Today, it is almost only high-quality razor blades and expensive perfumes where radio chips supplement the barcode in retail. In the future, radio chips ("RFID tags") may be found on all retail packaging and could completely replace the barcode. But what happens when the chips with metal antennae end up in customers' rubbish bins at home?

A new IZT research project therefore focussed on the effects of the mass use of RFID tags in the consumer goods sector on the environment and waste disposal. The IZT developed future scenarios for the expected material flows and answered questions about alternative solutions, e.g: How can RFID tags be designed and applied to products in such a way that they are either suitable for mass flow or can be easily channelled out of the recyclable material cycles?

RFID is a process for the automatic identification of objects via radio. For this purpose, a data carrier - a so-called tag - with a unique identification number is attached to the packaging or goods.

The current use of RFID tags for goods for private use and consumption did not pose any significant challenges for the disposal systems of the time. However, the dynamic development of RFID systems and their increasing use in retail, for example, may pose problems for waste disposal systems in the future if precautionary measures are not taken.

In addition to determining the current and expected future quantities of RIFD tags used to label consumer goods, describing current disposal routes for these RFID tags and creating and quantifying future scenarios, the project aimed to derive recommendations for action to optimise the environmentally friendly use of RFID tags in Germany.

Firstly, a reference forecast 2020+ was created, which combines existing development trends for RFID tags and current market forecasts with the most plausible scenario for the waste management industry in Germany based on the waste policy decisions taken. In addition, alternative, explorative scenarios for these parameters were developed and evaluated (forecasting). In a further step, conditions were determined under which a risk to the waste disposal systems from RFID tags could be ruled out (backcasting). The spread of the individual scenarios and their interpretation together with stakeholders should make it possible to systematically and reliably sound out the scope for optimising the overall system.

The impact dimensions analysed included the input of problematic substances into recycling processes and products, the loss of valuable materials with regard to the dissipation of rare metals (e.g. silver) or other metals with a large ecological rucksack (e.g. copper) and the toxicity of tag components (nickel, lead, cobalt, etc.).

The following options for action were at the centre of interest:

What alternative solutions for the product design of RFID tags are currently being developed and what requirements must future-proof solutions fulfil?

  • How can RFID tags be designed and applied to products in such a way that they are either suitable for mass flow or can be easily ejected?
  • What process engineering modifications may be necessary in the treatment and recycling processes to render the RFID tag harmless?
  • Do the acceptance criteria for secondary raw materials need to be modified?

To answer these questions, the project integrated methods of document analysis, expert interviews, scenario technology and material flow modelling. The main stakeholders from politics, research, associations and the secondary raw materials industry were involved in the research process in order to evaluate the findings and - where necessary - propose suitable measures, particularly in accordance with the precautionary principle.