US apparel industry pushes for digital care labels

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has petitioned the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to modernize and allow more sustainable and economic digital labels for required care labeling information.

As the letter states, "Care labeling of clothing is currently governed by the Care Labeling Rule, which was promulgated in 1971, before the internet existed. The Rule requires manufacturers and importers to display certain information about apparel, such as care instructions, on a physical label that is affixed to the garment. The European Union and other industrialized countries have adopted similar labeling requirements for apparel, so the proliferation of labeling requirements around the world has led to label creep—lengthy labels in small text in multiple languages and with confusing symbols that are hard to read, and understand, printed on large, uncomfortable tags. In order to streamline labels and ensure that consumers can easily access important care information without having to scrutinize hard-to-read and confusing physical labels, the Commission should allow manufacturers to comply with Rule requirements through digital labels. These digital labels, such as a URL or QR code, could be added to apparel—either on a very small tag or directly stamped onto the item of clothing."

Industry estimates show that, collectively, labeling requirements now result in the annual production of approximately 5.7 million miles (about 9.2m km) of label tape – enough to stretch from the earth to the moon, and back, twelve times each year.

AAFA president and CEO Steve Lamar, said: Today's shoppers demand clearer, more relevant information without being buried under pages of wasteful, uncomfortable labels they often ignore or cut off. By embracing digital solutions, the FTC can unlock vast potential for consumers to gain more insights into the products they buy. Consumers regularly use technology to interact with their fashion – either at the point of sale, when they are caring for their clothing, or when they are sharing fashions through social media. With this logical next step, to enable care instructions to be provided digitally, the FTC can better align the regulatory framework with consumer preferences.

AAFA senior vice president of policy Nate Herman, added: This digital shift also enhances transparency throughout a product's lifecycle, offering insights into options like resale, repair, rental, and recycling. We urge the Federal Trade Commission to take this step toward creating more responsible and adaptable guidelines to allow companies to meet labeling requirements through digital methods.

Access the full petition letter. Find more information on this initiative with #CutTheTape and this video about U.S.-based initiatives to urge the Federal Trade Commission and Congress to modernize labeling requirements.

This article was originally published by AAFA.