Traceability
TRACEABILITY
Where do my textiles come from?
Do you know where your textiles come from? And if so, are you proud of it?
Most companies struggle to just answer the first question. Their current supply chains are complex and span several suppliers with complex networks of sub-suppliers.
Here's an example. Our laundry partners, for instance, have several suppliers to cover their product categories, which typically span bed linen, terry, table linen, work wear, mats etc. Assume that you have 1 supplier per product category but each supplier has a complex network of 5 sub-suppliers (5 tiers). That's 5 product categories times 1 supplier per category times 5 sub-suppliers equalling 25 companies.
Now, this is a rather simple portfolio of suppliers. It is highly likely that the laundry has about 2 suppliers per product category and each supplier has 2-3 sub-suppliers per category with about 5 tiers of sub-sub-suppliers. That would equal about 75 companies assuming that the sub-sub-suppliers do not have several sub-suppliers of their own, making this exercise exponential in complexity and almost therefore almost impossible in terms of transparency.
Trace this bed linen
Beirholm works with just a few, carefully selected, vertically integrated manufacturing partners. Most of our partnerships have lasted for more than 10 years.
We are proud of our manufacturing partners. So proud, that we consider them part of our company. As if we were just One Company.
It is a strategic choice to have a vertically integrated supply chain with only a few suppliers working together as partners. It enables us to innovate with a clear focus on the laundry industry. It also enables us to scale sustainability efforts and offer traceable textiles.
BEIRHOLM COLLECTION IS NOW TRACEABLE
Smart labels enable textile traceability
In the beginning of 2025, we decided to launch our Beirholm Smart Label in our own collection of textiles.
The Beirholm Smart Label is a woven label with a QR-code that - upon scanning - will show the product's journey as well as its environmental- and social certification.
We chose to go with a woven label although it requires extreme precision to weave a QR-code so that it is scannable. We've succeeded! The woven aspect ensures that it can withstand industrial laundering and hence be scannable years down the textile's lifecycle.
The Smart Label will enable Beirholm and its laundry partners to be prepared for the EU Digital Product Passport (DPP). By opting for textiles from the Beirholm Collection, you can be assured that requirements from the DPP will be implemented as part of the Smart Label solution. Hence, the textiles you buy today will be upgraded to satisfy the requirements of the DPP once the requirements have been finalized by the EU.
