Haelixa, Woolmark, Vitale to trace origin of wool

Swiss traceability company, Haelixa, The Woolmark Company, the prestigious Italian wool fabric mill Vitale Barberis Canonico (VBC), took part in a trial to trace Australian wool fibers up to the final fabric.

The Woolmark Company (TWC), a business funded by Australian woolgrowers, focuses on investments that increase the profitability, global competitiveness, and sustainability of Australian wool. TWC strives to be accountable and open in all aspects of their business. Traceability is required in accordance with this plan to guarantee transparency and uphold TWC’s trust.

Wool fibers were marked using Haelixa’s DNA tracing solution in December 2021. The number of DNA markers that may be created and utilized to identify a given origin, supply chain, substance, or collection is endless. In this instance, one DNA marker was placed on greasy wool and another on scoured wool.

Whereas the second DNA identifies the mill at Vitale Barberis Canonico where the wool was further processed, the first DNA specifies the place of origin of the Australian wool. Since 1663, the Biellese Woollen Mill has been manufacturing high-quality fabrics with exquisite wools and is the epitome of “Made in Italy” excellence.

In order to identify each unique DNA signature, samples were gathered from various production phases and subjected to a qPCR assay. Haelixa employs a “Key-Lock” mechanism to identify a marker; in order to use the system, one must be aware of the specific DNA to check for. This makes the system tamper-proof. Since the DNA markers are safely incorporated into the product, it is possible to follow greasy and scrubbed wool all the way to greige fabric and completed fabric, respectively.

Traceability is turning into a requirement to establish authenticity and provenance in the wool fabric market due to rising pricing pressure and competitiveness. The collaborative and sustainable cultures are supported by TWC and Vitale Barberis Canonico.

Gediminas Mikutis, CTO and Co-founder at Haelixa, said that TWC and Vitale Barberis Canonico value innovation, change, and excellence just like Haelixa does. This collaboration is an illustration of their efforts to introduce sustainable solutions to international supply chains.