They also control who sees what: sensitive formulas and commercial relationships stay locked down, even as the underlying compliance data becomes visible across the network.
As Brittany explains:“ Greater visibility can create tension around information suppliers have spent years protecting, but transparency does not have to come at the expense of data privacy.
“ For example, a brand may need to trace an ingredient back to its source or verify a packaging material meets certain standards, but it does not need full access to a supplier’ s formulas, pricing, or other proprietary information.”
Does it actually work? The numbers suggest so, and they’ ve grown. TRASCE now has 18 members, up from its 15 founders in 2023. Three years on, the Transparency- One platform has identified 3,778 suppliers, of which around 36 %( 1,350) have actually shared data. More than a third sharing information is a meaningful achievement.
Its approach is logical, with 12 priority chains being addressed initially, which is now nearing 40. Dedicated working groups have been established for wood and coconut, where suppliers, NGOs and certification bodies are building real improvement plans together. Coconut work has led members to explore certification covering both virgin oil and derivatives; wood work has focused on standardising supplier questionnaires and leaning on existing forest-protection standards.
“ When suppliers know their information is protected, they are more willing to share it. Building trust is what ultimately gives brands a clearer, more complete view of their supply chains”
Brittany Sizemore Senior Vice President Transparency-One
Climate follows the same pattern. Supplier LOCT replaces static questionnaires with guided emissions calculations and Science Based Targets, tackling Scope 3 at the source. Shared infrastructure beats redundant surveys, and compliance becomes something brands act on. TRASCE’ s next goal, pushing traceability beyond Tier 2, is exactly the deep-tier blind spot this piece opened with.
112 September 2026