The GO TRACE News Thread #4
GO TRACE - More Traceability, for Responsible Fashion
Traceability rules, tips, events, networking, tools, laws, training and more, for the clothing industry.
Hello again and welcome to the fourth edition of the GO TRACE News Feed. The past two weeks have seen a continued commitment to sustainability, transparency, and traceability in fashion and textiles worldwide. Businesses are actively refining their supply chains through partnerships, like Pivot88 with Oakley, ChromaWay acquiring BLK DNM, and joint investments from Prada and Ermenegildo Zegna in Luigi Fedeli e Figlio. Industry leaders are emphasizing the significance of collaboration for enhanced sustainability, with standout discussions by Farfetch, Cos, Allbirds, and C&A's alliance with Coats Digital. Technological innovation is at the forefront, with Birla Cellulose adopting blockchain platform known as Green Track for full traceability, an industrial-scale automatic textile sorting line by ANDRITZ, Pellenc ST, and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles, and the transformative potential of Web3 technologies, hyperautomation, and blockchain. As the industry pivots towards ethical best practices and environmental responsibility, we've seen the Deforestation-Free Call to Action for Leather, demonstrating the industry's commitment to protecting our planet.
This exciting journey towards a more sustainable, transparent fashion world continues!
Enjoy your reading,
Catherine Lomonaco Membré
Pivot88 supports brands with transparency and automation in supply chains
Pivot88, a supply chain solutions platform, has partnered with Oakley since early 2020 to optimize supply chain processes and ensure product quality. Oakley uses Pivot88 for various operations, including quality inspections, audits, and traceability tasks. Xavier Laforge, Oakley's global quality manager, has praised the tool's traceability and capacity for interaction between vendors. The company aims to leverage the platform's capabilities to offer complete transparency to its consumers, including detailed information about the carbon footprint and supply chain tiers of each product. Currently, the tool is being integrated with Oakley's e-commerce Product Information Management (PIM) system.
Blockchain firm buys fashion brand
ChromaWay, a Swedish blockchain company, has acquired the online fashion brand BLK DNM, with the intention of inspiring more responsible behaviors in the fashion industry. The acquisition marks a significant use of blockchain technology in an industry yet to be meaningfully impacted by Web3 technologies. A key part of this initiative will be the integration of blockchain technology into BLK DNM's supply chains through the introduction of digital garment IDs. These IDs, which will be embedded in each garment, will give each item a unique and recordable identity in both the physical and virtual worlds, enhancing traceability. The digital IDs will authenticate garments, reward responsible behaviors like refurbishing and second-hand purchases, and record each garment's unique history. The garment's life can be tracked from the point of first sale onwards, and the items can even be worn in the Metaverse.
https://www.ecotextile.com/2023060730787/fashion-retail-news/blockchain-firm-buys-fashion-brand.html
Prada and Ermenegildo Zegna knit deal in Fedeli
Italian luxury fashion brands, Prada and Ermenegildo Zegna, are set to acquire a 15% stake each in high-end knitwear manufacturer Luigi Fedeli e Figlio, with CEO Luigi Fedeli retaining a 70% majority ownership. This move aligns with Prada and Zegna's commitment to preserving the 'Made in Italy' brand and securing its supply chain domestically. It also mirrors their previous joint venture in 2021, where they each acquired a 40% stake in Filati Biagioli Modesto, a cashmere and precious yarns manufacturer. The deal signifies the brands' strategic focus on supply chain transparency, traceability of raw materials, and direct control over production processes. Both Prada's chairman, Patrizio Bertelli, and Zegna's CEO, Gildo Zegna, will join Fedeli's board.
Farfetch, Cos and Allbirds: ‘Open up, be vulnerable and partner with others’
At a panel discussion hosted by Drapers, industry leaders highlighted the power of collaboration within the fashion retail industry to improve traceability and sustainability efforts. Allbirds' European managing director, Jodie Soussan, argued that the traditional competitive mindset hampers the potential benefits of collaboration. Francesa Lilley, Cos's head of sustainability and brand strategy, stressed the need for a unified measurement system to track sustainability initiatives, indicating that shared supply chain data could address disjointed sourcing traceability. Both Lilley and Farfetch's senior director of open innovation and new venture, Carol Hilsum, also emphasized the importance of fostering an internal culture of collaboration among employees to strengthen community bonds and improve retention.
C&A aims to increase supplier transparency
European fashion retailer C&A has partnered with Coats Digital to boost transparency and sustainability in its supply chain. They are implementing Coats Digital's GSDCost solution, which standardizes costing and sourcing methodologies. By setting international standard time benchmarks, they allow for precise "Costs to Make" quotations, enabling accurate cost predictions, streamlined negotiations, and efficient manufacturing. This partnership enhances transparency in sourcing processes, supporting sustainable growth and breaking down communication barriers between C&A and its vendors, fostering a more transparent, sustainable, and efficient supply chain
Birla Cellulose Is Using Blockchain to Ensure Full Product Traceability
Birla Cellulose, a manufacturer of sustainably sourced, man-made cellulosic fiber products, is leveraging blockchain technology for enhanced traceability of its fashion products. The blockchain network, named Green Track, captures the full traceability of each item, starting from its origin through to the final product, providing full transparency to stakeholders and shareholders. Green Track enables real-time access to the raw material journey at each stage of production, incorporating both value chain traceability and source verification via a molecular tracer. The initiative not only bolsters accountability but also strengthens consumer connections by enabling them to trace the complete journey from forest to fashion. Birla Cellulose' products are sourced sustainably and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).
