, palm oil, copper, steel, aluminum, etc.

[0026] As used herein, the term "computing device" is used to refer to any one or all of cellular telephones, smart phones, personal or mobile multi-media players, personal data assistants (PDA's), laptop computers, tablet computers, smart books, palm-top computers, wireless electronic mail receivers, multimedia Internet enabled cellular telephones, wireless gaming controllers, personal computers, desktop computers, television set top boxes, and similar electronic devices which include a programmable processor and memory and circuitry for performing operations described herein. [0027] The various embodiments are described herein using the term "server." The term "server" is used to refer to any computing device capable of functioning as a server, such as a master exchange server, web server, mail server, document server, content server, or any other type of server. A server may be a dedicated computing device or a computing device including a server module (e.g., running an application which may cause the computing device to operate as a server). A server module (e.g., server application) may be a full function server module, or a light or secondary server module (e.g., light or secondary server application) that is configured to provide synchronization services among the dynamic databases on mobile devices. A light server or secondary server may be a slimmed-down version of server type

functionality that can be implemented on a mobile device thereby enabling it to function as an Internet server (e.g., an enterprise e-mail server) only to the extent necessary to provide the functionality described herein.

[0028] GHGs, such as CO₂, are emitted from the production and burning of fossil fuels, and contribute to global warming. As a result, many international efforts are under way to reduce emissions of GHGs. For example, the Kyoto Protocol treaty, which many countries are signatories to, requires industrialized countries to reduce total emissions by an average of 5 percent below their 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. In order to accomplish this goal, some countries have developed a cap and trade system that puts a price on emissions and enables producers to trade credits on an open market. In other countries, such as the United States, participation in GHG reduction efforts is voluntary, but many businesses actively choose to utilize processes and manufacturing systems that have lower GHG emissions. For example, U.S.

companies across multiple industries advertise reduced emissions in conjunction with their products or services. Further, U.S. companies also need to comply with Kyoto Protocol regulations if they do business in countries committed to that treaty.

[0029] In particular, environmental markets have developed worldwide, addressing needs of voluntary and regulation- mandated companies for GHG emissions reduction.

For example, carbon market systems may allow members to trade GHG allowances and/ or verified emission reductions (VERs) (also referred to herein as carbon "offsets") for GHGs such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,

hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. In various

embodiments, VERs may provide a quantified, serialized measure of environmental impact(s) (climate, water, etc.) that is associated with a material in a disaggregated commodity flow, and may use any of a variety of units (climate/mtCO2e, water/ft³). In various embodiments, VERs can be decoupled from the underlying material and reported/sold separately in corresponding environmental commodities markets.

[0030] Environmental market values may be comprised of allowance credits and/or VERs. For example, each unit of allowance may give the entity the right to emit a one metric ton of CO₂ equivalent (mtCO₂e) or other GHG equivalent.

[0031] Standards and verification processes exist that ensure the integrity of VERs. For example, the Climate Action Reserve provides protocols for project development, quantification and issuance of VERs. To be registered on the Reserve, GHG reduction projects are verified by an independent third party as adhering to criteria established in the protocols. After a project registered on the Reserve it is issued Climate Reserve Tonnes (CRTs) which are tradable financial instrument within California's Cap and Trade System.

[0032] VER project types include land use, such as deforestation reduction by creating substitutes for forest-based products, and emissions-reduction in developing countries (e.g., Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)-eligible projects under the Kyoto Protocol), which allow industrialized countries to invest in emission-reducing projects in developing countries rather than in their own.

[0033] Another significant project type is ODS destruction. For example, such destruction may be applicable to CFCs— which have been phased out of production globally, but are generally released to the atmosphere at end-of -life.

[0034] In the various embodiments, a system is created that efficiently manages destruction and/or recycling of fluorinated refrigerants or other commodities to quantify and serialize VERs or other environmental metrics. In the various embodiments, the system is maintained by a Central Processing Entity. The Central Processing Entity, which may be one or multiple servers, may be configured with connections to the Internet and to other communication networks to enable computer- to-computer communications, computer displays coupled to the servers to support a human operator, and/or telephones sufficient to enable one or more individuals to effect the coordination of the various steps in management of fluorinated gases or other commodities.

[0035] The Central Processing Entity may maintain information relating to one or more environmental markets. For example, the Central Processing Entity may be configured to sell carbon credit units in one or many of the existing carbon credit exchanges (American Carbon Registry, European Climate Exchange, NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe, PowerNext, Commodity Exchange Bratislava and the European Energy Exchange). Further, the Central Processing Entity may be able to receive data or notices from independent third-party verifiers endorsed by different carbon exchanges, thereby ensuring that a proposed VER project complies specifically with a selected carbon trading protocol before carbon credits are generated for that project (e.g., an ODS destruction project).

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the Central Processing Entity may be in communication with entities within the value chain of customers, such as U.S.

customers and foreign customers, and may receive and share information from each of these entities. In an example embodiment, an ODS Destruction Recycling Center that recycles HFCs and an Appliance Recycler that aggregates HFCs from discarded appliances may both communicate with the Central Processing Entity.

[0037] Information that may be received from these entities may also be

implemented into an HFC recycling by the Central Processing Entity. Functions that may be performed by the Central Processing Entity also include tracking the recycling of, HFC, calculating the amount, receiving and transferring metrics s to relevant entities. The Central Processing Entity may bundle HFCs for processing, for example, according to the customer from whom they were received, the location, the type of contract, etc.

[0038] The Central Processing Entity may receive and/or generate communications to and/or from independent verifiers in order to comply with a particular protocol's requirements for reporting. For example, an HFC recycling verifier may evaluate the process used by a particular Recycling Entity and may generate a compliance indicator that is sent to the Central Processing Entity along with an identifying number of the HFC Recycling Entity. The Central Processing Entity may require that for each HFC Recycling Entity with which it does business, a new compliance indicator is received after a certain periodic interval.

[0039] Further, the Central Processing Entity may receive communications from independent third party verifier in conjunction with the approval process for a VER project. For example, market-endorsed third party verifiers who evaluate and approve VER projects may provide approval for a particular market, thus enabling the VERs to be traded as environmental credits on that market. Such approval may be transmitted directly to the Central Processing Entity prior to sale of the environmental credits. The Central Processing Entity may further be configured to evaluate differences between different environmental credit markets and, for each group of refrigerant or other commodities recycling generated VERs (i.e., environmental credits), to select a market that is favorable based on various criteria. Moreover, the Central Processing Entity may also monitor and update information regarding one or more environmental credit markets, either on a fixed interval or following the sale of environmental credits by the Central Processing Entity.

