A coalition of polyester filament yarn manufacturers is adding a physical marker to the paperwork used to substantiate regional sourcing claims.
Unifi and 10 other North and Central American yarn producers launched YarnProof, an initiative using FibreTrace technology to embed an invisible, permanent tracer into polyester filament yarn during extrusion. The marker remains in the material as it moves through the supply chain and can be detected using FibreTrace’s handheld scanners at the yarn, fabric and finished-goods stages.
“By collectively adopting physical verification of materials, they are moving beyond individual origin claims and creating a shared verification framework that connects physical evidence with supporting production and sourcing records,” said Danielle Statham, founder and owner of FibreTrace.
The initiative is intended to help companies substantiate yarn origin under the yarn-forward rules of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Under those rules, qualifying products generally must use yarn and fabric produced within participating countries to receive preferential tariff treatment.
Companies would use YarnProof alongside their existing sourcing documents and certifications. Each scan by an authorized participant creates a record linking the tagged material to supporting production and sourcing records, according to FibreTrace.
Participating manufacturers include Aquafil O’Mara, Nan Ya Plastics Corp. America, Premiere Fibers, Skytex México, Textufil and United Textiles of America, among others.
“Traditional methods of fraud detection, such as document review and site visits, remain important,” said Kim Glas, president and CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations. “With the launch of YarnProof, the region gains a new tool for substantiating origin claims.”
Under Armour welcomed the initiative.
FibreTrace says its embedded markers can complement audits and digital traceability records by connecting those records to the material itself. YarnProof’s launch announcement did not indicate that customs authorities have formally approved the technology as proof of regulatory compliance.
“Supply chain integrity is a top priority for our brand,” said Nick Pence, senior director of material supply at Under Armour. “As we continue to rely on yarn manufacturers in the region to fulfill our brand’s strategic goals, we are encouraged by the proactive steps the industry is taking to enhance transparency and reliability throughout the supply chain, and to provide physical evidence to support sourcing history.”