Jaguar Land Rover has trialled the use of secure blockchain technology to ensure full transparency within a sustainable leather supply chain. The UK-based company has partnered with supply chain traceability provider, Circulor, UK leather manufacturer Bridge of Weir, and the University of Nottingham to trial the use of the traceability technology.  

As well as tracking compliance, the digital process enabled Jaguar Land Rover to assess the carbon footprint of its leather supply network, working with UK-based Bridge of Weir to trace its lowest carbon leather from farm to finished article, all part of Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to reducing the environmental and ethical impact of its products across their lifecycle, the company said in a media statement.

Jaguar Land Rover is committed to offering customers more sustainable and responsible material choices for their vehicle interiors, such as the premium natural fibre Eucalyptus textile interior available on Range Rover Evoque, and Kvadrat, a refined high-quality wool blend textile that's paired with a suede cloth made from 53 recycled plastic bottles per vehicle, available on Evoque, Range Rover Velar, and Jaguar’s all-electric I-PACE.  

As part of the Innovate UK-funded research, a ‘digital twin’ of the raw material was created, allowing its progress to be tracked through the leather supply chain simultaneously in the real world and digitally. A combination of GPS data, biometrics and QR codes was used to digitally verify the movement of leather at every step of the process using blockchain technology.  

Defining the verification process has created a repeatable blueprint for tracing a single piece of leather at every stage. It can be used across Jaguar Land Rover’s global supply chain and by other industries that rely on leather, such as fashion and footwear. The project is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Reimagine strategy, a sustainability-rich combination of modern luxury, unique customer experiences, and positive societal impact. 

Reimagine aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its supply chain, products and operations by 2039. Jaguar Land Rover will work with industry experts to improve sustainability, reduce emissions and collaborate on next-generation technology, data, and software development leadership. 

“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,” Dave Owen, executive director of supply chain said in a statement.