Our
Technology
Our team of world-class scientists accurately verify your
cotton's origin on an atomic level
All living things can be traced back to their geographical origin based on their chemical composition, and cotton is no exception.
By breaking it down to an atomic level, we can compare its stable isotopic ratios and other physical and chemical attributes to find a match in our proprietary database. This helps us pinpoint the region of origin of your product without needing audits or site visits.
What are Stable Isotopes?
Each atom contains protons and neutrons in its nucleus, in which the number of protons defines the element (i.e. hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, etc.) and the sum of the number of protons and neutrons defines the atomic mass. The number of neutrons (neutral particles) can vary and these are different isotopes of one element. For example, most carbon atoms have six protons and six neutrons with an atomic mass of 12, however some are “heavy” and have seven neutrons, with an atomic mass of 13. Stable isotopes do not decay into other elements – they are “stable” through time. In contrast, radioactive isotopes (e.g., 14C) are unstable and will decay into other elements.
How can we use Isotopes?
Stable isotopes act as a bio-fingerprint. They help identify the origin of cotton by looking at the variations in isotopic composition in different geographical regions. These variations occur as plants absorb isotopes from their environment, including water and soil nutrients. The ratio of stable isotopes of carbon (e.g., carbon-13 to carbon-12) in plants can vary based on factors like climate, soil composition, and agricultural practices. By analyzing the isotopic composition of cotton fibers, we have been building up our own isotopic signature database for cotton grown in specific regions.
Our Streamlined Process
With the use of Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry, the cotton or products are chemically broken down and injected into a mass spectrometer.
The relative abundance of each isotope is measured by their deflection through a magnetic field.
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Once the stable isotope signatures have been detected, they are then compared against a reference database.
Our Routine
Our Sampling Protocol
