Swedish fast-fashion giant H&M plans to collaborate with blockchain –based platform TextileGenesis to expand its traceability program by including all man-made cellulosics and recycled polyester. As per a Business of Fashion report, the initiative will help H&M trace almost 20 per cent of its material base by volume, with the brand planning to increase this figure further. H&M also plans to continue testing ways to scale its traceability efforts.

Fashion companies are rarely able to trace the origins of the raw materials they use to make their clothing. This makes it difficult for brands to know their full environmental impact and raises risks of using materials produced by forced labor. Recipient of H&M’s ‘Global Change Award in 2020, TextileGenesis uses blockchain to bring visibility to the supply chain. Using a token called a ‘Fibercoin,’ the company is able to track materials as they progress from fibre to finished product.