Lenzing traces its fibers with blockchain technology. The Lenzing Group, world market leader in specialty fibers made from the renewable material wood, is strengthening its leading position in sustainability in the textile industry. Lenzing will use blockchain technology to support its TENCEL™ branded fiber business, ensuring complete transparency and traceability for brands and consumers of its fibers in the finished garment. Earlier this year, after evaluating various initiatives Lenzing joined the platform of the Hong Kong based technology company TextileGenesis™ to accomplish this ambition.
Consumers increasingly want to understand the ingredients and suppliers of the products they buy, requesting a new level of transparency and traceability. The supply chain transparency from wood to garment and home textiles will enable all customers and partners to identify TENCEL™ fibers and the respective wood source in each production and distribution step. Thanks to a QR code on the final garment, consumers will be able to detect the origin of the clothes they intend to buy.
Lenzing traces its fibers with blockchain technology: LENZING™ ECOVERO™ branded fibers can be digitally monitored
“With LENZING™ ECOVERO™ branded fibers Lenzing was the frontrunner in physical traceability; and is now entering the age of digital traceability. This milestone in transparency is a further strong commitment to sustainability”; says Stefan Doboczky, Chief Executive Officer of the Lenzing Group. “Together with TextileGenesis™, we aim to create an unmatched level of transparency for brands and consumers. With this step Lenzing will further help to green up the textile industry.”
Lenzing presented first blockchain pilot project
Lenzing presented the first blockchain pilot project at this year’s Fashion Summit in Hong Kong on September 05, 2019. This pioneering pilot project was conducted in close cooperation with TextileGenesis™, WWF and Hong Kong based brand Chicks.
In an industry’s first, Lenzing issued blockchain based TENCEL™ fibercoins to its supply chain partners; in direct relation to physical shipments. These digital tokens serve as an authentication mechanism, against any adulteration; and provides secure digital chain-of-custody across the entire textile value chain. Recognizing that data integrity and ease of use are critical; the supply chain players conducted transactions through the data upload mechanism on the platform. To ensure real-world complexity; a total of 49 distinct garment stock-keeping unit (~25000 pieces) of Chicks; were tracked on the digital platform from fibers up to retail.
Lenzing is carrying out further pilot tests over the next few months involving partners along the entire value chain; and expects the platform to be fully operational as of 2020.