On 16 January, an initiative was launched in which the main pillar is sustainability in the cosmetics industry. Under the name TRASCE (TRaceability Alliance for Sustainable Cosmetics), this new alliance aims to improve transparency and traceability of raw materials along the entire value chain. Merck, through its Surface Solutions business area, has become one of the fifteen founding members.
This alliance strengthens the shared understanding of supply chains in the cosmetics industry with a unified digital tool of the initiative and will enable a comprehensive mapping of supply chains. This tool will support collective action to address environmental and social aspects within supply chains. On traceability, the founders have committed to work collectively to map their supply chain through a common digital platform: ISN Company's Transparency-One.
Merck's Surface Solutions Quality Manager explained that they are very excited about this step for the company: "We are convinced of the need to align the industry on a single traceability tool". Karl Hensen even hopes that this will serve as a model and example for other sectors and industries. "Harmonisation and multi-stakeholder dialogue are essential to further the goals within the TRASCE consortium, as well as to contribute to Merck's overall sustainability strategy", he concluded.
TRASCE was initiated by Chanel and this industry alliance brings together Clarins, Cosfibel and Albéa. It is also driven by GPA Global, Dior, The Estée Lauder Companies, L'Occitane en Provence, L'Oréal Groupe, Neyret, Nuxe, Pochet Group, Sensient, Shiseido, Sisley and Merck are the members of TRASCE.