Haelixa traces wool from Australia to Italy
Switzerland-based traceability technology provider Haelixa has announced the completion of a trial project to apply two separate DNA markers to Australian wool, enabling the material to be traced from fibre through finished fabric.
Partnering with the Woolmark Company, funded by woolgrowers in Australia, Haelixa first marked early-stage greasy wool in December 2021 to determine its country of origin, followed by scoured wool in Italy to verify where processing took place. DNA solutions were applied in either instance as a fine spray. The latter marker was embedded at Biellese mill Vitale Barberis Canonico, which has been in business since 1663.
Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) tests to detect each specific marker were conducted on samples at various stages of production, Haelixa said, adding that its markers allow greasy wool to be traced up to greige fabric and scoured wool up until finished fabrics.
In a nod to growing market demand for proof of origin and authenticity, co-founder and chief technology officer at the Swiss firm, Gediminas Mikutis, praised the effort to “bring sustainable solutions to global supply chains”.
Registrations opened for this year’s Woolmark Performance Challenge last month.
Image: Vitale Barberis Canonico.
