Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has been trialling blockchain technology as a means of creating a transparent supply chain for its leather goods used in the company’s luxury vehicles.

Mint reports that the luxury carmaker has collaborated with supply chain traceability service provider Circulor, Bridge of Weir Leather Company, and the University of Nottingham to trial the technology that will improve traceability across the entire leather supply chain.

The technology will not only keep track of compliance but also monitor the carbon footprint of the leather supply chain, tracking low-carbon leather from farm to finished product.

The system creates a digital version of the raw material, allowing it to be tracked across the entire supply chain in the real world and the virtual using GPS data, biometrics, and QR codes to verify and track the movement of the leather.

The trial is part of JLR’s ‘Reimagine’ strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across the firm’s entire supply chain, products and operations by 2039.

Dave Owen, JLR’s executive director of supply chain, said: “We are currently restructuring our supply chain as part of Reimagine, with a focus on transparency and sustainability. 

“The outcome from this world-first trial will allow us to further improve the sustainability of the leather supply chain around the globe, ensuring the complete traceability of raw materials from origin to vehicle.”

The carmaker is also starting to offer customers the option for sustainable material choices for their vehicles, such as a natural fibre textile made from eucalyptus which is used on the current Range Rover Evoque and Kvadrat, a wool blend textile which is coupled with a suede cloth trim made from recycled plastic bottles.

If you’re looking for Land Rover V8 specialists, get in touch today.