FibreTrace's new digital solution to map global textile supply chain

While policymakers, consumers and investors continue to apply pressure for transparent supply chain mapping, 50 per cent of the world’s largest fashion brands continue to disclose little or no information about their supply chain and only 12 per cent of brands worldwide publish any insights into their raw material suppliers.

The shift in consumer consumption behaviours and growing demands for greater ethical and environmental responsibility has been a key driver for change. About 60 per cent of fashion consumers want more transparency about the production journey of their clothes and more than 40 per cent of consumers surveyed in the US, more than 50 per cent in Europe, and almost 70 per cent in China say they want access to more information about how their clothes were made. Governments and governing bodies are listening, and transparency has become a priority on political agendas and legislative development from the US’ FABRIC Act to the UNECE’s The Sustainability Pledge, FibreTrace said in a media release.

The world is demanding tighter regulation and FibreTrace Mapped enables the industry to create a future that champions sustainable and ethical creation and consumption.

“The lack of accountability within the textile industry has left the door wide open for social and environmental neglect and misconduct. Brands have an obligation to look at their supply chain, identify issues, and address them. At FibreTrace we believe that transparency shouldn’t cost the earth, so we decided to launch FibreTrace Mapped free of charge in the hope that we can encourage the industry to claim accountability and responsibility for their supply chains and be the change for a better future,” said FibreTrace chief executive officer, Shannon Mercer.

Powered by Blockchain technology, FibreTrace Mapped provides a digital centralised chain of custody for unlimited users. Accessible anywhere, anytime, on any device due to the cloud-based software solution, with the functionality to upload order and shipping documentation, and incorporate existing environmental and social compliance credentials.

The platform is system agnostic and can integrate with various product and data management systems and tools and allows users to set up their company profile, add colleagues, register their own sites, and invite partners across the supply chain.

FibreTrace Mapped works with any fibre, any material, any certification, any document, any data, and any integration, in one intuitive system where all information is protected, private and secure. Transparency needs to be the cornerstone of any serious environmental or social responsibility strategy.

For enhanced traceability, FibreTrace Verified combines physical tracing technology with the digital platform to provide trust, verification, and authenticity of fibre. “Global fashion and interior businesses can take the first step towards a transparent and responsible future by signing up for a free Mapped account online at fibretrace.io today,” the release added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)