Environmental Burden Case Study of RFID Technology in Logistics Centre

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Logistics Management
• Waste Management

Background:

• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is widely used for object identification but its environmental impact, particularly e-waste from recycling and reuse, is under-researched.
• European Union legislation classifies RFID tags as electronic waste, necessitating environmental impact assessments.
• The increasing demand for products and courier services, amplified by global events, makes the environmental burden of RFID technology highly topical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the environmental burden of RFID use in a logistics centre and courier company.
• To analyze the circulation of transport units and RFID tags within the selected logistics network.
• To quantify the e-waste generated from RFID tags in a specific logistics context.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the circulation of transport units (pallets) and RFID tags.
• Quantification of e-waste generated from RFID tags in a selected logistics centre.
• Application of partial research results to the e-commerce sector.

Main Results:

• The selected logistics centre generated 5.7 tons of e-waste annually from RFID tags on received pallets.
• The e-waste contained approximately 139 kg of metal.
• The study provides a quantitative basis for understanding RFID e-waste in logistics operations.

Conclusions:

• The use of RFID technology in logistics generates a substantial environmental burden due to e-waste.
• There is a critical need to explore and implement strategies for reducing the environmental impact of RFID tags.
• Characterizing possibilities for reducing environmental burden from RFID use in logistics is essential for sustainable supply chain management.