Lectra’s TextileGenesis platform will allow users to better trace the source of cellulose fibers through a new collaboration with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The move will allow TextileGenesis users to ensure cellulose traceability from responsibly managed forests.
A number of apparel fabrics such as lyocell, modal and viscose include manmade cellulose fibers sourced from wood pulp. And that wood pulp production can contribute to the problem of deforestation. Environmental nonprofit Canopy estimates that more than 300 million trees are logged each year to make cellulosic fabrics.
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By working with FSC—the international NGO that promotes responsible forest management through its wood product certification—TextileGenesis will be able to provide FSC certification traceability to its users. TextileGenesis CEO and founder Amit Gautam said that while the blockchain-inspired platform has tracked manmade cellulosic fibers, this partnership will allow them to take that capability to the next level.
“By also becoming an FSC partner today, we’re taking things a step further,” he said. “This new collaboration will support companies in the traceability of FSC-certified fibers and support the administration and data management of FSC chain of custody certification.”
Gautam said that this increased transparency will benefit all players in the value chain.
“Fashion brands will be able to demonstrate much more easily that their garments use textiles made from responsibly sourced man-made cellulose fibers,” he said.
The move comes on the heels of several new partnerships and initiatives by TextileGenesis designed to improve sustainability in fashion. In April, the platform announced a collaboration with Eon to create digital product passports, and in March TextileGenesis announced the launch of the second generation of its fashion traceability platform incorporating more than 90 percent of the major material certification standards. The company also entered two new traceability cooperatives with the footwear and leather industries in February.
FSC offers certification for products and raw materials that have been sourced from wood grown in responsibly managed forests. That includes ensuring that supply chains safeguard social rights of workers, communities and indigenous peoples.
“We are seeing a rapid increase in interest in FSC certification from the textile industry, marking a very positive trend,” said Fabian Farkas, international chief commercial director at FSC. “Through this collaboration with TextileGenesis, we aim to simplify the administrative part of FSC certification for companies within the textile supply chain by automating many required data processes. Our goal is to empower brands to identify opportunities for seamless progress in meeting their FSC procurement policies.”
