This article is also available in Italian / Questo articolo è disponibile anche in italiano
PulpaTronics is an innovative start-up that develops sustainable Radio-Frequency IDentification (RFID) solutions, focusing on fully recyclable and metal-free tags. Its technology aims to transform inventory management while reducing the environmental impact of conventional RFID tags.
Conventional RFID tags consist of a silicon microchip, a metal antenna, usually aluminium, and a plastic substrate. PulpaTronics, founded in 2023 and winner of the 2024 Green Alley Award, developed a technology that replaces the metal antenna with a carbon-based conductive material, printed directly on paper using a laser process. By eliminating the microchip altogether, data is encoded in the geometric design of the conductor, further simplifying the structure of the tag.
According to the London-based company, this reduction entails a 70% decrease in annual CO₂ emissions compared to standard RFID tags. The simplification of materials embedded and of the production process cuts production costs up to 50%.
Furthermore, since tags are made exclusively of paper, they can be recycled up to 6-7 times before being composted, making them fully compatible with existing recycling processes.
The fashion industry uses 18 billion single-use RFID tags every year, most of which end up in landfills. The start-up plans to integrate its technology directly into production lines, speeding up large-scale adoption and promoting greater product traceability.
As CEO Chloe So explains ‘the crucial next step is to double down on R&D for the labels, particularly in terms of durability testing and the production of small batches to meet the requirements of the pilot projects planned for 2025’.
Website:
Name:
PulpaTronics
Sector:
Fashion technology
Plus:
Production costs and emissions more than halved compared to conventional RFID tags.
Features:
RFID labels without metal or chips
Cover: Pulpatronics image