Effective traceability of materials up the supply chain is the best way to manage sustainability risk and mitigate against potential environmental and social challenges. An effective traceability programme can ensure managing out deforestation risk from the supply chain.

Leather can be a particularly challenging material to effectively trace as it is a by-product of a different industry. Traditional methods for marking leather involve stamping, this can be difficult to record as the stamps will ultimately be cut out of any finished product and in some cases the stamp can actually damage the leather material.

Applied DNA Sciences have developed a system for marking leather through the leather value chain from field to product on shelf by using a DNA tag. This molecular-based technology can help protect products, brands, entire supply chains, and consumers from theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion.

Wan is responsible for providing clients with innovative molecular business solutions to preserve the integrity of products, assure quality and enable responsible and sustainable sourcing practices globally. She leads the team to create commercial solutions under the CertainT platform for providing 'forensic and authentic proof' for products that utilise materials such as cotton, synthetics, recycled PET, wool, viscose, leather, down and feather, and specialty coatings.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (PC)