Clothing labeling is not only for consumers-it can also inform the service life of clothing, making recycling easier. Therefore, emerging technologies will produce global changes around the standardization of clothing recognition.

Clothing labeling is an important part of clothing; the symbols used in the care labeling system were first introduced in 1963, and standardized labels appeared around the same time as clothing began to be commercialized from synthetic fibers. After more than 50 years, not much has changed. When providing consumers with information about where the clothing came from and how to recycle, the brand did not standardize clothing labels. But in the technological age, why haven’t the simple clothing labels been redesigned? Fortunately, organizations and brands are now integrating data to create the next generation of clothing labels. 

In a report conducted by multinational brand manufacturer Avery Dennison and Global Web Index (an audience targeting company), the focus is on providing consumers with information about clothing. 

“The data shows the consumer’s acceptance of initiatives to promote the sustainable agenda. GWI’s Chief Research Officer Jason Mander said: “One trend we have tracked is that the necessary information on the label [can facilitate] product repair, recycling, and transfer. Sale and lease exchange. "As consumer interest in sustainable fashion practices continues to increase, ID-level tools are helping [drive] the growing resale economy. Identity verification is a key use case for digital [solutions], especially in the growing luxury resale market. More than 60% of fashion buyers want to be more transparent about the process their clothes go through before buying. "

This need for transparency and traceability through clothing labels can be met through technology. Avery Dennison is using QR code technology in its digital care tag tags and clothing tags to provide shoppers with better data in different ways. This month, it partnered with lifestyle brand UpWest and ReCircled, an organization focused on clothing and footwear recycling and reuse, to advertise the longevity of its products to consumers. 

Many sustainability plans in the fashion industry focus on one aspect of the supply chain. However, pointing consumers to a place where they can dispose of clothes brings a cycle, or many people think that this is the future of the industry. Avery Dennison’s senior director of sustainability, compliance and core product line management, Debbie Shakespeare, said: “We designed products to really consider [the factors that motivate consumers]. “What are the triggers for consumer participation? "Very digital things can tell the broader overall story of products and brands."

Avery Dennison has also previously worked with scientific research and development company Ambercycle; it is the first partner of its digital care label, which provides information on how to transform end-of-life textile "waste" into new yarn for apparel brands and manufacturers information. The collaboration in May demonstrated the potential of labels. They can increase visibility into the supply chain and the types of life cycle data that are useful for resale and recycling. The latter can be difficult because the clothing comes from different materials. The information on the label is not only helpful to the direct consumers of the product; those who recycle or resell the product can also easily identify what the garment is made of after the original owner has disposed of it. 

Since 2013, the European Union has been seeking to standardize clothing labels. Its proposed product environmental footprint (PEF) project is expected to become the most influential consumer-oriented environmental certification reporting system. However, the information provided will be based on the flawed Higg Index, which ranks polyester and nylon higher than natural fibers such as wool and silk.

The PEF project is critical to deciding how to guide EU consumers to make more sustainable choices in the future. Harriet Vocking, Chief Brand Officer of Eco Age, a sustainable business strategy agency, is leading the "Make the Label Count" campaign, which aims to change the way the EU creates PEF certification. She said: "Higg index is not the same in terms of its life cycle assessment. For natural fibers, they considered the farming method from the cradle to the factory gate. But for plastics, it only considers the [stage] from oil barrels to production. "The index does not take into account the infinitely good lifespan of natural fiber clothing; clothing made of natural materials can be recycled and reused, while plastic fibers will fall off slightly and cannot be further recycled.

This means that although clothing tags can be used as a way to integrate data into clothing that consumers can access, it is important to prioritize obtaining the correct data.

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