The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) spin-off Haelixa has entered into a partnership with BKS Textiles. The Indian textiles manufacturer is using the DNA markers developed by Haelixa in order to guarantee the authenticity of the organic cotton used is its new Organitrack range of bedding products. According to a press release, these DNA markers provide fibers with a unique fingerprint, meaning that their origin can be verified beyond any doubt. According to information in the press release, these markers are approved by the Global Organic Textile Standard and compatible with Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex.
“Organic cotton has become a crucial driver of sustainability in the textile industry, with the numerous benefits it brings to the environment and the farming community”, comments Sudha Anand, Marketing Director at BKS Textiles, in the press release, before adding: “At the same time, cases of fraudulent claims, passing off conventional cotton as organic, have been increasing rampantly lately”. As such, traceability and the collaboration with Haelixa are of decisive importance to BKS Textiles.
“It is always a great honor for us when customers choose our DNA marker to make traceability a key feature of a new collection”, explains Michela Puddu, CEO of Haelixa. “Knowing how important sustainability is especially for the millennial generation, being able to provide a forensic proof for the authenticity of the fiber helps to reassure the end-consumer”, she adds.