GENEVA — July 19, 2023 — Digital and physical traceability provider FibreTrace® and SGS, the global leader in testing, inspection and certification, will work in partnership to develop a new fiber integrity protocol for the textile industry. This will strengthen confidence in product claims across a range of materials for brands worldwide.
As consumer demand and market pressure simultaneously call for transparency and accountability across global supply chains, this fiber integrity protocol will combine testing, verification, chain of custody checking and product markers. As an independent expert, SGS will work with textile and footwear supply chain operators to verify data, conduct audits and ensure the traceability claims for materials are accurate and truthful.
SGS works with FibreTrace technology to enhance the robust implementation of verification and compliance across the full value chain. Services include:
- Supporting suppliers to demonstrate compliance and accurate reporting is implemented within the FibreTrace digital platform
- Reviewing the compliance and traceability of fibers and materials prior to the application of FibreTrace physical technology (for example at recycled polyester collection points)
- Helping brands/retailers to carry out on-site scanning and verify fibers with the use of FibreTrace physical and digital technology
This collaboration is on the pathway to developing supply chain traceability, servicing major manufacturing regions including (but not limited to) India, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
SGS is widely recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Providing a single consolidated source for testing, certification and verification services, consulting solutions and technical assistance, SGS helps the textile industry to reduce risk while improving efficiency and quality.
Shannon Mercer, CEO for FibreTrace commented: “The partnership with SGS allows the accelerated and robust implementation of FibreTrace across vast supply chains, with multi-fiber applications, multiple languages and multiple countries of origin and production.”
Yvonne Tse, vice president, Global Softlines at SGS said: “This welcome collaboration with FibreTrace marks another step forward to support the global textile industry towards full supply chain traceability. By embracing new technologies, we are better placed to ease the pathway towards traceability for producers, manufacturers, brands and retailers worldwide.”
Forward-thinking brands and manufacturers across the global textile industry can now demonstrate traceability with a hybrid service that incorporates verification, physical marker technology and blockchain in one platform.
SGS and FibreTrace share an understanding of the importance of innovation and are collaborating in harmonious pursuit of creating a more interconnected, transparent, and environmentally conscious world.
Posted August 10, 2023
Source: SGS/Fibretrace