The role of the licensed customs broker has made a shift from transactional to strategic. Historically, licensed customs brokers were brought in at the end of the supply chain. Today, they are needed further upstream in the supply chain. A great example has to do with cotton textile supply chains, where so many importers and their supply chain manufacturers, have been very concerned about how to prove the origin of their materials and avoid detention or red flagging by US Customs and Border Protection. In this conversation, GenuTrace and CargoTrans break down what importers really need to substantiate origin claims and why documentation alone isn’t enough.

Most customs issues don’t start at the port. They start deep in your supply chain, long before your shipment moves. For companies importing cotton and textile products, proving origin is no longer optional, it’s under intense scrutiny, especially with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). In this conversation, GenuTrace and CargoTrans break down what importers really need to substantiate origin claims and why documentation alone isn’t enough.

In this episode, MeiLin Wan, founder of GenuTrace, discusses the critical importance of traceability in the textile industry, particularly in light of increasing regulations and consumer expectations.

With nearly a billion pounds of materials tracked under her leadership, MeiLin emphasizes the shift from marketing claims to scientifically substantiated proof of sustainability. She highlights the need for both physical and digital verification methods, such as DNA testing and isotope analysis, to ensure that products are ethically sourced and compliant with regulations like the UFLPA.

In this episode, MeiLin Wan, founder of GenuTrace, discusses the critical importance of traceability in the textile industry, particularly in light of increasing regulations and consumer expectations.he

On October 28, GenuTrace with LinkedIn & networking expert Beth Granger, Dr. Barbara Brockway and MeiLin Wan provided a practical session on moving from marketing claims to verifiable proof—what to say, how to say it, and how to prove it.

Science has given us the tools to trace products all the way back to origin. But are businesses willing to make use of them?

Supply chains are by their nature brutally complex, with multiple tiers of suppliers that make it tough to identify where products originated. Now, however, we can deploy such tools as DNA and isotope testing, coupled with physical tracers and digital models, to follow product ingredients all the way back to the raw-material stage.

The Textile Innovation Podcast speaks with MeiLin Wan, founder and CEO of GenuTrace.

The US-based consulting business provides advisory services in supply chain traceability, brand protection and product authentication. Using multi-proof point technology, from forensic testing to digital tools, companies can back up sustainability claims with science-based evidence. 

On this episode of The Caring Economy, MeiLin Wan, Founder and CEO of GenuTrace brings both passion and clarity to the discussion, explaining how DNA tagging and isotope analysis can revolutionize supply chain transparency in textiles. Toby Uznik guides the discussion:
• How brands can ensure ethical sourcing and sustainability claims
• The role of DNA in validating organic cotton and other raw materials
• Why transparency is the next competitive edge for businesses
• What traceability means for the future of consumer trust

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.