The new Swedish blockchain platform PaperTale makes it possible for consumers to simply scan a product with their smartphone and get authenticated information about the supply chain and the product’s environmental impact. The platform also shows information about the workers who made the product and confirms lawful salaries. Consumers are therefore given the power to make informed decisions about the things we buy, which could transform the consumption behavior and strengthen companies who work sustainably.
Consumer trust crisis
According to the study “2019 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: In Brands We Trust”, only 34% respond that they trust most of the brands they buy or use. The figure has dropped steadily from 2012 (47%) when the survey began.
Through advertising, news and other information, it becomes increasingly difficult to assess the truth in all claims made. Legislation and various forms of certifications have sought to force more sustainable production and reduced environmental impact. However, there are many indications that, for example, certifications often do not lead to any actual change, but are instead used as so-called “greenwashing”. Consumers seem to rely less and less on the companies’ claims, since there’s no way for consumers to verify that companies’ claims are correct. This is where PaperTale comes into the picture!
The Future is here
PaperTale AB is a Swedish company that has developed a technology which allows consumers to verify the claims made by companies. PaperTale enables traceability throughout the production process and has a built-in “Environmental Calculator” which shows the product’s environmental impact, based on production methods and materials being used.
The platform shows basic information about the employees behind the products and confirms whether the workers received law abiding salaries and if they have written employment contracts. A large number of people in developing countries are working under slave-like conditions with wages below minimum wages and never gets the chance to receive education. “If we recognized and nourished the competence of the developing countries, we might have already visited Mars,” says PaperTale’s founder Bilal Bhatti.
With the PaperTale technology, there’s a possibility for the consumers to be interactive with the people who produce our products. The platform also gives consumers the opportunity to send tip to the workers or make contributions via crowdfunding of education to their children. Imagine having the opportunity to give a small tip to the person who made your favorite product.
With PaperTale’s platform, every step in the production, i.e. material, source, work etcetera, is verified through the Blockchain. All transactions, such as donations or tip, can be tracked and ensured that it is transferred directly to the intended recipient.
PaperTale’s “Proof of Concept”
After two years of developing PaperTale, the platform is ready to be presented to the world. As a Proof of Concept, PaperTale has implemented the technology in a textile factory in Pakistan, where all clothes are now manufactured with the new technology. The possibilities with the technology are almost endless and PaperTale wants to further develop the concept and in time implement additional features as well as for other industries.
