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IBM & Kaya&Kato develop blockchain network for fashion
17 Nov '20
3 min read
Pic: Kaya&Kato
IBM and Kaya&Kato have developed a blockchain network for the fashion industry, with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development. The network is designed to create transparency about the origin of garments, from the fibre used to the completion of the final product, and to provide knowledge that the clothes are sustainably produced.
The new application of blockchain technology to document and trace the supply chain for textiles will allow suppliers of organic cotton and customers of Kaya&Kato alike to identify the origin and where the fabrics were processed as well as gain an understanding into each production and distribution step. The aim is to create transparency and to help develop secured protocol for the traceability of ecological materials. All the permissioned parties involved will be able to access the transaction data recorded in blocks in an unchangeable record on the chain, according to a press release by IBM.
There is increasing demand from consumers to understand the environmental impact of the products they buy. According to a global study conducted this year by the IBM Institute for Business Value in association with the National Retail Federation, 77 per cent of consumers surveyed say that sustainability is important to them, and 57 per cent surveyed said they are willing to change their purchasing habits to help reduce negative impact to the environment.
Within the garment industry, these attitudes are more prevalent among and more important to younger demographics. A recent survey of European consumers by Morning Consult commissioned by IBM found that 75 per cent of respondents said they are concerned about the level of waste in the fashion industry. Furthermore, 64 per cent of respondents said they would be more likely to buy the garment if new technologies could prove sustainability claims.
Many within the fashion industry are working to help address changing consumer attitudes while creating ways to be more transparent about the environmental impact of the materials they use. Blockchain is well-suited to help garment manufacturers and their suppliers work together to create a permanent, immutable record of the origin of all materials used in production to build trust.
“Blockchain technology is a catalyst for collaboration and transparency across industries and within supply chains. Blockchain technology today is being used to help increase visibility and agility in supply chains in industries including automotive manufacturing, mining, electronics production and even the cultivation and distribution of many types of food. By creating shared visibility, the technology helps foster trust among companies and their suppliers, businesses and especially their consumers. We want to set an example within the industry and offer other companies the opportunity to join us in advancing development and helping to create solutions for supply chain,” Christian Schultze-Wolters, director of blockchain, IBM said.
“The advancement of sustainability and digitisation is crucial to our forward-looking approach. This project combines both aspects in an excellent way by promoting supply chain transparency. For Kaya&Kato, there are multiple compelling reasons to initiate the development of a blockchain network and we look forward to implementation and eagerly await the first solutions in cooperation with IBM,” Stefan Rennicke, co-founder and managing director of Kaya&Kato said.
Kaya&Kato is one of the first 27 companies to be certified with the ‘Green Button’ by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Green Button is the seal for textiles produced in a socially and ecologically sustainable manner. The Green Button is the first state seal to combine requirements for textiles and for the entire company.
The new application of blockchain technology to document and trace the supply chain for textiles will allow suppliers of organic cotton and customers of Kaya&Kato alike to identify the origin and where the fabrics were processed as well as gain an understanding into each production and distribution step. The aim is to create transparency and to help develop secured protocol for the traceability of ecological materials. All the permissioned parties involved will be able to access the transaction data recorded in blocks in an unchangeable record on the chain, according to a press release by IBM.
There is increasing demand from consumers to understand the environmental impact of the products they buy. According to a global study conducted this year by the IBM Institute for Business Value in association with the National Retail Federation, 77 per cent of consumers surveyed say that sustainability is important to them, and 57 per cent surveyed said they are willing to change their purchasing habits to help reduce negative impact to the environment.
Within the garment industry, these attitudes are more prevalent among and more important to younger demographics. A recent survey of European consumers by Morning Consult commissioned by IBM found that 75 per cent of respondents said they are concerned about the level of waste in the fashion industry. Furthermore, 64 per cent of respondents said they would be more likely to buy the garment if new technologies could prove sustainability claims.
Many within the fashion industry are working to help address changing consumer attitudes while creating ways to be more transparent about the environmental impact of the materials they use. Blockchain is well-suited to help garment manufacturers and their suppliers work together to create a permanent, immutable record of the origin of all materials used in production to build trust.
“Blockchain technology is a catalyst for collaboration and transparency across industries and within supply chains. Blockchain technology today is being used to help increase visibility and agility in supply chains in industries including automotive manufacturing, mining, electronics production and even the cultivation and distribution of many types of food. By creating shared visibility, the technology helps foster trust among companies and their suppliers, businesses and especially their consumers. We want to set an example within the industry and offer other companies the opportunity to join us in advancing development and helping to create solutions for supply chain,” Christian Schultze-Wolters, director of blockchain, IBM said.
“The advancement of sustainability and digitisation is crucial to our forward-looking approach. This project combines both aspects in an excellent way by promoting supply chain transparency. For Kaya&Kato, there are multiple compelling reasons to initiate the development of a blockchain network and we look forward to implementation and eagerly await the first solutions in cooperation with IBM,” Stefan Rennicke, co-founder and managing director of Kaya&Kato said.
Kaya&Kato is one of the first 27 companies to be certified with the ‘Green Button’ by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Green Button is the seal for textiles produced in a socially and ecologically sustainable manner. The Green Button is the first state seal to combine requirements for textiles and for the entire company.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)
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