RFID-enabled retail: boosting circularity, security, and efficiency from manufacturing to recycling

In a retail industry under pressure to become more sustainable, more transparent, and more operationally efficient, product-level traceability is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity. Primo1D’s E-Strip C RFID tag, embedded directly into garments, offers a future-proof solution for every stage of the product lifecycle.

This video series showcases four real-world use cases where our technology E-Thread™ adds value—across sustainability, inventory, recycling, and resale. These examples highlight how a single embedded thread can drive smarter, faster, and greener retail operations.

• Circularity and transparency from Day One:

E-Strip C provides each product with a unique digital ID that stays with the garment from manufacturing to recycling. Brands gain full traceability, consumers access verified product information, and regulatory compliance (including Digital Product Passports) becomes seamless. The tag is discreet, washable up to 100 cycles, and built to last—making it ideal for second-hand, rental, and repair business models.

• Efficient and automated recycling: When recycling relies on manual sorting, errors and waste follow. E-Strip C enables mass identification of garments at end-of-life, providing accurate data on composition and usage. This streamlines sorting, supports fiber-to-fiber recycling, and improves the quality of recovered materials—critical for any circular economy strategy.
• Real-time inventory and loss prevention: Unlike traditional hard tags or paper labels, Primo1D’s RFID tag is sewn directly into the product, making it tamper-proof and invisible. Retailers can scan hundreds of items in seconds, track stock in real time, and benefit from automated anti-theft detection without disrupting the customer experience.
• Smarter rental and second-hand logistics: Managing large volumes of garments across multiple usage cycles is complex. With E-Strip C, every piece is traceable through rentals, returns, washing, repairs, and resale. Inventory flow becomes easier to manage, and data can be shared with users—such as care instructions, repair options, and end-of-life guidance—supporting sustainability and customer trust.

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Whether you’re a brand, retailer, or circular service provider, Primo1D’s embedded RFID solutions offer unmatched durability, performance, and integration across your value chain.