Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has trialled the use of secure blockchain technology to ensure full transparency within a sustainable leather supply chain. It has partnered with supply chain traceability provider Circulor, leading UK leather manufacturer Bridge of Weir Leather Company and the University of Nottingham, to trial the use of traceability technology in the leather supply chain.
As well as tracking compliance, the digital process enables JLR to assess the carbon footprint of its leather supply network, as part of its commitment to reducing the environmental and ethical impact of its products across their lifecycle.
Through InMotion, its venture capital and mobility services arm, JLR has invested in Circulor, allowing the company to source premium materials with greater transparency.
Circulor is already using blockchain to improve the traceability of minerals used for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
Blockchain technology is impossible to modify or tamper with, giving customers greater confidence that the sustainable supply chain is authentic, and all materials have been sustainably sourced.
Dave Owen, Jaguar Land Rover Executive Director of Supply Chain, says: “We are currently restructuring our supply chain as part of Reimagine, with a focus on transparency and sustainability. The outcome from this world-first trial will allow us to further improve the sustainability of the leather supply chain around the globe, ensuring the complete traceability of raw materials from origin to vehicle. This is one step in our journey to net zero carbon emissions across our supply chain, products and operations by 2039, enabled by leading edge digital capabilities.”
JLR has vehicle plants in China, Brazil, India, Austria and Slovakia. Three of its seven technology hubs are in the UK – Manchester, Warwick (NAIC) and London – with additional sites in Shannon, Ireland, Portland, USA, Budapest, Hungary and Shanghai, China.
