CottonConnect x Haelixa bring digital & physical traceability together

This week marks an exciting milestone as CottonConnect and Haelixa join forces to deliver comprehensive traceability around cotton for the first time, starting with yarn from their pilot project in Rajasthan and Punjab, India. Using CottonConnect’s digital traceability platform TraceBale and Haelixa’s DNA marker will allow cotton fibres to be fully traced using digital and physical traceability solutions. This will help ensure that the marked material is used to manufacture the finished product and is traceable in the supply chain.

During the project, the DNA marker is applied at the ginning stage; when the cotton fibre is separated from the seed, the lint cotton is sprayed with the DNA marker. Once the marker adheres to the fibre, all the material manufactured from that cotton can be tested at any point in the supply chain, proving that the same DNA-marked fibre was used to manufacture specific garments. It can then be digitally traced through CottonConnect’s proprietary software tool, TraceBale, which based on its ‘bottom-up’ data gathering approach, provides visibility to the cotton journey from the farm group to the finished product. The project aims to prove that traceability will create transparency in the value chain, support circularity, and validate any sustainability claims.

Improving traceability has become a priority for retailers in the move towards a more sustainable and ethical apparel industry. Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect, said, “At CottonConnect, we’ve been developing traceability solutions for ten years now, including our digital tool TraceBale, which is enabling brands to build a granular view of their cotton supply. We’re delighted to see new methods of validating our work. The DNA marker is helping deliver an integrated platform that is the future for retailers seeking traceability solutions.”

Abdelkader Amouche, Commercial Director of Haelixa, said, “As the textile industry begins to focus more on responsible choices, we know there is no one size fits all solution. Leveraging digital and physical traceability together reduces the risk for manufacturers and brands. Testing for our markers in the supply chain provides forensic proof of the value chain, and adding TraceBale adds another level of security.”

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About CottonConnect

CottonConnect is a pioneering social enterprise that is reimagining the future for supply chains. With headquarters in London, on-the-ground teams around the world, we help to improve the sustainability of global textile supply chains, thereby enabling producers and raw material farmers to work more responsibly and enjoy better livelihoods. Our work helps brands to access more sustainable cotton and other natural fibres, creating a more transparent and resilient supply chain that will continue to deliver the best cotton, now and in the future. At CottonConnect, we believe in helping brands, suppliers and farmers develop and maintain partnerships that are truly transformational.

For more information, please visit www.cottonconnect.org