#Industry 4.0 / Digitalization

2020-11-19

Birla Cellulose now maps 100% forest sources on Traceability platform GreenTrack™

Birla Cellulose has advanced the capability of the well-established blockchain-enabled traceability platform, GreenTrack™, which now enables the consumers to see the forests from where the wood is sourced and thus providing a complete end-to-end visibility of forest to fashion. The visibility of forest sources for all the Birla Cellulose’s eco-enhanced products has been achieved by collaboration with Sappi Ltd., the largest supplier of dissolving pulp.The forest information of pulp produced by Birla Cellulose was available on the platform thus far.

The GreenTrack™ platform was introduced in early 2019 and has since been used widely to trace and track the material flow in the fashion value chain, and is currently being used by over 20 leading global brands & retailers and their respective supply chain partners across the globe, while many others are in the process of onboarding it. In addition to brands, many large garment producers and exporters are also using this platform to trace their supply chains. The traceability of the value chain through the use of this platform comes without any additional cost to the supply chain partners or to the brands & retailers. This unique platform already handles thousands of ‘live’ transactions and has a potential to reach millions of consumers across the globe. Brands have started to pass on the power of traceability to their end consumers through QR codes on their garment hangtags.

“Expanding the capability of the GreenTrackTM platform and our collaboration with Sappi to provide the visibility of sustainably managed forests from where the wood was sourced, would help the sustainability focused consumers, brands and retailers to make a more informed buying decision, said Mukul Agrawal, Chief Sustainability Officer of Birla Cellulose. He informed “this initiative simplifies the verification of sustainability of complete supply chain, from forest to retail, validation of which otherwise would be a cumbersome process involving compilation of many certifications and manual tracking of the material in a long complex value chain”.

This is one more step towards our commitment for building fully transparent supply chain and creating visibility to the sustainably managed forests, that are among the most important aspect of responsibly produced viscose. Birla Cellulose leads sustainable wood sourcing practices in MMCF industry and ranks no. 1 in Canopy’s Hot Button Report 2020 that ranks the MMCF producers on sustainable wood sourcing practices and next generation solutions.

According to Krelyne Andrew, General Manager - Sustainability for Sappi Verve, “we are committed to enhancing trust and creating shared value within our supply chain, working closely with our partners to promote and shape the sustainability of the MMCF sector towards a Net Positive vision.” Traceable and transparent supply chains are integral stepping stones to providing brand owners and consumers with the confidence that their products originate from sustainable and renewable sources of wood, free from deforestation, where biodiversity is promoted and customary, traditional or civil rights of people are upheld.

The platform is unique in the sense that it tracks orders as well as shipments (actual material flow) at the same time, thereby, eliminating any chance of inconsistent practices in the supply chain. The platform ensures information access only to relevant parties and full details of transparent supply chain is visible to end buyers or brands only. In addition to live tracking of material, the platform offers a series of value added features such as auto-generation of transaction certificates, easing quality management efforts, business analytics, amongst other features.

textile.4U publishes special edition “Top 100 Textile Recycling Companies 2025”

With a comprehensive 176-page special edition, textile.4U is dedicating its latest issue entirely to one of the most dynamic and influential topics in today’s textile industry: textile recycling. The new issue, published exclusively in high-quality print, presents the Top 100 textile recycling companies researched and selected by TexData – organizations that already play a key role in the transition to circular textiles or are expected to have a significant impact in the near future.

Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 signed by Governor

Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) is proud to announce that Senate Bill 707 (SB 707), the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, has been signed into law by the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom. This groundbreaking legislation establishes the country’s first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) textile recycling program, marking a significant step forward in the state’s efforts to combat waste and promote sustainability.

Modtissimo promotes sustainability with 28 coordinates in the Green Circle

Modtissimo is proving more and more to be a textile and clothing show that delivers the latest innovations in the area of sustainability, with the iTechStyle Green Circle being the main showcase for companies' creations. In this 60+4 edition, taking place on 12 and 13 September, 28 coordinates will be exhibited in a section organised by CITEVE and curated by Paulo Gomes.

The EU and Egypt team up to mobilise private sector investments at Investment Conference and sign a Memorandum of Understanding underpinning €1 billion in macro-financial assistance for Egypt

At the EU-Egypt Investment Conference, co-organised by the EU and the Government of Egypt on 29-30 June, the EU and Egypt are teaming up to intensify private sector investments in Egypt. They are also signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the disbursement to Egypt of up to €1 billion in Macro-Financial Assistance.

Lenze receives IEC 62443-4-1 certification: TÜV Rheinland confirms cyber-secure development process

Lenze SE has been certified according to IEC 62443-4-1 since November 2025. TÜV Rheinland thus confirms that Lenze meets the requirements of this internationally recognized standard for a secure development process for industrial automation and drive products. The certification is an important milestone on the way to implementing the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which will become mandatory for machine manufacturers and their suppliers from December 2027.

Mango joins TextileGenesis pioneering traceability solution, a Lectra company, for a transparent value chain

Mango, one of the leading international fashion groups, has joined TextileGenesis, the pioneering traceability solution for the fashion and textile industries, to trace their natural and animal fibers, synthetics, man-made cellulosic fibers and leather. TextileGenesis, a Lectra company, offers a complete and secure cutting-edge technology with its six-dimensional (6D) offering and unique “fiber forwards” approach. Mango, has long been committed to maintaining a fully transparent supply chain, and TextileGenesis will reinforce this commitment.

Mimaki demonstrates versatile, simple TRAPIS textile printing at Heimtextil 2026

Mimaki’s textile pigment transfer printing system, TRAPIS, is able to print on a diverse range of fabrics - unlike traditional processes - including natural fibres and synthetic fabrics. The full solution will be shown on Mimaki’s booth (Hall 3.0 Stand A97), as the company returns to Heimtextil to showcase its advancements in sustainable, high quality and efficient textile printing.

The Technology Hub for global denim trends: ITM 2026

The ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition, to be held at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center in Istanbul from June 9–13, 2026, brings together groundbreaking technologies in denim production. From smart production systems to eco-friendly raw materials, from digital washing solutions to laser effect technologies, innovations that will shape the future of denim will be showcased for the first time at ITM 2026.

38th International Cotton Conference Bremen: Let´s Talk about Cotton!

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen, to be held on 25-27 March 2026 in Bremen’s parliament building on market square, once again sends a powerful signal for professional excellence and international dialogue. The focus is on the latest market trends and technical innovations throughout the entire value chain – from agriculture and quality assurance to processing and the circular economy. With its high-calibre speakers, the conference remains an indispensable forum for anyone involved in shaping the cotton industry scientifically, technically, or economically.