[0040] In various embodiments, the environmental value for a commodity derived from recycling and/or a renewable source may be separated from the commodity and tracked using a cryptocurrency (e.g., a cryptographic token exchanged between parties to a transaction). Information about the production of the commodity, such as supply chain information, may be used to assign a value to the cryptocurrency. In various embodiments, the value of the cryptocurrency may be a climate impact factor (CIF) which may be type of cryptographic token that represents a VER, such as a selected number of pounds of green house gas abated by the production of the commodity. In various embodiments, the CIF may be associated with a recycling rate target. For example, a recycling rate target of 9% may be set for a commodity. Recycling less than 9% may not generate crypto currency (e.g., 8% would not enable cryptocurrency to be generated), while recycling 9% or more would generate cryptocurrency. In various embodiments, the block chain for the cryptocurrency may be tied to the supply chain of the commodity such that every unit of cryptocurrency may be tied to a particular recycler or producer. The decoupling of the cryptocurrency from the commodity may operate as an environmental value inset (e.g., a carbon inset) which may provide a benefit to those in the market to actions that occur in normal commerce. As opposed to environmental credits (e.g., carbon credits) in which a government regulation caps the emissions by a company and the company must by credits to go over their cap, the environmental value inset allows commodity buyers to proceed to buy commodities as normal without worrying about the source while motivating producers to recycle and/or use renewable sources because the producers will get the price of their commodities plus the cryptocurrency. In this manner, the cryptocurrency may be a less threatening type of action as opposed to the fines associated with offsets. Additionally, the use of the cryptocurrency may all the market to set the preferred amount of recycling of a commodity and incentivize producers to recycle and/or destroy/retire material for the resulting public good will created by amassing the cryptocurrency.

[0041] In various embodiments, the cryptocurrency may be generated and tracked by the Central Processing Entity. In an embodiment, an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) module of the Central Processing Entity, such as an

environmental metrics module, may compute/generate the cryptocurrency (e.g., cryptographic tokens). In the various embodiments the Central Processing Entity may track inputs to the global economy from supply chain data and generate the

cryptocurrency and/or redeem the cryptocurrency based on a VER benchmark associated with the production of the commodity by a recycler of the commodity and/or a virgin creator of the commodity. For example, based on a HFC benchmark for a virgin creator (e.g., DuPont®) one pound of carbon dioxide created by

manufacturing the commodity may require one unit of cryptocurrency to be redeemed with the Central Processing Entity to offset the production of the commodity by the virgin creator. As another example, based on a HFC benchmark for a recycler, one pound of carbon dioxide abated by the recycling of the commodity by the recycler may result in the Central Processing Entity creating a unit of cryptocurrency. As a third example, a producer that generates a commodity in a renewable manner, such as palm oil from a renewable farmed source, may cause cryptocurrency to be generated, while a producer that generates the same commodity in a non-renewable manner, such as palm oil from slash and burn farming, may not.

[0042] In various embodiments, a non-profit entity referred to as the Climate

Disclosure Project (CDP) may track the cryptocurrency generation and redemption by companies and assign a CDP score to a company accordingly. Companies may buy and redeem the cryptocurrency to reduce their respective CDP scores.

[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates the components of an environmental asset management system 100, according to a preferred embodiment. A Central Processing Entity 12 operates a central command server 14 for managing the creation and exchange of environmental assets (e.g., environmental credits, such as carbon credits,

cryptocurrency, such as a CIF, etc.) management system. The Central Processing Entity directly transacts with a Customer 16, a Recycling Entity 18 (e.g., for refrigerant or other commodities), and an Environmental Credit Market 20. The Central Processing Entity 12 and the Recycling Entity 18 may be separate companies or entities, or optionally may be part of the same entity 22.

[0044] The process steps involved in the environmental asset management system 100 are also shown in FIG. 1, according to one embodiment. In step (1), the Customer 16 may provide the Central Processing Entity 12 with the refrigerant or other commodities it owns or uses. The Customer 16 can provide refrigerant or other commodities directly to the Recycling Entity 18 and provide information to the Central Processing Entity 12. Alternatively, the Customer 16 may provide the ODS and information regarding the refrigerant or other commodities to the Central

Processing Entity 12. This step may be taken, for example, pursuant to an outputs contract between the Customer 16 and the Central Processing Entity 12. In optional step (2), the Central Processing Entity 12 may prepay the Customer for refrigerant or other commodities, for example, in an amount-per-pound. In step (3), the Central Processing Entity 12 may provide the Recycling Entity 18 with all of its acquired refrigerant or other commodities and payment to process and recycle the refrigerant or other commodities. In step (4), the Central Processing Entity 12 may provide generated environmental credits from the Recycling Entity 18 to an Environmental Credit Market 20 (e.g., carbon credit or other environmental asset market). Step (4) may include generating units of cryptocurrency (e.g., cryptographic tokens) based on the recycling of the refrigerant or other commodities performed by the Recycling Entity 18 and making the cryptocurrency available for trade/sale in the Environmental Credit Market 20. In various embodiments, the cryptocurrency may be generated by an environmental metrics module of the Central Processing Entity 12. In step (5), the Central Processing Entity 12 may receive payment for the sale of environmental credits and/or cryptocurrency in the Environmental Credit Market 20. In step (6) the Recycling Entity 18 may receive a percentage of the revenue from the sale of environmental credits and/or cryptocurrency from the Central Processing Entity 12, or the Central Processing Entity 12 may pay a fixed fee to the Recycling Entity 18 for recycling of the refrigerant or other commodities. In step (7), the Customer 16 may also receive a percentage of the revenue from the sale of environmental credits and/or cryptocurrency from the Central Processing Entity 12. In step (8), the Central Processing Entity 12, by the central command server 14, may compute the metrics on, for example, the pounds of recycled refrigerant or other commodities that are used by the Customer 16 by virtue of the completed environmental credit transaction, and the central command server 14 may provide this information to the Customer 16. In an embodiment, the Customer 16, the Environmental Credit Market 20, the Central Processing Entity 12, and/or the Recycling Entity 18 may be computing devices including one or more processors configured with non-transitory processor executable instructions to perform the various embodiment operations described herein, such as the computing devices described below with reference to FIGs. 4-7.

[0045] Another embodiment provides methods and systems for managing refrigerant gases or other commodities by providing an interface between customers using refrigerants or other refrigerant commodities, companies that offer services and technology to supply, reclaim and remove refrigerant gases from residential and commercial systems, and companies offering quantifiable lifecycle management for the refrigerants or other commodities.

