Eurofins Sustainability Services Launches Cotton Traceability Tool

Inspection certification firm Eurofins Sustainability Services has added a new tool for verifying cotton origin, called Origin ID. The service will allow brands to improve supply chain transparency across multiple sectors using cotton fibers, including apparel, home textiles and personal hygiene.

Origin ID uses Eurofins’ isotope testing expertise that was initially patented for use in verifying the origin and purity of food and beverages. Using that technology as a basis, Eurofins added a range of additional bio-analytical technologies to apply to more industries.

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Origin ID touts a number of benefits, including a 15-working-day turnaround time with no additional fees, a continuously updated database with reference samples from all major cotton growing regions, and ad hoc and scaled volume testing. The tool also uses stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) in every assessment to ensure scientifically and statistically validated results, as well as testing delivered through a global network of laboratories. Eurofins said Origin ID provides brands an end-to-end solution that covers database, sample collection, testing and reporting.

Cotton traceability has become a major priority for many companies with regions such as the European Union proposing and adopting more stringent regulations for reporting and due diligence throughout the cotton supply chain. Isotopic testing has emerged as a popular method for strengthening cotton supply chain traceability and has become accepted by many authorities as a reliable indication of cotton origin.

Results obtained through Origin ID are assessed against a proprietary reference library database. A consistent result means the sample corresponds with the reference library data for the target country, and does not exclude potential consistency with another target country.

Eurofins has recently teamed with several major brands to help them improve traceability and product safety compliance. Earlier this year, the testing company partnered with e-commerce giant Temu to conduct safety and quality inspections through its Eurofins Assurance division, as well as Eurofins Consumer Product Testing certification tests. The move came after Temu faced multiple reports of safety hazards related to its merchandise.

Eurofins Sustainability Solutions—which is part of the company’s Consumer Product Testing division—also introduced a new testing method this year for recycled plastics in textiles, apparel and footwear. The process uses thermal analytical analysis, which can be used to verify the presence of recycled plastic feedstock in recycled polyester, nylon and acrylic fabrics and fibers.

With its Origin ID rollout, Eurofins Sustainability Solutions will host a webinar on August 14 outlining how the service works while exploring the importance and intricacies of cotton origin verification testing.

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