RFID and the fashion industry have come a long way in terms of the wide array of applications they serve together. However, the fashion industry is very competitive, and often the entire process of creating, delivering, and consuming fashion products can compromise sustainability goals. This blog specifically focuses on the use of RFID to make fashion retail sustainable.
How can RFID be useful for the sustainable retail industry?
RFID has played a crucial role in the fashion industry when it comes to traceability applications. This traceability from the origin of the textile material to customer delivery can help make fashion retail more sustainable. Here’s how RFID can make the sustainable fashion retail industry a reality at each step:
- Textile raw material supplier
Even raw material suppliers can use RFID for sustainability initiatives. RFID can allow the supplier to share all the details about the raw materials with the users. These RFID tags can be used to carry the trivia of how the material is made, the environmental consequences of that material, whether the material can be recycled, and what sustainability efforts are put in while supplying those materials. - Manufacturer
Likewise, the manufacturer can also leverage RFID to connect deeper with the customers on sustainability causes. For example, manufacturers can use RFID tags to forward information from raw material suppliers while adding more insights, such as how the manufacturing process takes place and what the instructions are for the longevity of those products. Some manufacturers can also connect in-details with the customers to help them discard or recycle their products in an eco-friendly manner. - Distributor
A proper distribution channel can be helpful to avoid any waste or loss of fashion products along the way from manufacturers to retailers. RFID allows distributors to stay on top of their deliveries by providing a complete outlook of package locations. It also smoothens the logistics across the long route leading to indirect benefits of sustainability. - Retailers
Retail store staff can manage the vast amount of products from distributors without any hassle by using RFID. Through RFID, the store staff can add stock to the inventory management platform without even unpacking the delivery. Such a solution can help save time and effort for retailers while avoiding unnecessary disposal of product packaging materials and reducing waste. - Customers
Throughout the entire product supply chain, RFID tags act as the single piece to carry all the information for customers. With RFID, customers not only know more about the excellent product, but they can also learn insights about how it is made and what are its environmental effects. Such a solution allows brands to create better customer engagement, enable customers to make a difference, and let customers know how to get rid of their fashion product when the time comes.
RFID has been popular among retail outlets, especially for apparel and accessories. RFID-based traceability of fashion products at each step can inspire customers to be responsible for their purchases. Such awareness can then be shadowed into other industries as well, creating healthy competition among the brands to highlight their sustainability efforts.