[0046] Another related goal for integrating various parties in the use of refrigerant or other commodities involves the tracking and management of equipment that uses refrigerants or other commodities over their lifecycle, across various entities. While there are systems that track inventory and use of refrigerant or other commodities with respect to a particular system and/or entity, tracking the lifecycle of a gas among multiple entities, for example from its distribution to a user to recycle or destruction provides for quantification of the environmental impacts of the underlying material. A further related goal for the tracking and management of refrigerants or other commodities units over their lifecycle may be as part of a recycling program for refrigerants or other commodities. Such a recycling program may provide additional climate change benefits and/or environmental certifications to participating end users.

[0047] FIG. 2A illustrates an embodiment commodity management system 500 for commodities (e.g.., refrigerants and/or other commodities). In an embodiment, the management system 500 may track a refrigerant or other commodity over its lifecycle, including transfer of the refrigerant or other commodity across multiple entities that may or may not be under common control. For example, a supply chain 502 may include entities such as a cooling system owner 504, a service provider 506, a distributor 508, and a recycler 510, any of which may be replaced by one or more entities performing analogous functions.

[0048] Recycled refrigerants or other recycled commodities may be transported to a cooling system in a container 512 (e.g., a gas cylinder), and may be installed in the cooling system, for example, by a service provider 506. After a period of time, used refrigerant or other commodity may be removed from the cooling system, for example, into a container 514. The container 514 may be transferred across one or more entities of the supply chain. For example, the service provider 506 may remove used refrigerant or other commodity and transfer the container 514 to a distributor 508. The distributor 508 may transfer the container 514 to a recycler 510, which may reclaim the starting clean refrigerant or other commodity, such as in container 512, by removing contaminants from the used commodities. The recycler 510 may provide the container 512 to the distributor 508, who may provide it to the service provider 506, who may provide it to an equipment owner. In another embodiment, a recycler 510 may accept, reclaim, and redistribute refrigerants or other commodity in containers 512, 514 directly to/from the cooling system owner 504, without a service provider or distributor intermediary. In the various embodiments, container 514 may be the same as or different from container 512.

[0049] Throughout these transfer steps, various measurements and tracking identifications may be performed. For example, clean or used refrigerant or other commodities may be tracked based on weight of a container 512, 514, which may be recorded by a computing device 518. The computing device 518 may be any of a number of known types of devices, including, but not limited to, a desktop personal computing device, a notebook/laptop personal computing device, a mobile computing device, and a computer server.

[0050] In various embodiments, computing device 518 may be a central management system configured to receive, monitor and store lifecycle tracking information. In another embodiment, computing device 518 may be one of multiple central

management devices that form the central management system. In another

embodiment, computing device 518 may be a remote system configured to collect lifecycle tracking information and to transmit the information to a separate central management system. Additionally, such remote system may be configured to retrieve lifecycle tracking information that may already be stored on the separate central management system, and to download and/or display the retrieved information to a user of remote system. The exchange of information between the remote system and the separate central management system may be performed using any of the various data communication protocols known in the art. An example of a remote system that may be implemented on a mobile device is discussed in further detail below with respect to FIG. 7. In another embodiment, computing device 518 may be a server operated by a third party (for example, EOS Climate, Inc.) or by one or more of a cooling system owner 504, a service provider 506, a distributor 508, and/or a recycler 510.

[0051] Notifications regarding the remaining lifecycle of a refrigerant or other commodity may be provided to one or more entities in the supply chain 502. After a certain expiration point, the refrigerant or other commodity may be destroyed or converted at a destruction entity 516, thereby ending its lifecycle. Further,

refrigerants or other commodities that are recycled (e.g., by a recycler 510 or other entity) may continue to move up and down the same supply chain 502 by being supplied to the same equipment system owner 504, or may enter a new supply chain by being supplied to a different cooling system owner (not shown). For example, a used refrigerant gas from cooling system owner 504 may be recycled, which reclaims clean refrigerant gas for a reserve of gases that supplies the equipment system and/or other systems in that facility. In an alternative example, after reclamation, the clean refrigerant or other commodities may be resold to other customers in the central management system of computing device 518. In other words, recycled refrigerants and other commodities suitable for use in the various embodiments are fungible.

[0052] In an embodiment method, information may be provided to customers regarding the value of a refrigerant or other commodity, its economic and

environmental impact, and its history until retired. For example, the central management system of computing device 518 may generate reports that meet specific regulatory requirements, at state, regional, national and international levels. In another embodiment, environmental lifecycle metrics, such as emissions avoided, may be provided to users, and verified by independent third party auditor, for example, the owner of the central management system of computing device 518 or another party. [0053] Embodiment systems may also provide financial lifecycle metrics of the refrigerant or other commodity to users. For example, the price per unit of a refrigerant may change over the course of time between installation in the system, use in the system, removal of used refrigerant, and reclamation of clean refrigerant.

Comparison between these prices may provide a positive or negative price variant. Further, there is always some degree of loss of mass associated with the use of the refrigerant gas by the cooling system and the subsequent reclamation process. That is, while in an ideal system the amount at the beginning and end of a refrigerant or other commodity lifecycle remains unchanged, in practical conditions a small loss of the commodity may be expected with each installation, removal, and reclamation.

Therefore, measurements of mass for the containers 512, 514 may also be tracked and recorded by the central management system of computing device 518. In an embodiment, a system may provide a calculation of the current asset value, such as in response to user inquiry, of a particular refrigerant or other commodity (e.g., in container 512) by applying the current price per unit of the other commodity to its mass in the container of interest. In the same manner, the system may provide a calculation of the change in the value of a refrigerant or other commodity over a period of time. For example, the system may provide changes in value by monitoring weight changes of the containers 512, 514, which may be tracked through barcodes on the exteriors of the containers 512, 514. In an embodiment, such tracking may be performed by a remote system such as computing device 518. For example, computing device 518 may be a mobile computing device configured with a scanner to collect the barcode tracking information, and to transmit the information to a central management system.

[0054] Embodiment systems may also be used to implement a recycling program for a refrigerant or other commodity. A recycling program may require transparency in the tracking through a supply chain, thereby enabling an end user to receive a refrigerant or other commodity that is verified as being recycled. Such transparency may be accomplished by tracking and recording each unit (e.g., pound or other unit) of refrigerant gas through the various parties shown in FIG. 2A. In various embodiments, the cooling system owner 504, service provider 506, distributor 508, recycler 510 and/or destruction entity 516 may be one or more computing devices including one or more processors configured with non-transitory processor executable instructions to perform the various embodiment operations described herein, such as the computing devices described below with reference to FIGs. 4-7.