ANDRITZ’s Partnership With Nouvelles Fibres Textiles And Pellenc ST Enters A New Phase
ANDRITZ, Pellenc ST, and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles have launched an industrial-scale automatic textile sorting line in Amplepuis, France, capable of sorting garments based on their composition and color. This innovative line caters to post-consumer and post-industrial waste markets and offers traceability throughout the entire supply chain, aiding stakeholders in meeting their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) program targets. This initiative is a significant step in revolutionizing textile recycling, offering new opportunities for the entire value chain, and anticipating future environmental and governmental requirements.
How Web3 Technologies Can Reshape Society And Catalyze Innovation
Web3 technologies, based on decentralization and enhanced user autonomy, are disrupting multiple sectors. They enable blockchain-based social media platforms where users have control over their data and can monetize their content directly. In financial services, decentralized finance applications democratize access to services such as savings, loans, and insurance. Significantly, in supply chain management, blockchain can offer unprecedented transparency and traceability, enabling consumers to verify the authenticity of products and ensure ethical sourcing practices. This potential for transparency is particularly relevant for industries like fashion and food, where demand for sustainable and ethical products is growing. Other sectors being reshaped include governance, education, healthcare, real estate, and energy, with the advent of decentralized autonomous organizations, decentralized credentialing systems, and decentralized energy grids, among others.
The Power of Hyperautomation in Supply Chain Management
Hyperautomation, employing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation, and the Internet of Things, has the potential to significantly impact supply chain management. It can optimize processes, reduce inefficiencies, and increase agility by automating repetitive tasks and providing real-time data analysis for informed decision-making. A crucial aspect of hyperautomation is the enhancement of supply chain visibility and traceability through IoT devices, enabling real-time tracking of goods and helping identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Additionally, hyperautomation fosters resilience in the supply chain, allowing businesses to anticipate, mitigate risks, and respond to disruptions effectively. As globalization and other challenges persist, hyperautomation is poised to be vital in maintaining supply chain competitiveness and efficiency.
Blockchain revolution: enhancing supply chain transparency
Blockchain technology is transforming supply chain management by addressing challenges of transparency and traceability. As a decentralized, distributed ledger that ensures data immutability and security, blockchain provides a transparent, auditable system for recording and verifying transactions. This allows real-time visibility of product movement throughout the supply chain, aiding in identifying bottlenecks and improving efficiency. With blockchain's immutable records, products can be authenticated and traced back to their origin, combating counterfeiting and fraud. The technology also streamlines processes and reduces costs by automating documentation and utilizing smart contracts for transactions. While there are barriers to implementation, such as system integration and regulatory considerations, blockchain's potential benefits in transparency, trust, and efficiency make it a promising solution for future supply chain management.
Report questions fashion's 'green credentials'
The article highlights a recent report by the think-tank Planet Tracker, which calls for improved traceability and environmental impact mitigation within the fashion industry's supply chain. The report, titled 'Following the thread', analyzes about 3,900 companies in the textile industry and uncovers a significant discrepancy between the distribution of negative environmental impacts and capital within the supply chain. It asserts that while sales, profits, and capital are noticeable within the fashion brands and retailers, most of the negative environmental impact takes place in the supply chain, thus underlining the crucial need for enhanced traceability mechanisms .
FibreTrace Merino wool tracking pilot success means early 2024 rollout
Vietnam-based manufacturers Fashion Enterprise and R&T Industry, along with The Woolmark Company, Indorama, FibreTrace, and Garment Assembly, have collaborated to enhance the traceability of wool products. Indorama successfully applied FibreTrace technology to wool tops, a process that, along with the crucial weaving and knitting roles of Fashion Enterprise and R&T Industry, enables these companies to offer traceable Australian Merino wool, improving visibility from spinner to shelf. The ongoing second phase of this project promises a comprehensive traceability solution for the entire supply chain, with wool tops expected in June 2023, yarn production in August, and brands like Cue, Veronika Maine, and Country Road showing interest, anticipating bulk production in October and store availability in Winter 2024 .
Global Fashion Houses, NGOs Call on Industry to Commit to Deforestation-Free Leather
The nonprofit organizations Textile Exchange and Leather Working Group (LWG) have partnered to launch the Deforestation-Free Call to Action for Leather. This initiative calls on brands and retailers to source bovine leather from deforestation-free supply chains by 2030. The program seeks to address the harmful environmental impact of the leather industry by promoting transparent, equitable, and sustainable practices. Key to its objectives is improved traceability and visibility in complex supply chains, encouraging brands to promote deforestation and conversion-free practices. Signatories of the initiative include prominent fashion groups and companies like Capri Holdings, Kering, Tapestry, BMW Group, Adidas, American Eagle Outfitters, and Puma. The program marks a significant step towards responsible sourcing in the leather industry, fostering collaboration, inspiring innovation, and promoting sustainability in global ecosystems.