Sustainability is not just a responsibility: it is a smart strategy to increase performance, transparency, and long-term business resilience. By integrating sustainable practices into their overall strategy, managing environmentally friendly supply chains, and complying with environmental regulations, companies can turn challenges into opportunities. While it may seem daunting, those willing to adapt can thrive in a more sustainable world.

RFID technology can be a key factor in companies' adaptation to this growing environmental concern. Traditionally, RFID has been used to track and manage inventories, assets, and even people. However, beyond its conventional applications, RFID for a more sustainable world is emerging as a crucial tool through the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle.

In this article, we will explore how RFID technology can help companies minimise waste, and improve reuse.

How Sustainable RFID Supports Waste Management

One of the main benefits of RFID is waste management. This technology provides accurate, real-time data on inventory levels, helping businesses make informed decisions to avoid overproduction and reduce excess stock.

Implementing RFID technology is crucial, particularly in the food sector. According to the FAO (2019), globally, 14% of food, with an estimated value of USD 400 billion, is lost between harvest and distribution.

Another 17% is wasted in distribution and among final consumers (UNEP, 2021). Implementing RFID technology in food trade processes can lead to a significant reduction in food waste. By ensuring accurate stock levels and timely restocking, RFID helps maintain optimal inventory, reducing spoilage and waste.

To contribute to resource reduction from the production of RFID tags, Checkpoint created the Vortex tag, which, compared to the Zephir tag, shows an approximate size reduction of 56.8%. This smaller size means less material is used in each tag, demonstrating significant material reduction without compromising functionality and contributing to overall waste reduction.

Reuse: Essential for the Environment

RFID can also be utilised for product reuse. By holding data on how to repair, options for reuse, and also recycling of product components - RFID can be utilised to drive a more circular economy. This capability is especially beneficial in sectors like retail, restaurants and hospitality, where products and materials are frequently reused.

The circular economy is a model that seeks to eliminate waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems. Legislation is becoming increasingly stringent, requiring companies to adopt practices that reduce waste, increase reuse, and improve recycling.

For example, at Checkpoint, we worked on a project for a major fast-food company that involved implementing RFID labels, hardware, and software in their restaurants in France. This helped to reduce their waste and provided unparalleled real-time visibility of reusable plastic packaging, allowing for quick and efficient inventory management and optimising provisioning to ensure long-term use and safety of stock. This company recently used RFID to collect and reuse tableware, further demonstrating the solution's effectiveness.

Enhancing Recycling with Sustainable RFID Technology

Recycling is another critical area where RFID technology has a substantial impact. An RFID tag can be made from recycled materials and developed with materials that do not inhibit the recycling stream.

RFID technology not only aids in waste reduction but also significantly improves the recycling process. Testing conducted by an independent lab showed that various RF and RFID inlays achieved a recyclability rate of at least 93.8% when applied to recyclable paper and board. Additionally, RFID inlays in plastics received 'good' or 'very good' ratings for recyclable rigid and flexible plastics. These results confirm that Checkpoint RFID inlays do not adversely affect the recyclability status of packaging according to EU guidelines. 

Global initiatives further underscore the role of RFID in recycling. Checkpoint Systems is working with key organisations and policymakers across the Americas and Asia-Pacific, and its involvement in the RAIN RFID “Plastic Packaging Tiger Team” highlights a global commitment to sustainable practices and supports end-users' recycling goals. 

RFID technology also enables the storage of information about a product’s material content, allowing recyclers to sort products into the correct recycling stream without physical sorting or chemical analysis. This capability enhances large-scale recycling processes for end-of-life garments and promotes the reuse of recycled textiles, contributing to more efficient and sustainable waste management practices.

Sustainability Infographic

RFID offers a comprehensive answer to some of the most urgent environmental challenges. By adopting RFID, companies can make significant progress toward a more sustainable future, characterised by efficient resource management, waste reduction, and better recycling and reuse practices. Integrating RFID for sustainable world is a necessary step to achieve long-term operational excellence.