Markus Mutz: How supply chain transparency can help the planet

Hey, fellow tech enthusiasts! I just watched Markus Mutz's TED Talk titled "How Supply Chain Transparency Can Help the Planet," presented at TED@BCG Mumbai in September 2019. Mutz, an entrepreneur and supply chain innovator, introduces an inspiring and transformative vision for consumer products' transparency. He discusses how blockchain technology can be leveraged to track the journey of products like the Patagonian toothfish, ensuring that consumers have the information they need to make sustainable choices.

Understanding the Information Gap

Markus Mutz begins his talk by highlighting a significant issue: the lack of transparency in consumer products' supply chains. While we can access comprehensive information about various aspects of our lives with just a tap on our phones, the same cannot be said for the products we buy. Mutz argues that the lack of transparency in supply chains makes it challenging for consumers to make informed choices. When you buy fish at the supermarket, for instance, you rarely know who caught it, where it was caught, or whether the fishing practices were sustainable.

The Promise of Blockchain for Transparency

Mutz's solution to this transparency issue involves blockchain technology. He describes how blockchain can provide consumers with detailed information about the products they buy. By using blockchain to track a product's journey from origin to market, Mutz believes that consumers can make more ethical and environmentally friendly choices. This technology ensures that data about a product's sourcing and production remains tamper-proof and trustworthy, offering consumers peace of mind.

Verifying Sustainability and Ethical Claims

In his talk, Mutz outlines a three-step approach: verify, trace, and share. The first step, verifying, involves using data and technology to confirm sustainability and ethical claims about products. For example, he explains how real-time GPS data from fishing vessels, combined with machine learning algorithms, can verify whether a fish was caught sustainably. By verifying these claims, blockchain ensures that consumers can trust the information provided about a product's origin and production.

Tracing Products Through the Supply Chain

The second step is tracing products throughout the supply chain. Mutz emphasizes the importance of giving each product a unique identity, such as a serial number or QR code, which allows it to be tracked from the point of origin to the consumer. This level of traceability ensures that verified claims about a product remain linked to that specific item, maintaining transparency throughout its journey.

Sharing Information with Consumers

The final step is sharing verified information with consumers in a user-friendly way. Mutz highlights the need for digital experiences tailored to different purchasing contexts, whether it's buying fish at a supermarket or dining at a restaurant. These experiences allow consumers to access relevant information about a product's journey and make choices aligned with their values.