Applied DNA Sciences has signed a multi-year license agreement with GHCL Ltd., a global manufacturer of home textiles, to provide CertainT platform services in connection with source-verified, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and recycled PET (post consumer) in select home textile products. PET is the clear plastic best known for its use in water bottles, and is the most widely recycled plastic in the world.
GHCL will use Applied DNA’s CertainT platform in connection with PET and/or recycled PET-blended bed sheets, pillowcases and shams products sold in-store or online in the US. GHCL has also licensed Applied DNA’s CertainT trademark for use on its products, as well as for promotional, marketing and sales materials.
The agreement provides for guaranteed minimum annual revenues as well as trademark licensing royalties to Applied DNA.
GHCL will use Applied DNA’s CertainT platform, a fully integrated supply chain platform for verifying PET and recycled PET authenticity from source to retail shelf. With this platform, GHCL assures that any of its textile products using PET and recycled PET will contain the original source raw materials. Applied DNA will provide its patented and proprietary tagging, testing and tracking services to GHCL as a CertainT licensee.
“As the need for sustainable and recyclable textiles continues to increase demand from our customers, we want to offer products that provide true traceability that goes beyond a paper document. In these uncertain times, our customers deserve and expect certainty,” stated Mr. Neeraj Jalan, Business Head, Home Textiles, for GHCL. “The collaboration with Applied DNA provides a means to produce and supply our customers with source-verified, recycled products, as well as access to new authentication technologies in synthetic fibers that Applied DNA develops over the course of our relationship.”
As part of the platform, Applied DNA’s molecular tag is extruded into recycled components that create recycled PET fiber, with no impact on performance or quality of the fiber or filament yarns. Thereafter, any piece of CertainT-tagged textiles can be forensically authenticated by detecting the molecular tag in the recycled PET fiber, ensuring its authenticity and origin.
“We bring ‘CertainT’ in uncertain times, especially as many brands and retailers need to fulfil their sustainability goals by the year 2020,” said Dr. James Hayward, President and CEO of Applied DNA. “The CertainT platform will help GHCL produce innovative products utilizing an efficient and trusted traceability system with a fair return. Differentiating their brand in the marketplace through use of our CertainT trademark will signify to consumers the products comply with our supply chain platform and are verifiably made from recycled fibers.”
GHCL is a well-diversified Indian Group with footprints in the chemicals, textiles and consumer products segment. GHCL’s Textiles Division is a vertically integrated manufacturing facility with spinning, wider-width weaving, continuous fabric processing, and cut & sew facilities for manufacturing premium quality bed linen.
GHCL is one of India’s leading manufacturers of home textiles, with in-house spinning unit having capability to manufacture multiple varieties of 100% cotton and blended yarns at various facilities.
Licensing pact with Himatsingka America
Applied DNA Sciences, Inc., has announced the signing of a new licensing agreement with Himatsingka America, Inc. of the Himatsingka Group to empower large-scale supply chain security within the cotton industry.
“This new agreement represents a strengthened partnership between Applied DNA and Himatsingka, as both companies are committed to meeting the need for supply chain traceability, transparency and trust within the cotton industry. Applied DNA is looking forward to continuing to work with the Himatsingka Group, and we are excited at the opportunity to expand market awareness and implement the technology into additional cotton supply chains,” stated Dr. James A. Hayward, President and CEO of Applied DNA.
Commenting on the development, Mr. Shrikant Himatsingka, Managing Director & CEO, Himatsingka Group, said: “We look forward to taking the Applied DNA technology platform global and continuing to bring cutting edge track and trace capabilities to benefit stakeholders across the cotton value chain. The Himatsingka Group will leverage its world-class manufacturing and distribution capabilities to ensure that these innovations by Applied DNA find their place across global shelves and penetrate new categories of products.”