Textile Insight

The brand has signed a roster of spinners, includ- ing Valerius Group and Belda Llorens, to make traceable yarns available in Europe, Simco and Tiancheng in Asia and Calik Denim and Artistic Fabric Mills to make yarns for the denim indus- try. The company is currently collaborating with Bestseller Group and is in a development stage of a collaboration with Jack Wolfskin. "These companies understand that traceability is key going forward." Warmerdam emphasizes. Partner spinners add the Aware tracer particles to their original certified recycled feedstock. This tracer, a kind of fingerprint, is readable during each step of the supply chain by an Aware handheld scanner that gives an instant result. This confirmation is then linked to the related digital token stored on blockchain, the original purchase order and the AWARE Certificate of Authenticity. All this information is then trans- ferred to the digital wallet of the retailer or brand, complete with an easy-to-understand blockchain interface documenting all environmental impact savings, according to the company. According to Warmerdam, Aware is soon to launch the ability for consumers to be more integrated into the traceability process via a QR code that links to a digital passport of the product, providing individuals complete transparency and insight in the materials used, supply chain mapping and impact savings. Expansion Plans Less than a year after introducing a new fiber identification technology to its EcoVero fibers, Lenzing announced that it will now include all fiber types under the Tencel brand in an effort to offer full traceability of Lenzing products and further elevate supply chain transparency. Lenzing's fiber identification technology provides physical identification of fiber origin at different stages of textile products such as the fabric and garment level. According to the company, the system also guarantees that the fibers are pro- duced in state-of-the-art production facilities that meet high standards for resource efficiency and environmental and social responsibility. As of November 2021, all fabrics will be tested for fiber identification, enhancing the security of Lenzing's online services and testing facilities and increasing transparency and security between value chain partners. By the first half of 2022, according to the company, additional services for brands and retailers will be integrated onto Lenzing E-branding Service. "As the awareness of sustainability grows, protect- ing brand credentials with eco-friendly assurance with our fiber identification technology, we hope to enable the textile industry to become more sus- tainable, as well as ensure our brand partners have the credibility to communicate their sustainability efforts and combat greenwashing," comments Heubrandner. In addition to its E-branding Service, Lenzing partnered with TextileGenesis to aunch its block- chain enabled supply chain traceability platform. The new initiatives and different emerging technology platforms designed to heighten secu- rity, advance sustainability and innovate both physical and digital traceability, bodes well for all parties involved in the supply chain, including consumers. l textileinsight.com July/August 2021 ~ Textile Insight • 17 "The new consumer generation expects fashion brands to deliver a contribution to a sustainable society." Koen Warmerdam, Brand Director Aware August 23-25, 2021 International Trade Fair for Technical Textiles and Nonwovens Reunite with the industry on the show floor for three days of education, networking and business development where the world's leading companies in textile innovation will share their latest products, processes and solutions, highlighting the industry's contribution to the global manufacturing supply chain through advanced technology. RALEIGH, NC Accelerating Technology Visit www.techtextilNA.com for more information. THERE'S STILL TIME. REGISTER NOW!

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