Posted on January, 17 2019

WWF and BCG Digital Ventures are launching a revolutionary digital platform that uses blockchain and other technologies to track food and products, and helps people and business to avoid illegal, environmentally-damaging or unethical goods.
 
The global platform, titled OpenSC, enables anyone to scan product QR codes with a smartphone camera, which automatically takes them to information about where a specific product came from, when and how it was produced, and how it journeyed along the supply chain.
 
OpenSC enables businesses to track their products, such as food and tissue paper, by attaching to products a digital tag (such as an RFID tag) at their original point of production and linking these to a blockchain platform. The blockchain, which cannot be tampered with, records the movement of the product and can also store additional information, such as the temperature of food in storage.
 
“Unsustainable production of food and goods is a major driver of environmental damage and some of the worst supply chains remain rife with human rights issues. For the first time ever, OpenSC gives consumers the power to track their purchases from source to store, enabling them to buy and importantly, demand sustainable and ethical, fair products from companies. OpenSC is a game-changer, massively increasing transparency and accountability,” said Marco Lambertini, WWF International Director General.
 
“OpenSC is fantastic for businesses that are committed to sustainable and ethical operations. In addition to providing transparency about the origin of an item’s production, OpenSC helps optimise business supply chain operations, reduces costs, and enables producers to manage issues such as product recalls,” said BCGDV Managing Director and Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Council on the Future of Consumption, Paul Hunyor.
 
“OpenSC will revolutionise how we all buy food and other products, enabling us to reduce pressure on habitats and species, while also protecting human rights, and enabling more informed decision-making by consumers, businesses, governments and industry bodies,” said Mr O’Gorman.
 
“We’ve designed this technology to be highly compatible both with existing supply chain operations and certification systems, but also to interface with other Blockchain enabled providence solutions.  It is exciting that producers who are ready to provide transparency to their customers can be on OpenSC
in a very short timeframe,” said Mr Hunyor
 
OpenSC has been launched following an award-winning pilot by WWF and its partners that used blockchain to track tuna caught in the Pacific. It draws on 30 years of WWF’s leadership in supply chain transformations to improve environment outcomes and BCGDV’s expertise in developing blockchain-enabled supply chain traceability and launching innovative start ups.
 
OpenSC-tracked produce will be served to business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 24 January by WWF International Director General Marco Lambertini and BCGDV CEO Stefan Gross-Selbeck.  This will enable business leaders to sit down for a meal at Davos and have full transparency of where their food has come from.
 
 
ENDS
 
**MSC = Marine Stewardship Council, the world’s leading sustainable fishery certification program.
 
 
Media enquiries
David Crisante | WWF media manager | 0428 391 735