Viscose Traceability Pilot
In December 2020, Fashion for Good launched a pilot to test the TextileGenesis™ platform, a blockchain-based solution for tracing sustainable viscose fibres. This pilot involved several partners including Bestseller, Kering and Zalando, in addition to manufacturers Lenzing, ENKA and Tangshan Sanyou. The pilot’s aim was to test the TextileGenesis™ platform and trace responsibly sourced viscose through digital and physical means across the supply chain.
Problem Statement
6.3 million tonnes of viscose are used to produce garments annually. An estimated 30% of viscose is sourced from endangered forests, making it crucial to verify the origin of sustainably-sourced fibres.
Executive Summary
The pilot involved tracing ~23,000 product units across the three brand partners. The platform successfully tracked viscose fibres, verifying their origin through blockchain technology using TextileGenesis™. The pilot showcased the platform’s potential to enhance supply chain transparency and sustainability, helping brands verify material authenticity and certification. The key goal of the project was to implement a robust, scalable traceability system using both blockchain technology and physical tracers to ensure sustainably sourced viscose.
Project Results
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Demonstrated a scalable traceability solution for the viscose supply chain, covering fibre to finished product, and illustrates how digital traceability platforms integrate with physical tracer technologies.
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Since the pilot, TextileGenesis has gone on to work with 150+ brand partners and has onboarded 12,000+ supply chain actors on the platform.
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Stakeholders Involved
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Innovator: TextileGenesis
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Brands: Kering, Zalando, BESTSELLER
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Viscose Producers: Lenzing, ENKA, Tangshan Sanyou
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Funders: Laudes Foundation
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Relevant Resources
From Fibre To Finish To Scale: Tracing Viscose And Beyond
From Fibre to Finish: Tracing Sustainable Viscose
In Conversation with Spinnova: From Wood Pulp to Chemical-Free Viscose Alternative
Blockchain’s potential tested in new viscose project
Dutch sustainability initiative Fashion for Good has kick-started a Viscose Traceability Project which assesses blockchain technology’s performance in tracing the cellulosic fibre throughout the textile supply chain.
Fashion for Good Celebrates The Success Of The Viscose Traceability Pilot Project
On World Rainforest Day, Fashion for Good celebrates the success of the Viscose Traceability Pilot Project, a consortium to trace sustainable viscose in clothing using the company’s blockchain tracing solution. TextileGenesis innovator. With around 30% viscose coming from threatened forests, the validation of TextileGenesis’ solution is an important step towards transparency in the value chain and ensuring that the fibers come from renewable sources.
The Search for Fashion Supply Chain Transparency
In 2019, Zalando partnered with platform for sustainable innovation Fashion for Good on its “Organic Cotton Traceability Pilot”, which combines on-product authentication markers and blockchain technology to track organic cotton from farm to consumer. In December 2020, the German etailer started supporting Fashion for Good’s newest project, the Viscose Traceability Project, which uses blockchain technology to trace viscose. It also supports the Open Apparel Registry (an open-source map and database of global apparel facilities) to map garment facilities worldwide and allocate a unique ID to each facility.
Other Projects
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.
Closing the Footwear Loop
The “Closing the Footwear Loop” project is a major initiative led by Fashion for Good, bringing together 16 leading fashion and footwear brands and their existing circularity programs to tackle the complex challenges of circularity in the footwear industry. The project aims to transform the current linear “take-make-dispose” model into a circular one.
