TECHNOLOGY
to understand “ if you make this choice in how you ' re going to dispose of our garments , this is going to be your environmental impact . So it provides the right data that ' s available to both the consumer and the brand and other stakeholders to make those choices ,” says Swenson .
“ Right now we ' re asking stakeholders to make choices without data and without an easy solution . Consumers are not going to go through extensive links to find the right recycler , or find the right reseller . But if that information is at the tip of their fingers , on the garments that they can access , then they ' re much more likely to make those appropriate environmental decisions as well .”
With it still being legislation to have physical care and contents information written on a garment , Swenson adds that “ many brands are now adding a QR code with information such as how to better wash your garment , how to take care of it so that it has a longer life , the benefits of high quality garments that you want to dispose of , but is still good quality to resell , how to brand authenticate it , and then how it can be recycled at its end of life .”
Whilst Swenson explains that “ labels are by no means the solution that is going to solve everything in the apparel supply chain , it is the place that most people go to find more information on their environment .”
Fashion brands adopting QR and NFC technology include PANGAIA , Sheep Inc ., and Skopes .
PANGAIA In May 2021 , materials science company PANGAIA partnered with EON to create ‘ digital passports ’ for its products . The lifestyle products brand uses QR code technology to accelerate greater transparency , traceability and circularity in the fashion industry , inspiring responsible consumer choices .
QR codes are printed directly onto the care labels unlocking a bespoke digital experience when scanned with a mobile phone . The experience takes the customer on a journey from the product ' s origin through to purchase , dyeing , production , distribution , transportation and aftercare .
The digitalisation of this experience allows customers to be updated in real-time , bridging the gap towards a full circular model , providing authenticity and visibility of lifecycle data .
80 August 2021