Eastman’s Naia partners with TextileGenesis for Traceability

Eastman, the manufacturer of Naia™ products, has partnered with TextileGenesis™, to implement blockchain technology to identify and trace the journey Naia takes from raw materials to the final garment.

TextileGenesis traces every phase of garment production, citing farm and factory locations as well as every step necessary to bring a product from point of origin to final retail destination, using modern digital technology and supply chain modeling. Based on key principles, the TextileGenesis system engages all levels of a supplier’s ecosystem to provide traceability.

They are verifying the point of origin by digitizing any textile asset to ensure no double counting; capturing real-time shipment transactions across supply tiers; value chain modeling using augmented intelligence to gain insight on complex textile value chains as well as wastage and loss factors; and creating a cross-industry ecosystem by collaborating with organizations, exchanges, established protocols, and sustainable fiber producers to apply environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, and supporting independent, third-party verification, including by those that perform forensic fiber audits and verify the ESG credentials of suppliers.

Claudia de Witte, sustainability leader at Eastman Textile Fibers, said that traceability in the textile supply chain is an important step toward a more transparent sector. The partnership with TextileGenesis platform to their current Naia verification program is an exciting addition. They are meeting their 2022 sustainability objective of enabling improved technology and information solutions for tracking and tracing their materials by collaborating with other innovators.

According to de Witte, the TextileGenesis collaboration highlights Eastman’s commitment to working with industry leaders to achieve systemic reforms that assist guarantee sustainable textiles are available to all.

Amit Gautam, TextileGenesis CEO and founder, said that traceability is fast becoming a critical need for sustainable product offers. Their collaboration with Eastman will provide unprecedented supply chain traceability for Naia fibers and filaments to retail brands. It advances the sustainable fibers industry’s goal of achieving end-to-end traceability.

Naia cellulosic yarns and fiber are ethically acquired from sustainably managed pine and eucalyptus forests to assure no devastation of ancient and endangered forests, with the goal of inspiring more eco-friendly fashion and home textiles. For added sustainability, Naia Renew allows businesses to offer circularity at scale. Naia Renew, made from 60% sustainably produced and traceable wood pulp and 40% certified recycled waste materials, develops new value from difficult-to-recycle materials that might otherwise wind up in landfills, incinerators, or other unpleasant end-of-life destinations.

de Witte added that knowing where resources originate from is an important aspect of a brand’s sustainability story. By collaborating with TextileGenesis, they are providing their brand partners at Naia with a trip log from production floors to shop doors, replete with photos detailing their journey across the value chain. Finally, this provides customers with the information they need to make ethical fashion selections.

TextileGenesis is a blockchain-enabled supply chain traceability platform for the fashion and textile industries. Its Fibercoin system enables real-time tracking from fiber to retail.