The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been petitioned by the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) to update and permit more cost-effective and environmentally friendly digital labels for required care labelling information.
The Care Labelling Rule, which was established in 1971—before the internet—now governs how clothing is care labelled. Manufacturers and importers are required by the Rule to include specific information regarding clothing, like care instructions, on a physical label attached to the item, states the letter.
Label creep, or lengthy labels with small text in multiple languages and confusing symbols that are difficult to read and understand, printed on large, uncomfortable tags, is a result of the proliferation of labelling requirements worldwide, which were adopted by the European Union and other developed nations, the letter adds.
The letter continues by saying the Commission should permit manufacturers to adhere to Rule requirements using digital labels in order to simplify labels and guarantee that consumers may quickly obtain critical care information without having to carefully examine difficult-to-read and perplexing physical labels. Clothing might have these digital labels, such a URL or QR code, affixed to it. They could be stamped directly onto the garment or placed on a tiny tag.
According to industry estimates, labelling regulations as a whole currently lead to the creation of roughly 5.7 million miles (or 9.2 million km) of label tape annually.
Customers of today want information that is more relevant and straightforward, without having to sift through pages of unnecessary, awkward labelling that they frequently clip off or disregard, said AAFA President and CEO Steve Lamar, who added by saying that the FTC can unleash enormous potential for consumers to learn more about the products they purchase by adopting digital solutions.
According to Nate Herman, Senior Vice President of Policy at AAFA, this digital transformation also improves transparency across a product’s lifecycle by providing information on options like recycling, resale, repair, and rental.
