Fashion and Sportswear Industry Advocate for Digital Labelling

In an open letter, 130 global fashion and sportswear-related organisations, including the Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and the International Apparel Federation (IFA), have called for digital labelling to reduce waste and increase consumer access to information. The AAFA has been advocating towards the US Congress for the implementation of the digital labelling requirement for a few years now.

Authentication & Brand News accessed the letter, signed by the global fashion and sportswear industry, including representatives of materials such as leather, wool, and textiles, and those working to advance sustainability, circularity, and authenticity solutions.

The letter demands greater traceability, transparency, and accountability, urging supranational, national, and local authorities to act and modernise the labelling requirements of their domestic textile, garment, footwear and related accessories, and legally allow and support the use of more sustainable and economical digital labels for required labelling information. This would empower consumers by providing more accessible information through greener e-labelling.

Industry estimates show that labelling requirements now result in the annual production of approximately 5.7 million miles (about 9.2 million km) of label tape – enough to stretch from the earth to the moon and back, twelve times each year. As the letter states, shifting to digital labels would significantly reduce labelling waste and greatly aid in decarbonisation efforts, eliminating at least 343,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from industry supply chains.

Digital labelling will be one of the many topics covered at the IAF's 38th World Fashion Convention, scheduled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (22-25 October 2023).