blog | Posted On: 01-05-2023
How Fashion Brands are Solving Sustainability with Digital Product IDs
Many customers and brands are concerned about fashion sustainability. In recent years, we have witnessed an increased focus on sustainability in the fashion sector as firms have begun to recognize the necessity of accepting responsibility for their environmental impact. Digital product IDs are one method that fashion firms are aiming towards sustainability.
In this blog, we'll look at how fashion firms deal with sustainability with digital product IDs and how this technology is assisting in creating a more sustainable fashion industry.
What are Digital Products IDs?
Digital Product IDs are one-of-a-kind digital codes assigned to each product. These codes, which can be scanned with a smartphone, provide information about the product's origin, materials, and environmental impact.
Digital product IDs are frequently used in conjunction with a physical label or tag on a product, and they can be printed directly on the object or its packaging. The digital codes can be scanned by a smartphone app or a specialized scanner, which gets information on the product and its accompanying sustainability data from a database.
The information offered by a digital product ID may differ depending on the brand and the product. However, it often includes information such as the materials used to construct the product, the location where it was manufactured, and the environmental impact.
This information can assist consumers in making better-educated shopping decisions and selecting products that reflect their values.
How are Fashion Brands Using Digital Product IDs?
Fashion manufacturers are addressing sustainability concerns in various ways by utilizing digital product IDs. One of the most important strategies is to provide consumers with more information about what they are purchasing. Consumers can learn about the materials used to build a product, where it was manufactured, and other vital facts by scanning its digital ID.
For example, a brand may place a digital product ID on a label or tag on a garment that consumers can scan with their cellphones to obtain information about the environmental impact of the garment.
This information could contain specifics about the garment's production process, the materials used to manufacture it, and any certifications or standards it satisfies, such as organic or fair trade certificates.
Fashion brands can also trace their products along the supply chain using digital product IDs. Brands may reduce waste and enhance their environmental impact by tracking the passage of items from the raw materials stage to the completed product stage using digital IDs.
A fashion brand, for example, may use a digital product ID to track the environmental effect of a specific garment over its entire lifecycle, including the energy and water required in manufacturing, transportation, and end-of-life disposal.
This data can assist the brand in identifying possibilities to lessen the environmental effect of the garment by changing its supply chain, such as sourcing materials from more sustainable vendors or optimizing production techniques.
Examples of Fashion Brands Using Digital Product IDs for Sustainability
Many fashion brands now employ digital product IDs as part of their sustainability efforts. Here are some ways brands are using digital product IDs to improve their sustainability practices:
- Adidas
Adidas has adopted a digital product ID system known as "Scan to Give Back," which allows customers to scan the digital ID on their items to learn more about the product's sustainability attributes and give to sustainability programs.
- Levi’s
Levi's has launched a "Care for Our Planet" campaign, which includes a digital product ID system that allows customers to trace the environmental impact of their denim products, such as water and energy usage and the quantity of waste produced during manufacture.
- Patagonia
Patagonia's digital product ID system informs customers about the environmental impact of their products, including information about the materials used, the production process, and the product's carbon footprint.
- H&M
H&M's digital product ID system informs customers about the sustainability of their products, including information about the materials used, the production process, and the company's sustainability pledges.
- Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney has established a digital product ID system that gives buyers information about the sustainability elements of their products, such as materials used, production processes, and the company's animal welfare practices.
Digital product IDs are used in each case to promote transparency and accountability in the fashion industry while allowing customers to make more educated and sustainable purchase decisions.
These firms aim to create a more sustainable and responsible fashion industry by tracking the environmental impact of their products and giving customers complete information about their sustainability practices.
The Benefits of Digital Product IDs for Fashion Brands and Consumers
Regarding sustainability, digital product IDs offer various advantages to fashion firms and customers.
Digital product IDs can help fashion firms improve transparency and traceability in their supply networks. Brands may reduce waste and enhance their environmental impact by tracking items from raw materials to completed products.
This can result in cost savings as a result of enhanced efficiency, as well as an improved brand reputation and consumer loyalty.
Furthermore, digital product IDs can assist fashion firms in better engaging with consumers about sustainability. Brands may develop trust and loyalty with customers increasingly interested in a sustainable fashion by offering extensive information on the sustainability characteristics of their products. This can also help firms stand out in a crowded market and attract new customers that value sustainability.
Digital product IDs enable consumers to make more informed and sustainable purchase decisions. Consumers can obtain information about a product's environmental impact, such as the materials used, the production process, and the company's sustainability commitments, by scanning its digital ID.
Digital product IDs can also assist consumers in tracking the long-term viability of their purchases. For example, a consumer who scans the digital ID of a pair of jeans can view information on the water and energy used in production, the product's carbon footprint, and any certifications or standards the product meets.
Conclusion
Finally, digital product IDs are crucial for fashion firms striving for sustainability.
Brands can help create a more sustainable fashion business by offering consumers more information about their products, following their products along the supply chain, and identifying areas where they can decrease waste.
As consumers become more concerned about their environmental impact, fashion firms will likely embrace digital product IDs in the future.