GROCER GIANT TESCO USING DIGITAL PRODUCT PASSPORT IN NEW SUSTAINABILITY REGULATIONS
by: Hillary LeBlanc
Accountability and transparency are the leading factors to governing the sustainability movement in fashion. Consumers want to know more about the process of how products are made and what exactly is used to make them. Some organizations have popped up with a mission to govern businesses by using a universal symbol that certifies a garment or product is sustainable after passing a set of credentials - but consumers want to know more specifics.
The European Union has declared that change is coming. They are working towards cracking down on how businesses impact the environment. The aim of this directive is to foster sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour in companies' operations and across their global value chains. As a result, various companies will have to pivot and amend current policies to meet their government standards.
While the EU has goals to effectuate change until 2050, their current 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets. The EU is committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda and its goals within the EU and in development cooperation with partner countries. The EU has also introduced new regulations requiring companies operating within Europe to issue digital product passports, providing customers with comprehensive information about the materials used in their products and their environmental impact under the regulations. One of the companies bracing for suuch changes and use of digital product passports is major grocery chain Tesco.
Image Source: Shashank Verma / @heyshashank
Tesco is a British multinational grocer and general merchandise retailer. They sell garments under the brand F&F Clothing and Fashion. While F&F features a typical variety of garments, they also have some with the distinction ‘Made Mindfully’ to show more sustainable and eco-friendly measures were used with crafting certain garments. Their website also features a four page report in which they describe their various sustainability measures from organic cotton, sustainable viscose and other textiles.
While these current regulations are quite transparent, Tesco will be going a step further using digital product passports so consumers can see exactly where the materials used for clothing items come from and their impact. Furthermore, any unsold items must be disposed of in ways that do not break new regulations from the EU.
Digital product passports are designed to provide comprehensive information about a product’s environmental impact, materials used, repair instructions, disposal methods, and recycling options. This information will be accessible to consumers, manufacturers and authorities via some sort of data carrier such as a QR code, NFC tag or RFID chip, which will be attached to the product and remain accessible throughout its lifecycle.
Image Source: Claudio Schwarz / @purzlbaum
Tesco corporate leaders have shared that they are collaborating with Fabacus on their F&F clothing range and implementing the digital product passports. Fabacus explains the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, which came into force on 18 July 2024 aims to enhance the sustainability and circularity of products within the European Union market.
Fabacus first introduced its digital product passport capabilities in 2023 via a collection of clothing produced by its sister company, the ethical fashion label Nobody’s Child. Both Fabacus and Nobody’s Child presented last year at the Products of Change Conference where members from across the global brand, licensing, consumer products, and retail space were introduced to not only the technology and its capabilities itself, but the incoming legislation that will eventually make digital product passports a requirement for all products placed on the market.
Through its pilot technology, Fabacus has made a commitment to “redefine the future of fashion and retail”, using its technology to craft new, engaging, and innovative channels for consumer interaction.
While the digital product passports are also being rolled out in sectors, and far from hitting the fashion sector, Tesco is thrilled to be leading the way and showing how this change and advancement will be beneficial for all involved. All clothing sold by 2030 must have digital product passports.
Cover Image: Simone Hutsch / @heysupersimi