The trend towards reliable, evidence-based traceability platforms shows that the fashion industry is changing. Manufacturers are looking for easy-to-use tools to strengthen consumer confidence. These tools ensure outfits respect fashion best practices along the entire supply chain, all the way from cultivation of the raw materials to the garment we lift from the hanger in our favourite retail shops. “Our mission is not just to bring transparency to the fashion supply chain, but also to enable sustainable practices throughout the fashion supply chain”,” explains Chandra Prakash Jha. a fashion designer, social entrepreneur, and founder of Fashion for Biodiversity Solutions (FFBS).
From designing to activism
A few years ago, one of Prakash’s relatives was diagnosed with breast cancer. “Endocrine -disrupting chemicals, which are used in the production of textiles, were found in the tumour biopsy,” he explains. The discovery prompted Prakash to swap the world of conventional fashion for its sustainable counterpart. “It made me realise that fashion needs to be good not only for the environment but also for people and our bodies.” Aware of the high levels of pollution involved in manufacturing high-street fashion, he turned his passion for designing clothes into a mission to analyse the different stages of the supply chain.
Since 2011, Prakash has dedicated himself to using regenerative agricultural methods to cultivate the raw materials required by the fashion industry. In recent years, he and his team have even begun using precision agricultural technology and developed an Internet of Things (IoT) device to remotely monitor and collect data from their supplier farms. This unique methodology has allowed Prakash to make significant strides forward in understanding biodiversity in farming. He has already won two important awards for his assessment of biodiversity in the fashion industry: the ‘Bundespreis Ecodesign’ in 2018 and the ‘German Sustainability Award Design’ in 2021. In early 2020, Prakash began working with a team of global technical experts to combine multiple technologies that enable tracing of the origin of raw materials and an assessment of their impact on the environment and biodiversity. This led to the foundation of Fashion for Biodiversity Solutions (FFBS) in May 2021.
Traceability through blockchain
FFBS and their blockchain-based cloud solutions provide proof-based visibility and traceability of the textile raw material from origin to retail. The company uses geo-mapping and triangular monitoring (via advanced technologies such as satellite, IoT, and artificial intelligence) to tell the story of how the garment came into being. This approach helps to reduce the industry’s climate impact and find ways to restore the loss of biodiversity. How does the technology work? Prakash’s teams work with multiple sensors that analyse the farmers’ soil. “These sensors provide answers to questions like ‘Which seed was used for what? Who was the farmer in charge? How many kilograms of cotton were produced? What was the CO2 emission generated by this material? Was it good for bees? Insects? Microbes?’ explains Prakash. The technology exposes collected datapoints from the fashion supply chain and makes them available to end-consumers via a single QR code.
There is no Planet B
FFBS also involves producers by offering them an online platform where they can learn about biodiversity conservation practices, receive training from experts, and sell their products directly to sustainable fashion brands. The aim is that this will help them work locally and, eventually, globally.
The industry is also seeking to boost the sustainability of its products by developing a range of scalable, innovative materials that regulate pollution, raise consumer awareness, promote minimum waste and maximise recycling. However, it remains a challenge to involve all the stakeholders involved – from the producer to the buyer – in protecting biodiversity.
“Sustainability combined with fashion expertise will shape consumer habits. It is our responsibility to rethink the world of fashion for future generations and the environment. There is no planet B, so we have to make sure there is no harmful impact on biodiversity,” says Prakash.