Japanese sustainability technology company ASUENE has raised $87 million in Series D funding and completed the acquisition of UK-based supply chain carbon management platform Secaro. The financing was led by Decarbonization Partners, a joint venture between BlackRock and Temasek, in what represents the fund’s first investment in Japan. Together, the funding and acquisition strengthen ASUENE’s plans to expand across Europe, North America, and Asia while developing a global sustainability management platform for manufacturers.
Series D Funding Supports Global Expansion
The Series D round brings ASUENE’s total capital raised to $161 million and combines new equity investment with debt financing from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. The company said the round included $43.8 million in new capital and $19.3 million in debt, alongside participation from eight new and existing domestic and international investors, including Daikin and Ricoh. ASUENE plans to use the proceeds to support acquisitions, accelerate international growth, advance artificial intelligence and product development, and establish additional business lines.
Decarbonization Partners invests in late-stage and early-growth companies developing technologies that can support the transition toward a net-zero economy. Meghan Sharp, the fund’s global head and chief investment officer, said sustainability information is increasingly becoming a strategic business resource rather than merely a regulatory reporting requirement. She added that ASUENE’s platform allows companies to address changing disclosure obligations while using emissions information to improve operational efficiency and business performance.
Acquisition Strengthens Supply Chain Capabilities
Alongside the financing, ASUENE announced that it had completed its acquisition of Secaro, marking the Japanese company’s eighth acquisition. Secaro provides sustainability data collection, emissions analytics, and supplier decarbonization programs for manufacturers operating through international supply chains. The transaction expands ASUENE’s presence in the United Kingdom while giving it broader access to customers and supplier networks across Europe and North America.
Secaro’s network covers more than 8,000 companies in over 90 countries and has supported major manufacturers and brands across the automotive, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, and retail industries. Its technology collects corporate, facility, and product-level information, allowing organizations to share sustainability data and coordinate emissions-reduction initiatives with suppliers. The company, previously known as Manufacture 2030, was launched as a software-as-a-service business in 2018 and has since developed into a wider supply chain intelligence network.
Responding to Regulatory Pressure
The acquisition comes as companies face increasing pressure to measure and disclose emissions generated throughout their supply chains, commonly classified as Scope 3 emissions. Large companies in Europe are already reporting sustainability information under the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, while additional businesses are expected to fall within the framework in future reporting periods. The United Kingdom is also considering sustainability reporting standards aligned with the International Sustainability Standards Board for listed companies.
Supply chain emissions frequently represent the largest portion of a company’s overall carbon footprint, making reliable supplier data increasingly important for manufacturers. By combining Secaro’s supplier engagement expertise with ASUENE’s artificial intelligence, software, and international operations, the companies aim to reduce the cost and complexity of collecting and analyzing this information. ASUENE also expects the acquisition to strengthen its product-level carbon accounting, life-cycle assessment, energy reduction, and supplier collaboration capabilities.
Building an Integrated Sustainability Platform
ASUENE provides a portfolio of sustainability management products, including its core emissions management platform, ASUENE SUPPLY CHAIN, and the AI-powered NZero energy reduction platform. The company said its customer base has doubled during the past year to approximately 56,000 organizations across Asian, European, and North American markets. Its longer-term objective is to position its technology as a global enterprise sustainability standard, particularly for complex manufacturing supply chains.
Founder and Chief Executive Kohei Nishiwada said the funding process took approximately ten months and involved a wide range of investors and stakeholders. He described the investment as a foundation for further acquisitions, international expansion, and ASUENE’s evolution into a more broadly integrated AI sustainability company. Secaro Chief Executive Toby Newman said joining ASUENE would help the UK business innovate more quickly, provide greater value to customers, and accelerate decarbonization across international supply chains.
ASUENE’s Series D financing and acquisition of Secaro represent a coordinated effort to expand its geographic reach and strengthen its supply chain sustainability capabilities. The company is combining external capital, debt financing, artificial intelligence, and acquisition-led growth to serve manufacturers facing more demanding emissions measurement and disclosure requirements. By integrating Secaro’s international network with its existing technology portfolio, ASUENE is positioning itself to compete as a global provider of sustainability and supply chain decarbonization services.