FibreTrace® Awarded European Patent
TRACEABILITY TECHNOLOGY FIBRETRACE® AWARDED EUROPEAN PATENT.
FIBRETRACE®, an advanced traceability technology solution for the textile industry, has been awarded a European patent issued for “Photon Marker System in Fiber Material”.
The patent – EP3538692 – represents another step forward for FIBRETRACE® in pioneering a completely traceable and transparent era of sustainable textiles, combining physical and digital traceability with the power of authentication.
FIBRETRACE® received its US Patent – US Patent 10,247,667 B2 – issued for the ‘Photon Markers in Fibre Materials’ on April 2 2019.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) reports that textiles are the fourth-largest cause of environmental pressure after food, housing and transport1. The ever-increasing conversation around digitalisation and transparency in every aspect of the textile supply chain has forced brands to recognise the need to accelerate their own development of transparent solutions to ensure they remain at the forefront of sustainability.
“It’s encouraging to see the rapid pace at which the global fashion and interiors industries are moving towards complete transparent and traceable solutions. Finalising the European Patent for FIBRETRACE® is recognition for the hard work, research and development of our team which provides brands and manufacturers full confidence in the origin of fibre and integrity in their claims,” said Danielle Statham, Co-Founder of FIBRETRACE®.
FIBRETRACE® works by embedding a natural, non-toxic, scannable luminescent pigment into any natural, man-made or synthetic fibre. FIBRETRACE® delivers end-to-end traceability in real-time to allow for irrefutable data and storytelling that is backed by scientific evidence.
FIBRETRACE®’s CEO, Shannon Mercer, says that FIBRETRACE® offers reliable and trusted data that allows both brands and consumers to understand the true social and environmental impact of their products as it moves throughout the global supply chain.
“Consumers want the ability to make informed choices when it comes to their purchases. The continued growth of technology patents allows solutions like FIBRETRACE® to offer brands real change with global impact.”
A survey conducted by Mckinsey (2020) revealed that 57% of UK and German consumers have already made significant changes to their lifestyles to reduce their environmental impact with 65% making a commitment to purchase more durable fashion items2.
Through the development of supply chain traceability technology, consumers are invited to share the complete journey of their garments from seed to shelf via an in-store experience with FIBRETRACE®’s proprietary Bluetooth scanners or scanning a QR code with their mobile phone.
The textile supply chain is multi-tiered and complex with many players involved in producing a single garment or product. Transparency is absolutely essential in understanding the full supply chain, identifying areas of issue, holding brands accountable and inciting change.
1 European Environment Agency (EEA), 2020. Private consumption: Textiles EU’s fourth largest cause of environmental pressures after food, housing, transport. Available at: https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/private-consumption-textiles-eus-fourth-1
2 McKinsey, 2020. Survey, Consumer sentiment on sustainability in fashion. Available at:
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/survey-consumer-sentiment-on-sustainability-in-fashion#
