SOURCEBOOK GMBH

Their core work

Sourcebook is a Berlin-based technology company that builds digital platforms for product data management, traceability, and marketplace solutions in the textiles and materials sector. Within H2020 projects, they contribute software and data infrastructure for tracking materials through supply chains — from bio-based fibre sourcing to end-of-life circularity. Their work sits at the intersection of digital tools (blockchain, data platforms) and sustainable textile value chains, enabling transparency and traceability across complex multi-partner production networks.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Sourcebook entered H2020 in 2019 with smartX, a cross-regional smart textiles accelerator focused on entrepreneurship and innovation support. Their subsequent projects shifted decisively toward sustainability infrastructure — HEREWEAR (2020) brought them into bio-based circular textiles, and TRICK (2021) deepened their blockchain and traceability capabilities. The trajectory shows a clear move from general textile innovation support toward becoming a specialized digital infrastructure provider for sustainable supply chain transparency.

Sourcebook is converging on digital traceability tools for sustainable product lifecycles — expect them to pursue Digital Product Passport and EU sustainability reporting initiatives next.

How they like to work

Sourcebook operates exclusively as a participant, never leading consortia — typical for a technology provider contributing specific digital tools to larger research and innovation efforts. With 57 unique partners across just 3 projects, they work in large consortia (averaging 19 partners per project), which suggests comfort operating in complex multi-partner environments. Their role pattern indicates they are brought in for their platform and data management capabilities rather than driving the research agenda.

Despite only 3 projects, Sourcebook has built a broad network of 57 partners across 18 countries, giving them wide European reach and connections across the sustainable textiles and circular economy ecosystem.

What sets them apart

Sourcebook occupies a niche that few companies fill: they combine digital platform development with deep domain knowledge in textile supply chains and sustainability. While many partners in circular economy projects are research institutes or material producers, Sourcebook provides the digital backbone — traceability, data management, marketplace infrastructure — that makes transparency and circularity operationally possible. For consortium builders, they offer a ready-made technology partner who understands both the software and the textile domain context.

Highlights from their portfolio

• TRICK
  Their largest funded project (EUR 246,750), combining blockchain interoperability with sustainability standards for cradle-to-cradle product traceability — directly aligned with upcoming EU Digital Product Passport regulations.
• HEREWEAR
  A comprehensive bio-based circular textiles project addressing the full chain from biorefinery to microfibre pollution, with the longest duration (2020-2024) and strong environmental impact scope.