transparency
The effects of counterfeiting on poverty across multiple industries
The first Goal that has been set for 2030 by all United Nations Member States in the Agenda for Sustainable Development is to eradicate poverty. In 2015, 10% of the world population was living in extreme poverty, with troubles in fulfilling vital needs like health, education, and access to clean water and sanitation. (1)
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The automotive & aircraft spare parts counterfeiting. Often a matter of life or death
Aircrafts are generally designed for a life cycle of many years. For instance, the B-52, went into service in 1955 and its retirement date has been scheduled for 2040. (1) Therefore, to perform a regular maintenance of aerospace and defense products throughout their lifecycle it might be necessary to use parts that are no longer […]
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The “dangerous” market of fake cosmetics and how to end it
In 2018, the value of the global cosmetics market was 507.8 billion U.S. dollars. The same market is projected to reach the value of almost 760 billion U.S. dollars by 2025. (1) The growth of the cosmetics field has gone hand-in-hand with an increase in counterfeiting, which some associations have quantified as a rise of […]
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A revolutionary system to engage end-users and trace cocoa beans until a chocolates’ box
Chocolate is one the most consumed luxury foods worldwide. In western European countries the per capita consumption reaches almost 10 kg/year.[1] Consumers, more and more concerned about food safety, today want to be informed about all the processes in the food supply chain. And for the cocoa market they make no exception.
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QR codes. A clumsy attempt to match consumer desire for food authenticity
In the last years, the attention towards food specific attributes has been increasing constantly. Consumers pay more and more attention to what they buy every day in terms of quality of ingredients, origin, traceability and sustainability. According to a research commissioned by the EU (1), the majority of European citizens take quality into great consideration […]
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The king of wine counterfeiting is free and (maybe) back to business
Rudy Kurniawan, the worldwide known wine fraudster, has been released on November 6, after spending 7 years in prison for his millionaire scams. How to protect your brand against counterfeiting?
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Veterinary drugs. Fakes and illicit markets
When talking about troubles with veterinary drugs, the first thing that comes to our mind is the extensive use of antibiotics in modern farms. It is true that today antibiotics are the only way to overcome a bacterial disease efficiently. However, their misuse to increase animal growth-rate and productivity can stimulate the development of an […]
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Herbs and spices. Hard to recognize, easy to counterfeit
The term “spices” comes from the Latin “species” which indicates a special type of valuable goods that differs from ordinary ones. Due to their exotic characteristics and low availability, in mediaeval times the term gradually came to indicate the vegetable substances of oriental origin mainly used for cooking purposes. Apart from the religious valence and […]
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Illegal agrochemical products. Numbers, risks and solutions
It is not just about the vegetable soup you might eat once a month, it is also about the wooden table on which you eat the soup, or even the cotton shirt you are wearing every day. Now think about all the staple crops in different areas of the world and the ones that are […]
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Blockchain-based traceability for the Food & Beverage sector. The QR code deception
Nowadays, when it comes to produce and sell food and beverages, traceability represents a fundamental requirement. Before becoming an advertising stunt, we must say that the “ability” to “trace” food along the supply chain till the point of sale is mandatory by law. However, following product’s path from the production site to the shelves of […]
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