Organic Cotton Traceability Pilot
This project tested the feasibility of tracking organic cotton, from farms to retail, using on-product markers and blockchain technology.
Problem Statement
The organic cotton sector has limited traceability in place, with Chain of Custody standards relying on paper-based trails of scope and transaction certificates and individual actors managing their own systems in isolation. Technologies are beginning to offer farmers, manufacturers and brands innovative tools to efficiently and reliably verify materials through precise on-product markers, but until recently, these have not been successfully applied to track the raw material itself from its source through the supply chain in the textile and apparel industry.
Executive Summary
The project was launched in August 2018 with partners, Laudes Foundation, C&A, Kering, PVH Corp., Zalando as well as manufacturer Pratibha Syntex and innovators Bext360, Haelixa, Tailorlux, IN-Code Technologies, CoreBiome. The aim of the project was to launch a comprehensive system to trace organic cotton from farm to retail. Using tracer technologies applied and detected throughout the supply chain, and Bext360’s blockchain to host the data, the project demonstrated a robust model for supply chain transparency, accountability, and sustainable sourcing.
It had two phases, the first phase was a lab study to test the marker technologies’ durability. The second phase was a field study which tracked 75 metric tonnes of cotton from farms in India to finished garments at retail.
Goals of the Project
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To test and prove the viability of combining physical markers and blockchain technology to track organic cotton from farms to retail.to create a transparent and trusted system to enhance supply chain visibility.
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To create a transparent and trusted system to enhance supply chain visibility.
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Project Results
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Successfully traced 75 metric tonnes of organic cotton.
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Verified on-product markers at each supply chain stage.
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Bext360 blockchain logged all transactions, enhancing transparency.
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Demonstrated the feasibility of these technologies, laying the foundation for broader industry adoption.
Innovators
Suppliers
Brands
Funders
Relevant Resources
Fashion for Good Consortium Pilots Resource Efficient Cotton Farming
Successfully Tracing Organic Cotton with Innovative Technologies
Fashion for Good successfully traces organic cotton
An Organic Cotton Traceability pilot has successfully combined on-product markers and blockchain technology to track organic cotton from farm to consumer, a first in apparel industry. The pilot is a collaboration between Fashion for Good, C&A Foundation & Organic Cotton Accelerator, supported by C&A, Kering, PVH Corp, Zalando and Bext360 as technical partner.
New initiative closes on full organic cotton traceability
AMSTERDAM – The developers of a new tracing system say they are confident they will soon be able to fully trace organic cotton from the farm right through to the consumer. Pressure for greater transparency and sustainability in the fashion industry is intensifying, with consumers more aware than ever of the ethical and environmental impact of fashion, while governments are beginning to demand accountability from brands and retailers for their supply chains.
This Blockchain Startup Is Partnering With Fashion Giants To Make Organic Cotton Traceable
Consumer demand is driving fashion outlets to use more organic cotton, pushing the commodity to a global market of over $15 billion. Despite double-digit growth in production year over year, companies struggle to meet that demand, and the fragmented nature of the supply chain makes it difficult for manufacturers to know if the cotton they’re buying is actually organic—or just a knockoff.
Other Projects
Fibre Club
Fashion for Good’s Fibre Club unites brands and innovators to fast-track the use of sustainable materials in the fashion sector. These partnerships offer brands early access to cutting-edge fibres, ensuring beneficial supply agreements and easier incorporation into their supply chains. Fibre Club aims to not only shift the cost structure but to help align brands in a very fragmented and competitive industry.
Advanced Processing Matrix
The Advanced Processing Matrix (APM) aims to continue Fashion for Good’s efforts to accelerate the shift from wet to mostly dry processing in the fashion industry by validating innovative textile processing technologies with potential to drive CO₂e reduction, alongside improvements in water and chemical usage. The tool serves as the knowledge resource for Future Forward Factories aiming to transform facilities into near Net-0.
Behind the Break
“Behind the Break,” is a project aimed at exploring textile fibre fragmentation. The research aims to identify the root causes of fibre shedding during manufacturing, enhance existing test methods, and inform future industry best practices and policies to reduce textile pollution. A report accompanies the project, providing an overview of existing knowledge gaps, recent developments, critical insights, and emerging opportunities for meaningful action within the fashion and textile industry.