[0055] FIG. 2B illustrates an example recycling system 550 that may be part of a recycling program for a commodity (e.g., refrigerant and/or other commodity). As discussed above with respect to the commodity management system 500, the recycling system 550 may track refrigerant or other commodity over its lifecycle, including transfer of the refrigerant or other commodity across multiple entities in a supply chain 502. Such entities may include a cooling system owner 504, a service provider 506, a distributor 508, and/or a recycler 510, any of which may be replaced by one or more entities performing analogous functions. In an embodiment, a central server may compile recycling information 552 showing the supply chain for units of used refrigerant or other commodity that are to be recycled and provided to end users. For example, the central management system of computing device system 518 may generate such recycling information 552, in addition to performing the tracking, measurement and identification functions described above with respect to FIG. 2A. In an alternative embodiment, the recycling information 552 may be generated by a separate central server (not shown) that communicates with the central management system of computing device 518.

[0056] In the various embodiments, recycled (i.e., refurbished) refrigerant or other commodity may be generated by a recycler 510 through receiving used a used commodity, removing contaminants, and reclaiming clean commodity. The reclaimed clean commodity may be chemically identical to newly manufactured (e.g., previously unused) refrigerant or other commodity of the same type. Thereafter, the recycler 510 may sell or otherwise transfer the reclaimed refrigerant or other commodity as a recycled/refurbished product to end users after coordinating with a central server in the recycling system 550 to obtain recycling information. Thus, the recycled commodity and newly manufactured commodity are considered "clean" commodities, as described above.

[0057] In an embodiment, the recycler 510 may request recycling information 552 from the computing device 518 by identifying a particular quantity of used refrigerant or other commodity that has been or will be recycled. The recycler may identify, for example, one or more containers 514 of used refrigerant or other commodity that it has received, and which has been tracked in the supply chain 502 by the central management system of computing device 518. The computing device 518 may gather the requested recycling information 552 and provide it to the recycler 510. The recycling information 552 may contain each tracked life cycle(s) of each intermediary source of the identified used refrigerant or other commodity, and the original source of the clean commodity from which it was derived. For example, information 552 may have fields identifying tracked containers 514 from the request, the associated amount of refrigerant or other commodity tracked through each container 514, and, working backward, each transfer between entities in the supply chain through the original purchasing entity that bought the clean commodity as new. In an embodiment, the transfers between various entities in the supply chain may include details such as the name and address of the transferor and transferee, time and date of the transaction, and a verification of the identifier and/or quantity associated with a transferred container. In some embodiments, used refrigerant gas in a container 514 may have entered the supply chain 502 in a different container 512, in which case transfers between containers would be included in the recycling information 552.

[0058] The recycler 510 may generate the recycled/refurbished commodity 554 from the used commodity received from an intermediary source or sources identified in the recycling information 552. In an embodiment, the recycler 510 may generate a recycling log 556 that contains, in a user-readable format, the recycling information 552 corresponding to each intermediary source used to make the recycled commodity 554. For example, if the recycled refrigerant or other commodity 554 contains clean commodity material reclaimed from two used refrigerant or other commodity containers 514, the recycling log 556 may contain recycling information 552 for both source containers 514, along with an associated amount from each source. In other embodiments, the recycling log 556 may be generated by the central management server 512 or other entity, and received by the recycler 510 in place of recycling information 552. The recycled refrigerant or other commodity 554 with

corresponding recycling log 556 may be distributed to any of a variety of end users, for example, a cooling system owner 504, service provider 506, distributor 508, or an end user 558 outside the supply chain.

[0059] In an embodiment, the computing device 518, recycler 510, or other entity that provides recycling information 552 and/or a recycling log 556 may be configured to calculate an environmental benefit associated with the recycled/refurbished refrigerant or other commodity 554. In an embodiment, the entity may be a third party (i.e., unrelated to the life cycle tracking discussed above with respect to FIG. 2A) who also monitors, verifies, and certifies the recycling information 552 and/or recycling log 556. In this manner, the recycler 510 may use a certification of "100% recycled" along with other certifications such as "U.S. recycled" commodity versus imported, etc.

[0060] The environmental benefit may be calculated as a reduction in carbon footprint based on the use of recycled/refurbished refrigerants or other commodities instead of new commodities. A "carbon footprint" may be a calculation of the total sets of GHG emissions (e.g., expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) using the relevant 100-year global warming potential (GWP100)) caused by an end user's activities. The environmental benefit may be measured as a number of metric tons, or other unit, of GHG emissions avoided by using recycled/refurbished refrigerants or other commodities instead of new commodities. Further, the amount of GHG emissions involved in transporting the recycled/refurbished refrigerant or other commodity 554 from the recycler 510 to the end user (e.g., GHG emissions from transportation via truck, airplane, etc.) may be subtracted from the emissions avoided in calculating the environmental benefit. Further, the amount of GHG emissions involved in transporting the clean and used refrigerants or other commodities through the supply chain 502 (for example, transporting containers 512, 514 between one or more of the equipment system owner 504, service provider 506, distributor 508, and recycler 510) may also be subtracted from the emissions avoided in calculating the environmental benefit. In this manner, the environmental benefit may be a more accurate portrayal of the actual overall emissions "savings."

[0061] In another embodiment, a central server, such as computing device 518 or other entity central server, may maintain emissions data about an end user, and provide the end user with an environmental benefit calculation that includes the end user' s updated carbon footprint. For example, the central server may communicate with a computer system of the end user to obtain emissions data used to compute a carbon footprint. The updated carbon footprint may be a carbon footprint calculation that is adjusted based on the GHG emissions avoided by the end user's use of the recycled/refurbished refrigerant or other commodity 554. In an embodiment, the end user's carbon footprint may be updated and provided to the end user after every purchase of recycled refrigerant or other commodity 554 and/or periodically based on time intervals (e.g., annually, per quarter, etc.). For example, the central management system of computing device 518 may be configured to provide an updated carbon footprint calculation to an end user at the end of every year, which involves accounting in the calculation for all recycled/refurbished refrigerants or other commodities gas 554 purchased by the end user over the year-long interval. In various embodiments, the end user 558, cooling system owner 504, service provider 506, distributor 508, and recycler 510 may be one or more computing devices including one or more processors configured with non-transitory processor executable instructions to perform the various embodiment operations described herein, such as the computing devices described below with reference to FIGs. 4-7.

