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Developed by Northeastern University researchers, Supply Trace combines machine learning and on-the-ground investigation to track goods from apparel companies to regions with a high risk of forced labor.

The European Council has made several proposals to tighten up guidance banning products made with forced labour for sale on the EU market. But what does it mean for fashion brands and retailers? And how should they prepare?

A partnership between Sheffield Hallam University and Northeastern University, Supply Trace uses hundreds of millions of data points connect the dots between buyers and the providers of their goods.

An open access platform which analyses shipping and customs data, import and export records and supply chain data to assess forced labour risks in the Xinjiang region of China has been launched. The Supply Trace platform - which will focus initially on the apparel sector - is a joint project between Northeastern University in the US city of Boston and the UK's Sheffield Hallam University.

The “first” open-access platform, Supply Trace, has been developed between Northeastern and Sheffield Hallam Universities to allow US companies, trade professionals, law enforcement agencies, and civil society to identify potential exposure to forced labour risks within supply chains.

Supply Trace is at the forefront of efforts to combat forced labor in global supply chains, with a particular focus on addressing Uyghur forced labor risks. By coupling AI algorithms for supply chain traceability with risk intelligence, Supply Trace enables anyone, anywhere to detect which supply network relationships are at risk and take the necessary due diligence and remediation actions.

Supply Trace, a pilot established jointly by Sheffield Hallam University and Northeastern University, is using machine learning to develop a free-to-access, searchable online platform that enables anyone to explore tens of millions of shipping records - with the goal of democratising supply chain data and exposing forced labour risk.

Supply Trace's democratization of trade risk data promises to empower stakeholders across industries, facilitating informed decision-making to mitigate forced labor risks and drive positive change in global supply chains.

"The platform is designed to help supply chain participants proactively and continuously access information on potential forced labor risks," Shawn Biman told VOA. This, in turn, helps prevent and institutionalize forced labor in the supply chain," he said, adding that the platform was built for use by companies, civil society, consumers, academia, and governments.

Lack of visibility is a major problem for eradicating forced labour in apparel supply chains, but could the newly launched machine-learning-based Supply Trace platform be about to change that? Just Style speaks to project lead, Dr Shawn Bhimani to learn more.

Shawn Bhimani leads Northeastern’s Supply Trace project, an open-access platform that uses machine learning and shipping data — and on-the-ground investigations — to link forced labor to international trade transactions.

When it comes to monitoring the presence of forced labor in supply chains, China is a “particularly difficult” country to track, Bhimani says. Audits of Chinese factories can’t be trusted, resulting in an absence of “ground truth” about violations of workers’ rights, especially for ethnic Uyghers in Xinxiang Province.

Many of us may not realize the intricate web of human rights violations that can be hidden within the supply chains of the products we use every day. Supply Trace Advisory Board Member Dean Pinkert, of Corporate Accountability Lab, sheds light on the complexities of leveraging trade laws to tackle human rights abuses, the challenges of traceability, and how Supply Trace's open-access data fills a need for informed supply chain decisions.

Ever feel like you’re playing detective with your supply chain? Get ready for a mind-blowing chat about a tool that’s changing the game! In this episode, we dive into the future of global trade with Supply Trace. Whether you’re an international trade pro or just getting started, this conversation is packed with insights that can help you stay ahead of the curve.

Patrick Miller speaks with Shawn Bhimani about various laws requiring information about supply chain risk and how companies, particularly mid/small-sized companies, can use Supply Trace.