UKFT and IBM Consulting won the MCA 2022 Sustainability Award as part of a consortium, for their project on Sustainable Supply Chain Optimisation (SSCO). They have worked with Tech Data and the Future Fashion Factory to design, prototype and pilot a new technology platform based on IBM technologies, to further transparency within the UK fashion supply chain.

MCA rewards consulting efforts as well as projects that can have a positive and sustainable impact on various industries in the UK or overseas. This reflects the aim of the SSCO project, which is to help the sector become more sustainable and profitable through increased visibility and transparency throughout its supply chain.

About the SSCO Project

Jointly funded by the UK Government through UK Research and Innovation and Innovate UK, this nine-month pilot project started in April 2021. The organisations involved with SSCO were retailers Next, H&M (COS brand), N Brown, New Look and yarn manufacturer Laxtons. The project scope included:

• Developing a data-driven technology platform to enable real-time decision making, effective track-and-trace and more sustainable choices in the UK fashion supply chain.
• Helping meet the Government’s commitment to the development of new innovations of digital technology within UK manufacturing, through this new platform.

Overall, the Sustainable Supply Chain Optimisation project has helped prove that it is possible to trace raw material through each stage of the supply chain. On top of providing retailers with traceability, visibility and the provenance of the raw material, this platform could  increase the ability to manage risk within the supply chain.

Want to learn more about the SSCO Project? Click on the link below:

Sustainable Supply Chain Optimisation (SSCO)