An Open Platform for Traceability: Accelerating Transparency and Sustainability across Manufacturing Ecosystems

The report outlines a proof-of-concept pilot platform hosted by the International Trade Centre (ITC) that aggregates blockchain traceability data from multiple companies, such as Everledger and Lenzing Group. It argues that while blockchain can mitigate risks associated with complex global supply chains, a neutral third-party platform is necessary to meet consumer demands for transparency and address environmental impacts. The document identifies key challenges for the next phase of development, including data privacy, the authentication of blockchain-based data, and the management of reputational risks associated with live data sharing.

• Global supply chains face four primary disruptive trends: increasing complexity, rising consumer demand for transparency, the necessity of enhancing sustainability, and the dynamic shifting of supply chain locations.
• Supply chain complexity is a significant business risk, with nearly one-third of global CEOs identifying it as a top concern.
• International trade-related freight transport was estimated by the International Transport Forum in 2015 to account for more than 7% of global CO2 emissions.
• A pilot platform hosted by the International Trade Centre (ITC) has demonstrated that transaction data from two different blockchain-based systems can be successfully ingested, aggregated, and visualized by a neutral third party.
• The pilot effort involved a collaboration between the World Economic Forum, the International Trade Centre (ITC), Everledger, and Lenzing Group (including its provider TextileGenesis™).
• Future development of the platform must address the risk that live, transparent supply chain data could be used to harm a company's reputation or increase the risk of theft for certain goods, such as diamonds.
• Technical challenges for the next phase include the use of APIs for data integration and the ability to authenticate that data is truly blockchain-based rather than manufactured by a company.

APA

World Economic Forum (2020). An Open Platform for Traceability: Accelerating Transparency and Sustainability across Manufacturing Ecosystems. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Accelerating_Digital_Traceability_for_Sustainable_Production_2019.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. An Open Platform for Traceability: Accelerating Transparency and Sustainability across Manufacturing Ecosystems. 2020. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Accelerating_Digital_Traceability_for_Sustainable_Production_2019.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=An Open Platform for Traceability: Accelerating Transparency and Sustainability across Manufacturing Ecosystems |date=January 2020 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Accelerating_Digital_Traceability_for_Sustainable_Production_2019.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2020open, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{An Open Platform for Traceability: Accelerating Transparency and Sustainability across Manufacturing Ecosystems}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2020}, month = jan, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Accelerating_Digital_Traceability_for_Sustainable_Production_2019.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }