Trimco Group and supply chain intelligence provider Retraced have formed a strategic partnership aimed at making traceability information easier to manage—and easier to access—at the individual product level. The companies say the collaboration will help textile and footwear brands respond to tightening regulatory expectations in Europe and other markets by turning verified upstream data into structured, scannable product information.
Under the agreement, Retraced’s upstream traceability capabilities will be connected with Trimco Group’s labelling, packaging, RFID and data services. The combined set-up is intended to support product-level supply chain transparency from the earliest sourcing stages through to finished goods, giving brands a single, integrated workflow for supplier and product data.
A key element of the joint offer is on-product QR labelling. Brands will be able to apply QR codes generated by Trimco Group to items, allowing consumers, retailers and regulators to view structured details on origin and supply chain journey by scanning the label. Depending on how a client chooses to implement the solution, the information can be presented through Trimco Group’s Digital Manager with ProductDNA or through Retraced’s platform.
The partners said the approach is designed to support compliance with existing and incoming rules, including the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, by ensuring that verified data is not only collected but also linked to specific products in a consistent format.
Trimco Group sustainability and compliance director Camilla Mjelde said the value of transparency depends on whether it can be delivered in a usable way. “Transparency only creates value when it is accessible, structured, and connected to the physical product. By integrating our ProductDNA platform and labelling expertise with Retraced’s upstream traceability technology, we are making it significantly easier for brands to turn complex supply chain data into clear, credible product information.”
Retraced said its platform already supports brands with supplier mapping, data administration, claim verification and collaboration across partner networks. By combining these functions with Trimco’s on-product labelling and identification tools, the companies say brands can validate data and share it more effectively with external stakeholders—while keeping compliance checks closer to real time.
Retraced’s policy compliance and partnerships director Roman Houlbreque said brands need traceability that does not remain trapped in back-end systems. “Supply chain data on its own doesn’t create value if it stays in disconnected systems. Brands need to bring that information to the product level in a way that is usable for compliance and communication. By partnering with Trimco Group, we are closing that gap — linking upstream data with on-product solutions in a way that is practical and scalable.”
By anchoring verified upstream information to QR-enabled labels, the partnership aims to make product-level supply chain transparency operational—supporting both regulatory disclosure and the wider industry push for clearer, more credible product claims.
