Disclosed is a method of characterizing a fiber sample comprising standard fibers and identification fibers which can be used for tracking and tracing fibers through at least part of the supply chain. Each identification fiber exhibits at least one distinct feature. Each group of distinguishable identification fibers can exhibit a taggant cross-section shape, a taggant cross-section size, or combination of the same taggant cross-section shape and same taggant cross-section size. The distinct features and the number of fibers in each group of distinguishable identification fibers can represent at least one supply chain component of the fibers. The fiber sample can include a portion of an acetate tow band or a filter made from the acetate tow band, and the supply chain information can include the manufacturer of the acetate tow band and the customer of the acetate tow band.