RAIN RFID is helping to create a sustainable future

By Times 7, Jun 29, 2022

RFID technology is having a massive effect on reducing waste in consumption and supply chains. We are pleased to see the RAIN RFID community's increasing focus on sustainability here in New Zealand and overseas.   

Let's see how RFID is increasing sustainability efforts across different industries.  

RFID-based label solutions help to reduce food waste 

RFID can be a great tool to reduce food waste and increase recycling. As well as providing localized information about the recyclability of packaging, RFID may be used to encourage consumers to recycle more and reduce food waste, both in supply chains and at home. Avery Dennison provides RFID-based label solutions to provide greater visibility into the food supply chain, allowing producers, transporters, and retailers to manage inventories more efficiently. With RFID-enabled supply chains, over time, we anticipate that producers will be able to optimize food supply based on verified demand. Using RFID-tagged products to get a more accurate picture of their inventories can help grocers monitor food temperatures, and better manage expiration dates all in the effort to reduce food waste.  

Item-level RFID can deliver stock accuracy 

In complex ecosystems such as supply chains, it isn't surprising that reliable, real-time data is one of the essential requirements for implementing sustainable policies. With item-level RFID, retailers can make informed decisions about inventory levels.  By supporting and enhancing green supply chain management practices, RFID can contribute significantly to environmental sustainability. Through the use of RFID, companies can reduce waste, emissions, and energy consumption. 

Excess inventory contributes to landfill waste 

Returns and excess inventory contribute to 4 billion pounds of landfill waste annually. 

Your business can decrease its environmental impact if you can count on having the right number of the right products at the right place and right time. This is true in retail, where consumers are increasingly concerned about overproduction and waste. For example, Burberry announced that they had stopped burning unsold items and started reusing, repairing, donating, or recycling them instead. Despite the financial and environmental costs of returns and excess inventory, online retailers like Asos have begun to address the issue.  

RFID can link all the processes in the supply chain, from raw materials to product authentication.  

Sustainability defining practices for RAIN  

A RAIN RFID system bridges the physical and digital worlds and provides numerous benefits regarding business processes and financial performance. Sustainable development is becoming a driving force of change as consumers, businesses, investors, and governments prioritize it. As RAIN continues to expand, so does its environmental footprint. With more industry players, investors, governments, and consumers learning of the sustainability benefits of RAIN item-level tracking, the RAIN label market is growing exponentially. 

We are raising awareness for sustainability and how we can contribute to it in support of RAIN.

To find out more about RAIN RFID's sustainable initiative, click here. Contact us at marketing@times-7.com to learn how RFID solutions can make your workplace more sustainable.