# Product Modelling Networks Makersite Provides Transparency Tools to Map Out Ethical Supply Chains By Alyson Wyers | Published 2017-05-26 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/transparency-tools References: [springwise](https://www.springwise.com/digital-tool-maps-environmental-impact-individual-supply-chains/) & [makersite.net](https://www.makersite.net/) These [online transparency tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/algorithm-transparency) helps you measure the [environmental impact of supply chains](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wildsight). From British software engineering firm EveryCS, Makersite is a free platform that enables product designers to examine how changing technology, suppliers or materials can affect their whole supply chain. By bringing data, people and tools together, the "product innovation network" allows people to make better products, faster. Using millions of data points relating to thousands of materials, products and sub-assemblies, Makersite lets you improve your product model, figure out costs, environmental footprints, research uses, risks and regulations. In addition to introducing you to [community](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/community-platforms), the platform also allows you to try out alternative models. Similar transparency tools have been used in media with transparent news sources and demand for television content. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.5/10 - Popularity: 24% | Activity: 14% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Social Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialbusiness) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Supply Chain Transparency:** Makersite's transparency tools provide a unique opportunity for companies to analyze and improve their supply chain sustainability and ethics. - **Product Innovation Networks:** Makersite's platform enables product designers to make better products faster by bringing data, people, and tools together. - **Alternative Models Testing:** Makersite's platform allows users to try out alternative models for products within their supply chain, which can lead to disruptive innovation opportunities. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Supply Chain Management:** Makersite's transparency tools are most relevant to companies involved in managing and optimizing complex supply chains. - **Product Design and Manufacturing:** Makersite's platform is most useful to product designers and manufacturers looking to improve their product models, innovation processes, and sustainability. - **Media and Entertainment:** Transparency tools have also been used in media and entertainment to verify news sources and improve TV content, which presents similar opportunities for disruptive innovation. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Retail-Forward AI Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/piconext.md) - [Supply Chain Transparency Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cotton-supply-chain.md) - [AI-Powered Fashion Design Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/make-the-dot.md) - [Product-Tracking Digital Brochures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/another-tomorrow.md) - [Conscious Shopping Assistants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/better-buy.md) - [AI-Driven Supply Chain Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/supply-chain-data-hub.md) - [Transparency Driven Shoppers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/px-pulse.md) - [E-Commerce Denim Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/denim-platform.md) - [Micro SaaS Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/makerstower.md)