[0062] In various embodiments, the environmental value for a commodity derived from recycling and/or a renewable source may be separated from the commodity and tracked using a cryptocurrency. For example, a central server may track information about the production of all recycled/refurbished refrigerants or other commodities gas

554, such as supply chain information, and the central server may generate the cryptocurrency based on the amount of recycle material used in the production of the recycled/refurbished refrigerants or other commodities gas 554. For example, a central server, such as computing device 518 or other entity central server, may track the recycling efforts of recycler 510 and when recycling targets are met by the recycler 510, the central server may generate units of cryptocurrency, such as CIFs, corresponding to the number of pounds of green house gas abated by the production of recycled/refurbished refrigerants or other commodities gas 554. FIG. 2C illustrates a recycling system 590 implemented for an example commodity (e.g., a refrigerant and/or other commodity). Similar to the commodity management system 500 in FIG. 2A and the recycling system 550 in FIG. 2B, the recycling system 590 may track a commodity over its lifecycle, including transfer of the commodity across multiple entities in a supply chain (e.g., a manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer, end user, and/or recycler). A central server, such as discussed above with respect to recycling systems 500 and 550, may compile recycling information showing the supply chain for units of used commodity that are to be recycled and provided back into the market (e.g., via the wholesaler). In the recycling system 590, the commodity stream and the recycling information are isolated from one another. That is, even though there are different environmental profiles, recycled/refurbished material re-enters the commodity market undifferentiated from newly manufactured/virgin commodity material.

[0063] Global resource constraints, such as climate change, water supply,

deforestation, etc., have led to pressure on commodity streams with associated externalities. Such externalities are currently un tracked since commodities are by definition undifferentiated. As such, the management systems described herein may be adapted to enable commodity differentiation for environmental markets.

[0064] The various embodiments may differentiate commodities based on their environmental impacts. In various embodiments, a virtual platform may be created that processes a disaggregated commodity stream and embeds data to track the commodity and quantify its environmental value.

[0065] The commodities suitable for use in the various embodiments may include a variety of consumable goods which are typically supplied without differentiation between individual units and with respect to source, but are not limited to, various refrigerants, motor oil, fuel oil, electricity, green house gas emission allowances, genetically modified crops, etc.

[0066] Various embodiments may involve embedding commodities with data that contains various attributes during their lifecycles, including tracking information and environmental metrics. In various embodiments, tracking information may include an identifier indicating the source of the commodity (e.g. barcode, QR code, etc.). In various embodiments, the identifier may be tracked scanned/checked at various points throughout the lifecycle, providing geolocations. In other embodiments, the embedded data may include a separate geolocation beacon or tag that may be read by sensors independent from the identifier.

[0067] In various embodiments, embedding data for a particular commodity material may be accomplished using wireless technology configured to interact with a physical component coupled to the commodity. Such physical components may include a barcode (e.g., nano or regular barcode), a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, a geolocation beacon, or other short range signaling element. In various

embodiments, the physical components coupled to the commodity may be affixed to a barrel, canister, or other container in which the commodity is housed.

[0068] In some embodiments, the physical component may be a GPS or RF transmitter such that the module on which the platform is running may track the commodity through direct interactions with the physical component. IN other embodiments, the virtual platform may track the commodity via indirect links. For example, the physical component may be a barcode affixed to a cylinder containing the commodity, and the barcode may be read (i.e., scanned) by an appropriate reader (e.g., scanner) upon arrival at various location in its life cycle. In various

embodiments, the barcode at such locations may then be configured to report such interaction to the virtual platform, either automatically or by request.

[0069] In various embodiments, the environmental metrics may include a

commodity class base, which may be an environmental value per unit (e.g., pound) of that commodity. In some embodiments, the commodity class base may be calculated statically in advance of application to the undifferentiated commodity stream, or may be statically calculated on an ad hoc basis using one or more attributes describing the particular commodity (e.g., commodity source indicated by the identifier, extraction method used, etc.)

[0070] In some embodiments, the commodity class base may be dynamically calculated based on the progression of the lifecycle prior to reaching the end user. For example, dynamic calculation may start with the commodity source indicated by the identifier, and may be monitored and updated based on the selections for lifecycle steps that have environmental impact. For example, the selection of a first

transportation route between the source and a distributor over another route may have different environmental savings, and thereby may split the initial commodity class into two different classes based on different commodity class bases. In another example, implementation of new regulations that constrain available sources or extraction processes for a particular commodity, or that constrains substitute goods for that commodity, may change the underlying commodity class base for the particular commodity. In this manner, various differentiated commodities may be valued based on their relative environmental impacts in real time.

[0071] The commodity may be tracked throughout its lifecycle, including sending the commodity material to an appropriate recycler, and performing the actual recycling. Once the recycling is complete, the actual amount of the commodity material that was recycled may be certified and recorded as part of the embedded data for the resulting refurbished commodity. Using the commodity class base and the amount that was recycled, and other data (e.g., transportation information, etc.), an environmental value for the refurbished commodity may be calculated. That is, the various embodiments provided a system in which the refurbished commodity has a greater total worth than the same amount of the new commodity.

[0072] An additional embodiment may include the differentiation of materials within a linear production cycle (as opposed to differentiation of circular/recycling vs. virgin material). For example, a petroleum product made from crude oil that was extracted from tar sands typically has an equal market value compared to the same petroleum product made from crude oil that was extracted using conventional oil wells.

However, tar sands extraction causes about twice as much negative impact to the environment compared to extraction using conventional extraction methods.

Therefore, in the various embodiments, these same petroleum products may be differentiated by assigning a lower value commodity class base to the petroleum from the tar sands-derived crude oil compared to the petroleum from the conventionally- derived crude oil. Thus, while the actual commodities remain equivalent in value from an energy perspective, when environmental metrics are associated with the underlying commodity, the market value of the commodity is greater for the petroleum product made from crude oil that was extracted using conventional methods.

[0073] The environmental value of a refurbished commodity may be stored as an environmental metric using the virtual platform. The tracking data, environmental metrics, and other information may be integrated with a registry in the virtual platform. In various embodiments, algorithms for identify using and calculating environmental metrics for many different commodities may be stored in the same module. In various embodiments, the environmental value of a refurbished

commodity and/or its environmental metric may be used to generate a cryptocurrency.

[0074] Therefore, the various embodiments generate two separate assets by creating both the refurbished commodity, which may be sold in normal markets, and the environmental value and/or cryptocurrency, which may be traded in environmental asset markets separate from the refurbished commodity.

[0075] Environmental asset markets (i.e., markets in which the environmental values and/or cryptocurrency for refurbished commodities may be traded) include, but are not limited to, carbon credit markets, renewable energy credit markets, sulfur dioxide allowance markets, cryptocurrency markets, etc. In a similar manner, environmental metrics (e.g., commodity class base and the environmental value and/or cryptocurrency) may correspond to a quantification that corresponds to an existing or future market, or a quantification that may be easily converted for existing or future markets. For example, this quantification may be the amount by which carbon emissions are decreased as a result of the displacement of a particular amount of new commodity material (e.g., one pound) by the same amount of the refurbished material. Additionally or as an alternative, another example the quantification may be amounts by which impacts to land, water, and other resources are improved as a result of the displacement of a particular amount of new commodity material (e.g., one pound) by the same amount of the refurbished material.

