Chain of custody is the record of who handled a material at each step of the supply chain. For certified claims, every step must be accounted for.
How it works
- The source, such as a recycler or organic farm, is certified
- Each company that processes or trades the material is certified
- Transaction Certificates link each shipment between certified companies
Typical textile chain
- Fibre or recycled flake
- Yarn spinning
- Knitting or weaving
- Dyeing, printing and finishing
- Garment making
Weak points
A claim breaks if any step is uncertified or if certified and non-certified material are mixed without control.
Adding digital traceability
Platforms such as TextileGenesis record certified fibre digitally at each step.