Conducted in collaboration with two major apparel brands, the pilot embedded Avery Dennison’s RFID tags into garments, using the atma.io cloud platform to capture, store, manage and share garment life cycle data.
The goal was to compare traditional manual garment processing with an automated system, measuring the impact of assigning unique digital identities to each item.
Data from the pilot suggests the solution offers "staggering benefits" over manual garment sorting - in terms of both efficiency and accuracy. Results showed that RFID tagging reduced scanning labour hours by 95.9% for one apparel brand and 99.9% for the other.
Accuracy in sorting reached 99% through RFID technology, an increase over the 89% and 72% rates reported through manual handling.
The system also captured essential product data such as Electronic Product Code and material weight, supporting external reporting and compliance requirements.
The study also found that the improved efficiency and precision in sorting can "more than offset" the initial investment costs associated with implementing RFID-enabled processes.
Automation, enabled by RFID, allowed the project teams to process high volumes of end-of-life clothing with minimal manual intervention, which facilitated claims such as Duty Drawback on unsold or damaged items at a fraction of traditional labour expenditure.
ReCircled CEO Scott Kuhlman commented: “The manual process of receiving, counting, and identifying items is a significant bottleneck today. While we explore advanced technologies, we recognise that RFID is a proven and powerful solution today. It allows us to instantly identify hundreds of items, minimising manual labour, reducing errors, and is the key to unlocking full automation. It is even making single-item Duty Drawback a reality. We are eliminating waste and accelerating our entire operation.”
Despite the positive results, the report notes that broader adoption depends on fashion brands integrating digital triggers such as RFID tags at the point of manufacture.
Embedding this digital identity at the outset enables efficient recycling, resale, and end-of-life processes while maximising the value recovered from each garment.
ReCircled says the pilot has "demonstrated a clear, data-backed path to a more efficient, profitable, and sustainable future for fashion".
ReCircled has previously worked with Kaltex, a denim producer in North America, to introduce fully vertical and transparent circular denim in the Western Hemisphere.
