Fibers with physical features used for coding

An acetate tow band comprising fibers,

• wherein the fibers comprise standard fibers and identification fibers, wherein the standard fibers comprise cellulose acetate,
• wherein each of the identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature,
• wherein the at least one distinct feature comprises at least one taggant optical properties
• wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more groups of distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the identification fibers having the same distinct feature or a same combination of the distinct features,
• wherein a number of the identification fibers in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers is defined as a fiber count, wherein at least one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber count,
• and wherein (i) the at least one taggant optical properties, (ii) the distinct features in each group of distinguishable identification fibers, and (iii) the one or more taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply chain component of the acetate tow band.

Method of making an acetate tow band comprising fibers,

• wherein the fibers comprise standard fibers and identification fibers, wherein the standard fibers comprise cellulose acetate,
• wherein the method comprises:
• (a) obtaining the identification fibers
• (b) producing the standard fibers on a first fiber production process;
• and
• (c) combining the identification fibers and the standard fibers into the acetate tow band,
• wherein each of the identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature,
• wherein the at least one distinct feature comprises at least one taggant optical properties,
• wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more groups of distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the identification fibers having the same distinct feature or a same combination of the distinct features,
• wherein a number of the identification fibers in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers is defined as a fiber count, wherein at least one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber count,
• and wherein (i) the at least one taggant optical properties, (ii) the distinct features in each group of distinguishable identification fibers, and (iii) the one or more taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply chain component of the acetate tow band.