The Role of RFID in Sustainability

Sept 26, 2025 — Sustainability is the practice of developing long-term resource management solutions for the present without compromising the needs of the future. A key pillar of sustainability is natural resource conservation while being fiscally efficient and economically viable.

In recent years, corporations have increasingly added sustainability objectives. Suppliers in many industries have already implemented new processes and materials to meet the standards expected by consumers and governmental bodies. Sustainability laggards risk appearing outdated and unethical to the public, and are left exposed.

According to a 2022 study by OECD, shipping and product packaging represent 40% of plastic waste worldwide which amounts to 157 million tons being dumped in landfills. If product companies fail to take action, the Supply Chain Solutions Center projects this number to reach 2 billion tons by 2050. RAIN RFID plays a crucial role in the effort to increase sustainability in two ways: 1) by eliminating disposable shipping packaging via reusable totes and 2) by enabling the reusability of product packaging especially foodware.

1. Reusable totes are durable containers often made of heavy-duty plastic which remain in the supply chain for repeated conveyance of products, parts, and materials. To drive reuse, these totes are affixed with RFID tags to track a continuous cycle through the supply chain. In contrast, wooden pallets and cardboard boxes are usually single-use items. Not only are totes reusable, also they are recyclable at end-of-life.

   
   

2. Reusable product packaging is another huge driver in reducing waste. One example is the reusable foodware project at Grand Canyon National Park that replaces disposable plastics with washables and is slated to be the largest reusable foodware system in the US. In support of projects like this, recent RAIN RFID advancements are foodware-safe and survive commercial dishwashing and microwave cooking.

SmartSITE Digital Supply Chain™ is integral to sustainability efforts by accounting for tote custody and providing real-time inventory visibility.

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Trilliott SmartSITE™ is an RFID SaaS platform with solutions for the major RFID use cases in warehouse, asset control, and supply chain. We sell through channel partners in healthcare, retail, and industry.

Media Contact:

Franklin Kalmbach

Product Manager

Trilliott, Inc.

franklin.kalmbach@trilliott.com

+1-919-832-8642

www.trilliott.io