Reinhart offers traceable GOTS cotton from Tanzania
10/05/2022
“Again and again we hear from our supply chain partners and especially from retailers that it is becoming more and more important to know exactly where cotton comes from,” commented head trader at Reinhart, Marco Bänninger. “They want to be sure that they are guaranteed to get the cotton for which they are paying a premium."
To this end, Haelixa developed a GOTS-certified marker specifically for Reinhart, it said, which is also free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and compliant with Oeko-Tex Standard 100, meaning that it does not contain substances known to be harmful to human health. Alliance Ginneries workers then apply this marker using a custom automated sprayer developed by the traceability provider.
Both finished garments and intermediate products can be tested to authenticate the traceability of this marked organic cotton back to Tanzania’s Mwanza region. Participating mills and brands are also able to tag their garments with Haelixa’s “marked and traced by Haelixa” label to help raise awareness of the steps they have taken towards transparency.
Co-founder and chief technology officer at Haelixa, Gediminas Mikutis, described Reinhart’s latest offering as “the first ever physically traceable organic cotton from Africa” and suggested that raw material traceability would help boost visibility of organic cotton grown on the continent. He added that the development represents progress towards “a more significant role” for farmers in the textile value chain.
Share this story:
