IBM is announcing a new partnership that will target sustainable clothing in the fashion industry.
According to a press release, IBM is partnering with the German textile company KAYA&KATO to develop a blockchain-based system to bring trust and transparency on the origin of each product.
“The network is designed to create transparency about the origin of garments, from the fiber used to the completion of the final product, and to provide consumers with the knowledge that their clothes are sustainably produced.”
The platform is being developed with help from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development.
The system will trace the supply chain for textiles and allow consumers to trace the origin of materials such as organic cotton to ensure they are sustainable.
IBM’s director of blockchain Christian Schultze-Wolters says the deal highlights the many ways that decentralized technology can boost new and existing industries.
“Blockchain technology is a catalyst for collaboration and transparency across industries and within supply chains. Blockchain technology today is being used to help increase visibility and agility in supply chains in industries including automotive manufacturing, mining, electronics production and even the cultivation and distribution of many types of food.
By creating shared visibility, the technology helps foster trust among companies and their suppliers, businesses and especially their consumers. We want to set an example within the industry and offer other companies the opportunity to join us in advancing development and helping to create solutions for supply chain.”
IBM says it’s teamed up with hundreds of clients to provide blockchain-based services in government, retail, healthcare and financial services since 2016.
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