Blockchain technology can improve the traceability of wood in the supply chain

A study presents blockchain technology as a way to electronically track wood as it travels from the forest to the final product, using an infotracing system (information-tracing system) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology that retains wood records in a secure, decentralized and distributed way.

The researchers simulated an entire wood supply chain in a region of southern Italy, from 10 chestnut trees to their final products, using blockchain technology to electronically track the wood.

The 10 trees were marked with RFID tags and cut to form 48 logs. These cut portions were again labeled and then transported to be processed. These were turned into products, tagged with RFID and QR codes and sold to consumers. The tags contained information such as important dates, location, species, log length, wood quality and number of logs derived per parent tree.

Blockchain technology connects the various time-stamped records to form a linear, interconnected chain. These records cannot be altered, making this system highly secure and resistant to manipulation.

Therefore, there is the possibility of global monitoring and real-time georeferencing, optimizing operations in terms of time, materials and cost. This technology can also help to precisely define areas of interest and quantities, sizes and species of wood for the European market, or identify the presence of particularly valuable materials.

This entire monitoring system is important for wood products, especially to verify their origin, avoiding products of illegal origin. Such a transparent system would put heavy pressure on illegal cutting, help industry to manage transactions efficiently and could lead to economic sustainability, as wood manufacturers are willing to pay a premium 2-3% for certified wood.