[0076] FIG. 3A illustrates an example commodity management system 300 that may enable differentiation of commodities based on their environmental impact (or environmental savings), and separate valuation and trading of associated

environmental assets. In addition to the commodity information discussed above, the commodity management system 300 may incorporate portions of each an

environmental asset management system, such as the system discussed above with respect to FIG. 1, and a recycling system, such as the systems discussed above with respect to FIGs. 2A, 2B, and/or 2C. In the commodity management system 300, a commodity stream may be tracked over its lifecycle, including sale and distribution across multiple supply chain entities. In the various embodiments, such tracking may be performed using by a virtual platform 301 being run, for example, on a computing device 303. The computing device 303 may be in direct or indirect communication with each of the entities in system 300 through the platform 301.

[0077] In an embodiment, a new consumable commodity 302 may be created by a producer 304. Depending on the particular commodity, the producer 302 may extract and/or refine materials to create a commodity material with environmental impact. Along with such creation, information 306 may be embedded in the new commodity using a variety of techniques described above (e.g., a barcode/QR code, beacon, RFID chip, etc.) The embedded information 306 may include tracking data, such as identification of the producer 302 quantity of commodity produced, and transportation associated with brining the commodity to market. Further the embedded information may include environmental metrics such as a commodity base value.

[0078] The producer 302 may provide the new commodity 304 with embedded information 306 to a supply chain, which may include a commodity market 308, a distributor 310, and an end user 312, any of which may be replaced by one or more entities performing analogous functions. In an embodiment, a central server may monitor the embedded information 306 across the marketer 308, distributor 310, and end user 312. In some embodiments, the embedded information 306 may be updated as the commodity 304 moves across the supply chain of these entities. Once depleted, the commodity may be supplied to a recycler 314, which may be an entity that is configured to create a refurbished commodity 316. The embedded information 306 may be updated to include the amount of commodity material that was recycled and that has been renewed as the refurbished commodity 316, as well as the environmental impact of such recycling. In various embodiments, an environmental market value 318 may be generated based on the embedded information 306, and may stored separately by the central management system as an environmental asset. Additionally or alternatively, the environmental market value 318 may be embedded in the commodity material along with the other information 306.

[0079] The refurbished commodity 306 and environmental market value 318 may be used in a number of ways. For example, in a first option, the refurbished commodity 306 may re-enter the commodity stream via the commodity market 308, while the environmental market value 308 may be separately converted into a format for trading in one or more environmental asset market 320 (e.g., as a cryptocurrency). In a second option both the refurbished commodity 306 and environmental market value 318 may re-enter a commodity stream through trading of both assets in the commodity market 308 (not shown). In a third option, refurbished commodity 306 and

environmental market value 318 may be directly sold, together or separate, to one or more new owner 322. [0080] In another embodiment, a system of credits may be developed, such as "cooling credits," as a standardized measure of verified GHG emissions avoided by using recycled refrigerant gas 554. Such cooling credits may be part of a broader accreditation program for users to improve their respective carbon footprints.

Alternatively, such cooling credits may be sold and/or transferred in a market system. For example, a cooling system owner 504 may receive recycled refrigerant gas 554 and may transfer the associated cooling credits to another end user 558 for monetary or other value compensation. In various embodiments, the new owner 322, environmental asset market 320, recycler 314, end user 312, distributor 310, commodity market 308, and/or producer 304 may be one or more computing devices including one or more processors configured with non-transitory processor executable instructions to perform the various embodiment operations described herein, such as the computing devices described below with reference to FIGs. 4-7.

[0081] FIG. 3B shows example operations 350 of an embodiment commodity management system (e.g., commodity management system 300) being implemented for an example refrigerant. In example step 352, 30 pounds of new/virgin refrigerant may be produced, with a corresponding global warming potential (GWP) of 1900 and/or a mtCO₂e of 25.9. In example step 354, the refrigerant may move through the supply chain (e.g., to wholesaler, technician, and end user). In example step 356, upon reaching the end user the refrigerant may be transferred from a tagged container (e.g., a bar-coded cylinder) to tagged equipment (.e.g., a registered cooling system).

[0082] In example step 358, substantially all of the spent refrigerant (e.g., 30 pounds) may be recovered from the tagged equipment by a technician and transferred to another tagged container (e.g., bar-coded cylinder). In example step 360, the recovered refrigerant may be processed by a recycler. In example step 362, by processing the 30 pounds of recovered refrigerant, the recycler may generate a quantity a quantity of refurbished refrigerant (e.g., 27 pounds), which may be of the same grade as new/virgin refrigerant. Further in example step 362, the generation of the refurbished refrigerant may create VERs in an amount of around 22.75 mtCO₂e including an estimated 12% GHG protocol discount. In example step 364, the VERs may be serialized and registered in a climate registry.

[0083] In one embodiment, operations 350 may continue to FIG. 3C, which illustrates a first optional path 370 for the embodiment commodity management system (e.g., commodity management system 300). Specifically, in path 370, the VERs created in example step 362 of FIG. 3B remain with the refurbished refrigerant as it moves through the supply chain. In example step 372, the VERs may be retired or sold by the end user.

[0084] In another embodiment, operations 350 from FIG. 3B may continue to FIG. 3D, which illustrates a second optional path 374 for the embodiment commodity management system (e.g., commodity management system 300). Specifically, in path 374, the VERs may be separated from the refurbished refrigerant, and sold into environmental commodity markets in example step 376. In example step 378, the refurbished refrigerant may continue to the supply chain undifferentiated from new/virgin refrigerant with the refurbished refrigerant as it moves through the supply chain. In example step 380, the VERs may be retired or sold by the end user.

[0085] In another embodiment, operations 350 from FIG. 3B may continue to FIG. 3D, which illustrates a third optional path 380 for the embodiment commodity management system (e.g., commodity management system 300). Specifically, in path 380, the VERs may be separated from the refurbished refrigerant, and used as part of the block chain for generating a cryptocurrency in step 379 which may then be sold into the environmental markets in step 376. In this manner, the recycling of the commodity may generate cryptocurrency based on the value of the VERs created. In example step 378, the refurbished refrigerant may continue to the supply chain undifferentiated from new/virgin refrigerant with the refurbished refrigerant as it moves through the supply chain. As a specific example, the central processing entity may receive gas recycling information, such as the VERs, generate a cryptographic token (i.e., a cryptocurrency) based on the gas recycling information, update the block chain to reflect the newly created cryptographic token, and transmit the cryptographic token to a server used to sell cryptographic tokens on the environmental markets.

