Applied DNA Sciences helps companies on sustainability

09 Jun '19

4 min read

Pic: Applied DNA

Applied DNA Sciences is helping companies which have declared sustainability goals to be achieved by 2020, in traceability. Applied DNA’s CertainT platform provides the evidence that recycled product is used. CertainT-verifiable products are now available through supply chain partners and brands, including Amazon and other e-commerce and retail stores.

The CertainT platform and forensic services were conceived to empower companies with the most advanced commercially-scalable and affordable technologies to help prove their compliance with stated sustainability goals.

The CertainT Tag-Test-Track platform enables companies and their supply chains to designate a unique molecular identity tag that has meaning specific to the tagged material: for example, geographic facility location, brand, product line or even date of manufacture. This tag can be applied on or in a variety of recycled materials that includes a wide range of polymers such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), polypropylene, polyethylene, and acrylics. The tags are then tested either in the field or in the lab, depending on material type and customer requirements. Portable DNA testing devices for tagged pellets are deployed for textiles made of recycled PET and viscose. The tracking of tagged items and their test reports can be accessed by customers from the cloud-based CertainT Textile Portal.

Since the launch of the CertainT platform in July 2017, many companies have recognised the value of having global material traceability, and having the ability to prove, with certainty, the claim for 100 per cent rPET filament yarn used in many performance-wear, athleisure products, footwear, accessories and home textile products. While the CertainT platform was initially used for rPET staple fibres in the home textile industry, there subsequently grew a much greater opportunity to expand into apparel, footwear and accessories through rPET filament.

From 2018 ongoing, the company is working with trusted supply chain partners to build the large-scale, closed loop, integrated supply chains that use rPET filament and fibre to service businesses in Asia, the Americas and EMEA. This business model is instrumental to building critical mass with partners, enabling efficient, cost-effective, agile supply chains.

“We decided to “Go Big, Go Bold” in 2019 by accelerating the implementation of rPET filament in China, Vietnam, Taiwan, India and South-East Asia. We believe the opportunity to have a molecular business solution that will protect brands from source to shelf can be achieved only with CertainT. We are in the process of building a thoroughly integrated supply chain which will close the loop and provide forensic proof through each touch point in the process,” stated Wayne Buchen, vice president, strategic sales.

Specifically, the company began with the establishment of a network of key strategic partners, starting with the Sun Chemical Supply Group, announced in January this year. Sun has already provided the capability to accelerate the delivery of recycled polyester (rPET) by maintaining inventory and warehousing of raw materials to shorten lead-times, providing quick response to meet the local needs of language, import/export experience and other operational business practices. By working in collaboration with Sun in the past 6 months, the company has been able to identify, begin integration and conduct commercial and pre-commercial manufacturing of hundreds of tons of fibre and filament with key supply chain partners that include spinners, weavers, home textile and garment assemblers, and accessories manufacturers.

“We are excited to bring the CertainT platform to the Asian market as sustainability with traceability continues to build into 2020 and beyond. Our teams have been working diligently in China, Taiwan, and Vietnam with the Applied DNA US and EMEA teams to accelerate the adoption of CertainT globally,” stated David Lai, CEO of the Sun Chemical Supply Group.

“The growth in the CertainT platform is fueled by the need for recycled polyester (rPET); not everyone is playing by the same rules to ensure the claim is 100 per cent post-consumer rPET that is both high quality and low cost. Many fibre suppliers claim 100 per cent post-consumer rPET, but those claims are based on paper certificates, and not on the product itself,” stated MeiLin Wan, vice president, textile sales. “Applied DNA, through its CertainT Platform, provides evidence enabling greater transparency from corporations and NGOs, offering confidence to the consuming public, to prove sustainability claims, and in turn, provide a positive impact on environmental and social issues.” (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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