Reuters Features Oritain on Connecting Fragmented Supply Chains Through Forensic Science

Oritain CEO Alyn Franklin recently sat down with Liam Dowd, Industry Lead – Sustainable Business at Reuters to discuss the critical role of forensic origin verification in building trust between brands, suppliers, and customers.

The discussion highlighted the significant regulatory upheaval affecting industries worldwide and the challenges businesses face in navigating a raft of new mandates.

In an era where greenwashing concerns are high and supply chain visibility is low, Franklin highlighted how Oritain’s unique scientific approach provides the physical proof necessary to validate ESG claims and secure global trade.

To support this, the company is investing heavily across laboratory facilities and Data Science to expand global forensic analysis capabilities; technology to develop more accessible interfaces that allow businesses to seamlessly integrate origin verification into their traceability systems; commodity expansion into timber and leather, two sectors facing imminent and stringent deforestation regulations; and service support to enable businesses of all sizes to successful begin their transparency journey.

A video of the discussion is available for viewing below:

Transforming supply chains from fragmentation to community

During the session, Franklin delved into the core of Oritain’s mission: replacing uncertainty with scientific certainty. The company seeks to connect a global community of origin-verified buyers and suppliers by creating solutions that are accessible, affordable, and easily adopted.

The discussion noted that global supply chains are notoriously fragmented, making it a challenge for organizations to acquire the granular data they need. By providing robust insights at the farm level, Oritain allows companies to overcome the confusion of multi-tiered logistics.

"We are connecting these fragmented supply chains with physical evidence, not paperwork," Franklin said. This tangible proof does more than just verify origin; it provides a robust data point that improves the accuracy of Scope 3 emissions estimations and substantiates corporate ESG and sustainability claims.

As a leader in forensic origin verification, Oritain utilizes sophisticated analytical techniques to understand the chemical composition of a commodity and link it directly to its point of origin.

"Crucially, these chemical compositions remain unchanged by transportation or processing,” explained Franklin, “providing an ‘Origin Fingerprint’ that stays with the commodity from the farm to the finished good.”

 

Driving action at Reuters Sustainability Europe

The discussion with Reuters took place against the backdrop of the Reuters Sustainability Europe event held in London. This premier event brings together more than 400 senior corporate executives to explore practical strategies for navigating regulatory overload, building financially sound sustainability arguments, and driving real-world action.

A highlight of the summit was a high-level panel discussion addressing the topic of ‘Overcoming Fragmentation in Global Supply Chains.’ Alyn Franklin represented Oritain on the panel, joining fellow sustainability leaders from H&M and Bloom & Wild.

Together, they explored how multi-tiered supply chains, often spanning several continents and dozens of intermediaries, can be unified through better data and innovative technology to meet the rising demands of regulators, consumers, and investors.

 

Oritain appears regularly at events across the world, continuing to lead the global conversation on supply chain transparency and sustainability. For a list of all upcoming conferences and events, visit our Events page.