[0086] The example operations illustrated in FIGs. 3B, 3C, 3D and/or 3E may be repeated, with new, tradable units of environmental metrics being generated with each cycle. As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, the embodiments shown in FIGs. 3B-3E are not limited to refrigerants, as such material is provided merely as an example. That is, the series of operations in FIGs. 3B-3E may be applied to any of the various commodities discussed herein, having any starting quantity/value.

[0087] The VERs described herein may also be implemented using any of a number of methods according to various embodiments. In some embodiments, a VER may correspond to/be converted into an encrypted complementary, digital currency (e.g., a "Commodity Impact Factor." The Commodity Impact Factor may represent a quantified unit of environmental impact that can either be transacted via traditional environmental commodity, or entered into public ledger (e.g., similar to the blockchain for Bitcoin) to which the market may assign value. In addition to the encryption of the metrics and serialization discussed above, each Commodity Impact Factor may be encrypted with code that allows its owner to digitally corrupt the Commodity Impact Factor so that it cannot be further transacted. In this manner, similar to retiring carbon credit, the owner of the Commodity Impact Factor to make a "claim" against the environmental metrics, which may also be visible in the public ledger.

[0088] As described above, the central management system and/or other systems configured to implement the methods of the various embodiments, may comprise the computing device 518. In an example embodiment, computing device 518 may be at least one notebook computer 600 illustrated in FIG. 4. Such a notebook computer 600 typically includes a housing 606 that contains a processor 601 coupled to volatile memory 602 and to a large capacity nonvolatile memory, such as a disk drive 603. The computer 600 may also include a floppy disc drive 604 and a compact disc (CD) drive 605 coupled to the processor 601. The computer housing 606 typically also includes a touchpad 607, keyboard 608, and the display 609.

[0089] In another embodiment, computing device 518 may be at least one remote server device, such as the server 700 illustrated in FIG. 5. Such a server 700 typically includes a processor 701 coupled to volatile memory 702 and a large capacity nonvolatile memory, such as a disk drive 703. The server 700 may also include a floppy disc drive and/or a compact disc (CD) drive 706 coupled to the processor 701. The server 700 may also include a number of connector ports 704 coupled to the processor 701 for establishing data connections with network circuits 705.

[0090] In another embodiment, computing device 518 may be at least one of a variety of mobile handsets, such as, for example, cellular telephones, personal data assistants (PDA) with cellular telephone, mobile electronic mail receivers, mobile web access devices, and other processor-equipped devices that may be developed in the future that connect to a wireless network. Typically, such mobile handsets will have in common the components illustrated in FIG. 6. For example, a mobile handset 800 may include a processor 801 coupled to internal memory 802 and a display 803.

Additionally, the mobile handset 800 will have an antenna 804 for sending and receiving electromagnetic radiation that is connected to a wireless data link and/or cellular telephone transceiver 805 coupled to the processor 801. In some

implementations, the transceiver 805 and portions of the processor 801 and memory 802 used for cellular telephone communications is referred to as the air interface since it provides a data interface via a wireless data link. Additionally, the mobile handset 800 will include a close range transceiver 808 capable of establishing and

communicating a close range communication link, such as using one of the near field communication protocols. In some embodiments, the mobile handset 800 may include a scanner 809 (e.g., a barcode scanner) that may obtain optical image information, convert the information to digital data, and pass the data to the processor 801. Mobile handsets typically include a key pad 806 or miniature keyboard and menu selection buttons or rocker switches 807 for receiving user inputs. [0091] The computing device processor 601, 701, 801 may be any programmable microprocessor, microcomputer or multiple processor chip or chips that can be configured by software instructions (applications) to perform a variety of functions, including the functions of the various embodiments described above. In some Central Processing Entities, multiple processors 601, 701, 801 may be provided, such as one processor dedicated to wireless communication functions and one processor dedicated to running other applications. The processor may also be included as part of a communication chipset.

[0092] The various embodiments may be implemented by a computer processor 601, 701, 801 executing software instructions configured to implement one or more of the described methods or processes. Such software instructions may be stored in memory 605, 702, 802, in hard disc memory 603, on tangible storage medium or on servers accessible via a network (not shown) as separate applications, or as compiled software implementing an embodiment method or process. Further, the software instructions may be stored on any form of tangible processor-readable memory, including: a random access memory 605, 702, 802, hard disc memory 603, a floppy disk (readable in a floppy disc drive 604), a compact disc (readable in a CD drive 605), electrically erasable/programmable read only memory (EEPROM), read only memory (such as FLASH memory), and/or a memory module (not shown) plugged into a central command server 14 such as an external memory chip or USB-connectable external memory (e.g., a "flash drive") plugged into a USB network port. For the purposes of this description, the term memory refers to all memory accessible by the processor 601, 701, 801 including memory within the processor 601, 701, 801 itself.

[0093] As discussed above, the computing device 518 may be a remote system configured to allow a user to transmit refrigerant tracking information to, and receive refrigerant tracking information from, a separate central management system. In various embodiments the separate central management system may include a web server, and the computing device 518 may be a personal computing device configured to run a general internet browser application. Using the browser, a user may navigate to a web page that may provide real time access to the information gathered in the central management system, such as through a web portal or intranet dashboard. In other embodiment, the computing device 518 may be a mobile computing device configured to interact with the central management system information via a mobile application specifically designed for such purpose. The mobile application may be provided on a number of mobile operating systems, including, without limitation, iOS (through Apple iTunes store), Android (through Google Play), etc. FIG. 7 illustrates one example of a graphical user interface 900 provided by an embodiment mobile application, such as may be implemented by computing device 518 as a remote system. In an embodiment, the graphical user interface may provide six selectable soft keys on a touchscreen, corresponding to the following functions: Adding refrigerant gas to a Refrigerant Asset System to be tracked, picking up and dropping off refrigerant gas container movement between each location point, checking the details of a specific asset identified by either a barcode scan or by a search of the Refrigerant Asset System, and tracking refrigerant gas movement between containers. The graphical user interface on the touchscreen may be configured to receive user selection of one or more soft key in the various embodiments.

[0094] The various embodiments of the invention provide one or more of the following non-limiting advantages: Bringing information technology and business intelligence to refrigerant or other commodity users; providing proprietary commodity tracking and management solutions, including using a mobile application, website management, and barcoded assets; providing the ability to track a commodity throughout its life-cycle and across value chains, visibility into technician activity, equipment maintenance histories, and inventory control; providing a refrigeration system equipment owner to manage a commodity as an asset by preserving and reusing the refrigerant gas and/or returning the refrigerant for sale to another equipment owner; allowing refrigeration system owners to see who has handled the refrigerant they are using; allowing servicers of refrigeration system equipment to track how their technicians manage refrigerant (i.e., highlighting opportunities to increase operational efficiencies, reducing losses, identifying individuals who could benefit from more training, etc.). [0095] The various embodiments of the invention include a Refrigerant Asset System that provides one or more of the following non-limiting advantages: use of a proprietary tracking technology that tracks the location of every unit of refrigerant gas from the point of purchase through the end of life; transparent handling of assets across a value chain and transparency across the supply chain; environmental compliance information and metrics; multiple asset optimization options (e.g., when to sell refrigerant or hold in reserve, how to maximize reuse and minimize loss, etc.); real time information for business and compliance; and access to markets and innovative end of life solutions.

