Describes the traceable path of a product or material along the entire supply chain.
Chain of Custody (COC)
Chain of Custody (COC) describes the traceable path of a product or material along the entire supply chain - from raw material extraction, processing and transportation through to the finished end product. The chain of custody is a certifiable process that ensures that a product comes from sustainable, legal or otherwise specified sources. This approach plays a central role in the transparency and credibility of sustainable supply chains and is used in numerous sectors such as the timber, textile, chemical and food industries.
How it works
Chain of custody certification means that every step along the supply chain is documented and verifiable. Companies must ensure that raw materials and intermediate products are certified and labeled accordingly and that the sustainable properties of the product (e.g. recycled content, environmentally friendly origin) can be verified at all times. The main steps include
1. Identification of raw materials: the first step is to document where the raw materials used come from and whether they meet the requirements of the COC.
2. Certification along the supply chain: every supplier and manufacturer along the chain must be certified in order to ensure complete traceability and compliance with the standards.
3. Documentation and transparency: the transfer of information on the origin and quality of materials is recorded in writing and monitored.
4. Independent audits: External certification bodies verify compliance with COC requirements and ensure the credibility of sustainability claims.
Types of Chain of Custody models
There are different approaches to implementing a chain of custody along the supply chain:
Identity Preserved: The origin and identity of a raw material is maintained unchanged throughout the chain. This model is the strictest and ensures that the origin is fully preserved in the end product.
Segregation: Certified raw materials are kept separate along the chain, but mixtures within a certified stock are permitted. This ensures sustainability without maintaining the specific source of the raw material.
Mass balance: Certified and non-certified raw materials may be mixed within the chain, whereby the proportion that is sustainable is calculated. This enables flexible use, but requires complete documentation.
Book and claim: In this model, there is no physical tracking of the raw material; instead, a virtual certificate for the sustainable production of a raw material is bought and sold. This model is often used for raw materials that are difficult to trace.
Advantages of the Chain of Custody
Transparency and credibility: a certified Chain of Custody offers consumers certainty about the origin and sustainability of the product.
Promotion of sustainable practices: The demand for certified supply chains actively promotes the use of sustainable materials and ethical production practices.
Risk management: Companies can minimize risks in the supply chain, for example in relation to illegal raw material extraction or unethical working conditions.
Challenges
Cost and complexity: The implementation of a chain of custody can be cost-intensive due to the checks, certifications and documentation, especially for global supply chains.
Dependence on certification bodies: The credibility of the chain of custody depends heavily on the integrity and transparency of the certification body.
Data and documentation effort: Complete documentation is necessary, which requires technical and administrative resources