Suppliers back traceability & origin verification

Oritain has launched a Supplier Intelligence Report examining supplier attitudes to transparency, traceability and origin verification across 10 manufacturing markets.

The study surveyed 122 senior decision-makers, mostly at Director level or above, in China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Türkiye, Vietnam, Singapore, Bangladesh and Pakistan. According to Oritain, 80% of respondents had more than four years of industry experience.

The findings suggest broad supplier support for greater supply chain visibility. More than 85% of respondents described supply chain transparency as important or very important to their business, while nearly 80% said they already use some form of traceability solution.

Suppliers also indicated a willingness to go further. The report found that 75% are open to adopting new traceability technologies and 77% are interested in taking part in origin verification initiatives.

Pressure appears to be coming from several directions. Oritain found that 81% of suppliers identified consumer demand as a key driver of transparency efforts, while retailer requirements and regulatory changes were also cited as important influences on investment decisions.

Shift in priorities

The report argues that these findings challenge the assumption that suppliers resist tighter scrutiny of sourcing claims. Instead, it presents them as increasingly engaged in systems that can document where products and materials come from.

That matters as brands, retailers and manufacturers face growing scrutiny of their sourcing practices. In sectors such as textiles and other globally traded goods, claims about provenance and responsible sourcing are becoming more closely tied to compliance, procurement and reputational risk.

Oritain specialises in forensic origin verification, using scientific analysis to test whether products match claims about where they were produced or sourced. It said the new supplier-focused research builds on its broader global supply chain intelligence work.

Another finding pointed to a stronger role for senior management. The report found that 73% of suppliers involve executive leadership in traceability and transparency decisions, suggesting these issues are being treated as business priorities rather than being left to sustainability teams.

Oritain also presented verification as the next stage beyond traceability alone. The distinction matters because traceability systems can record supply chain information, while verification is designed to test whether those records and claims stand up to independent scrutiny.

It has become more important as companies face questions from regulators, customers and investors about the basis for claims on product origin and sourcing standards. For suppliers, taking part in such programmes can also shape how they present themselves to buyers in competitive sourcing markets.

Gemma Lynch, Chief Customer Officer at Oritain, said the findings point to a change in supplier attitudes. "The findings tell a different story than many people expect. Suppliers are not pushing back against transparency. They are actively looking for ways to participate in a more trusted supply chain ecosystem. The challenge is no longer willingness to engage. The challenge is ensuring claims can be substantiated with credible evidence when questions arise," Lynch said.

Collaboration theme

Collaboration was another central theme in the research. Oritain said the level of interest in origin verification initiatives indicates momentum for shared approaches involving suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and brands, rather than systems designed and imposed by one side of the supply chain alone.

It linked that point to recent changes in its membership programme, which it said were intended to create a stronger framework for cooperation between buyers and suppliers. The model was described as combining origin verification, supply chain intelligence and a network of participating businesses.

Lynch said supply chain integrity would depend on shared systems and evidence. "The future of supply chain integrity will not be built by organisations operating in isolation. It will be built through networks of buyers and suppliers working from a shared foundation of trusted data, independent verification and actionable intelligence. As expectations continue to rise, organisations need more than visibility into their supply chains. They need confidence in the information they are using to make decisions. Our role is to provide the science, intelligence and verification that help make that possible," Lynch said.