[0096] Further, the Refrigerant Asset System of the various embodiments provides one or more of the following non-limiting advantages: Allowing a reclaimer to tag a recovery gas container and add it to a Refrigerant Asset System; allowing the reclaimer to ship the recovery gas container to a distributor; allowing the distributor to distribute both a clean refrigerant gas container and a recovery gas container to a mechanical contractor; allowing the mechanical contractor to service a refrigeration system by evacuating the used refrigerant gas into the empty container, charging the system with the clean refrigerant gas and recording the transfers via the Refrigerant Asset System application or web dashboard; allowing the mechanical contractor to return used refrigerant gas to the distributor by exchanging filled recovery container with another recovery gas container; allowing the distributor to send the filled recovery container to the reclaimer; allowing updating to the Refrigerant Asset System information in real time; and allowing the refrigeration system equipment owner to see an information log showing the recovered gas from the filled recovery container now available.

[0097] The various embodiments include features and services relating to the

Refrigerant Asset System that provide or more of the following non-limiting advantages: an asset tracking and strategic planning service provides barcodes, mobile applications, and a website to trace movement of refrigerant as it changes hands, allows data to be entered from a mobile device, provides real time updates through report sand dashboards focusing on use in the field, and provides visibility into the volume, location and quality of all refrigerant gasses in facilities, supply chains and reserves; a reserve cleaning service allows a user to pay by the unit for recovered refrigerant to be processed back to a clean grade and stored for reuse; a reserve return service allows a user to log into the Reserve Asset System to request the transfer of stored refrigerant to any location; a disposal service allows a user to pay for the destruction of any unusable gas; a logistics service provides shipment of refrigerant to and from a reclaimer; a monetization service allows a user to sell refrigerant gas to another Refrigerant Asset System customer or to an outside buyer, and allows creation of carbon credits through ensuring destruction of gas under verified process.

[0098] The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow diagrams are provided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that the steps of the various embodiments must be performed in the order presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art the steps in the foregoing embodiments may be performed in any order. Words such as "then," "next," etc. are not intended to limit the order of the steps; these words are simply used to guide the reader through the description of the methods. Although process flow diagrams may describe the steps as a sequential process, many of the steps can be performed in parallel or concurrently. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles "a," "an" or "the" is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.

[0099] The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various

modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the following claims and the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for managing a commodity lifecycle, comprising:

tracking production of a new commodity at a processor of a computing device; tracking sale and distribution of the commodity via data embedded in a physical component associated with the commodity at the processor of the computing device;

tracking recovery and recycling of the commodity at the processor of the computing device, wherein the recycling generates a refurbished commodity; and

calculating, at the processor of the computing device, an environmental value for the refurbished commodity based on the embedded data, wherein the

environmental value is separable from the refurbished commodity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical component associated with the commodity comprises a container housing the commodity, wherein the data is embedded using a barcode affixed to the container.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

trading the refurbished commodity in a commodity market via the processor of the computing device, wherein the refurbished commodity has the same market value and the new commodity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

trading the environmental value in an environmental asset market via the processor of the computing device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising generating a cryptocurrency based on the environmental value, wherein trading the environmental value in an environmental asset market via the processor of the computing device comprises trading the cryptocurrency in an environmental asset market via the processor of the computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the embedded data comprises tracking information and an environmental metric, and wherein the embedded data is updated throughout the lifecycle of the commodity.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the tracking information comprises an identifier associated with the production of the new commodity, a quantity of the commodity, and geolocation data associated with transportation of the commodity.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the environmental metric comprises one or more commodity class base and an environmental impact of transportation of the

commodity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the embedded data further comprises an amount or percentage of the commodity that is recycled to become the refurbished commodity.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the environmental metric further comprises environmental impact information associated with processes or materials used in the recycling of the commodity.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating the environmental value for the refurbished commodity is based on at least the commodity class base and the amount or percentage of the commodity that is recycled.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more commodity class base comprises a value per unit for one or more class derived from the commodity, wherein each class is defined by differentiation of the commodity based on environmental impact.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more commodity class base is dynamically updated based on real time information.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein tracking recycling of the commodity comprises receiving a confirmation of the recycling verified by an independent entity.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the geolocation data is derived from reading the embedded data by entities in a supply chain for the commodity.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the geolocation data is derived from signaling exchanged with an independent location module associated with the commodity.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the independent location module comprises at least one of a Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitter and a radio frequency (RF) transmitter.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracking is performed through

communication with a central management server running a virtual platform.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracking production of the new commodity comprises tracking origin of the new commodity.

20. The method of claim 6, wherein the tracking information is used as an input to a block chain of a cryptocurrency generating based on the environmental value.

21. A computing device, comprising a processor configured with processor- executable instructions to perform operations comprising:

tracking production of a new commodity;

tracking sale and distribution of the commodity via data embedded in a physical component associated with the commodity;

tracking recovery and recycling of the commodity, wherein the recycling generates a refurbished commodity; and calculating an environmental value for the refurbished commodity based on the embedded data, wherein the environmental value is separable from the refurbished commodity.

22. A computing device comprising:

means for tracking production of a new commodity;

means for tracking sale and distribution of the commodity via data embedded in a physical component associated with the commodity;

means for tracking recovery and recycling of the commodity, wherein the recycling generates a refurbished commodity; and

means for calculating an environmental value for the refurbished commodity based on the embedded data, wherein the environmental value is separable from the refurbished commodity.

23. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations comprising:

tracking production of a new commodity;

tracking sale and distribution of the commodity via data embedded in a physical component associated with the commodity;

tracking recovery and recycling of the commodity, wherein the recycling generates a refurbished commodity; and

calculating an environmental value for the refurbished commodity based on the embedded data, wherein the environmental value is separable from the refurbished commodity.

24. A central processing entity, comprising:

a memory;

a network circuit; and a processor connected to the network circuit and the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:

receiving gas recycling information via the network circuit from a recycler computing device;

generating a cryptographic token based at least in part on the received gas recycling information;

updating a block chain tracking cryptographic tokens stored in the memory with data related to the generated cryptographic token; and

transmitting the generated cryptographic token to a server via the network circuit.