How Can Cosmetics Brands Prepare for Walmart’s Upcoming RFID Mandate?

Key RFID Insights: Retail Growth and Supply Chain Impact

• Inventory accuracy gains: RFID improves accuracy by over 25% compared with barcodes or manual counts (McKinsey).
• Stock accuracy: GS1/ECR found accuracy rose from 65–75% to 93–99% after RFID adoption (ECR Retail Loss).
• Sales growth: Retailers reported sales lifts of 1.5%–5.5% tied to RFID availability improvements (ECR Retail Loss).
• Rapid ROI: Some retailers achieved payback on RFID investment in about one year (McKinsey).

Why Is RFID Important for Cosmetics Brands?

Cosmetics and personal care are not yet included in Walmart’s RFID mandate, but retail experts expect them to be added soon. Other retailers such as Nordstrom and Macy’s already require RFID in parts of their supply chains. For beauty brands, this will likely mean exploring RFID solutions across multiple packaging formats, from pressure sensitive labels to folding cartons. Cosmetics packaging is especially sensitive to compliance changes because it:

• Involves high SKU variety, with shades, seasonal sets, and limited runs.
• Uses small form factors, leaving no space for external stickers.
• Relies heavily on aesthetics, where any disruption affects shelf appeal.
• Requires regulatory transparency, since ingredient panels and batch codes must remain visible.

Preparing early ensures beauty brands can comply without sacrificing design integrity.

What Problems Do Standard RFID Labels Create for Beauty Packaging?

Applying traditional white RFID stickers creates multiple issues for cosmetics:

• Covers important ingredient details or shade names.
• Clashes with luxury or premium finishes.
• Creates inconsistency across SKUs in the same product line.
• Reduces consumer trust by making packaging look tampered with.

For cosmetics, where packaging is both functional and emotional, these drawbacks can erode brand value and disrupt consumer loyalty.

How Does Meyers’ RFID-Embedded Backercard Solution Work?

Meyers developed an RFID-embedded backercard specifically for cosmetics and other small products. Instead of applying a visible sticker, the RFID inlay is integrated into the packaging substrate itself.

Key benefits for cosmetics brands:

• Preserves branding: RFID is invisible to the consumer, keeping the design untouched.
• Protects compliance info: Ingredient lists and batch codes remain clear.
• Supports sustainability: Reduces extra materials like adhesives and labels.
• Ensures retailer readiness: Prepares brands for Walmart and other mandates.

This approach allows brands to meet retail requirements without compromising aesthetics or functionality.

What Other RFID Packaging Solutions Does Meyers Offer Beyond Backercards?

While RFID-embedded backercards are an excellent fit for cosmetics like lip gloss, mascara, and other small products, Meyers also provides embedded RFID labels and carton solutions that expand compliance options for beauty brands.

Meyers’ broader RFID solutions include:

• Embedded RFID labels: Designed to blend seamlessly into product packaging without obstructing branding or compliance information. These labels are thin, flexible, and can be integrated into folding cartons, cartons with windows, and other secondary packaging.
• RFID-integrated cartons and boxes: Ideal for larger cosmetic kits, gift sets, or skincare packaging, ensuring inventory accuracy at the unit and case level.
• Custom RFID applications: Tailored to specific product needs, whether for premium retail displays, travel-sized items, or promotional packaging.

Why it matters for cosmetics brands:

• Choice and flexibility: Whether your products are packaged on backercards, in cartons, or in multi-SKU gift sets, Meyers can embed RFID into the structure of the package itself.
• Future-proof compliance: Brands can adapt to Walmart’s RFID mandate and similar retailer requirements across their full product portfolio.
• Sustainability alignment: Embedded RFID avoids extra stickers and can be paired with recyclable or FSC-certified materials, reinforcing sustainability commitments.

With these solutions, cosmetics brands don’t have to choose between beauty and compliance. Meyers ensures RFID is integrated invisibly, across multiple packaging formats, so your products stay shelf-ready and retail-compliant.

What Are the Business Benefits of RFID Adoption?

RFID is more than compliance. It creates measurable operational and sales advantages:

• Higher accuracy: Retailers like Lululemon reported reaching about 98% inventory accuracy after adopting RFID, compared with far lower levels using manual counts (McKinsey).
• Sales impact: A study of 10 retailers found that seven experienced sales increases of 1.5% to 5.5%, driven by better product availability on shelves (ECR Retail Loss).
• Faster payback: Some retailers, such as Lululemon, achieved a payback period of about one year on their RFID investment due to efficiency gains and improved sales (McKinsey).

For cosmetics brands, these same benefits can be especially valuable. Accurate, real-time visibility helps keep fast-moving shades and seasonal collections in stock, while reducing costly stockouts and protecting brand reputation

What Challenges Should Cosmetics Brands Expect?

Adoption is not without challenges. Brands may face:

• Initial costs: Tags, readers, and system integration require investment.
• System compatibility: IT and ERP systems need to process RFID data.
• Consumer privacy concerns: Some shoppers worry about data security.

By addressing these early and working with packaging partners, brands can minimize disruptions and maximize value.

What Are the Future Trends in RFID for Cosmetics?

Four major trends are emerging:

1. Mandate expansion: Cosmetics and personal care are strong candidates for the next retailer’s RFID requirements.
2. Smart packaging integration: RFID paired with IoT could unlock shade finders, digital authenticity checks, or loyalty rewards.
3. Sustainable RFID: Expect pressure for recyclable and eco-friendly RFID solutions that align with ESG goals.
4. Customer engagement: RFID can link to tutorials, digital shade matching, and personalized recommendations, bridging packaging and digital experience.

Key Takeaways

• RFID mandates are likely to expand into cosmetics, making preparation urgent.
• Standard RFID labels are unsuitable for beauty packaging due to space, design, and compliance conflicts.
• Meyers’ RFID-embedded backercards and packaging solutions preserve aesthetics, ensure compliance, and support sustainability.
• Retailers using RFID have achieved inventory accuracy of about 98% (McKinsey).
• In studies of 10 retailers, seven reported sales lifts of 1.5% to 5.5% after implementing RFID (ECR Retail Loss).
• Some retailers, such as Lululemon, saw payback in about one year on RFID investment (McKinsey).

Partner with Meyers for RFID-Ready Cosmetics Packaging

As a third-generation family-owned business with over 70 years of expertise, Meyers is committed to helping cosmetics brands prepare for the future of retail packaging. Our RFID-embedded backercards, labels, and packaging solutions help brands stay compliant while preserving design aesthetics and supporting sustainability goals.

Contact Meyers today to explore how we can help your brand stay ahead of upcoming mandates and deliver packaging that is beautiful, compliant, and future-ready.

Related Blogs:

• RFID and Sustainable Packaging: A Guide for Supply Chain Leaders
• Leading CPG Brands Can Embed RFID Within Primary Product Labels via Meyers’ New Technology
• RFID Mandates 101: Retail’s Future After the Walmart Mandate
• Smart Packaging ROI: Real Benefits, Hidden Costs, and How to Capture Maximum Value
• Walmart RFID Mandate: What Suppliers Need to Know
• Smart Packaging Technology: Future Trends and Predictions
• How to Choose the Right RFID Supplier for Your Brand
• Sustainable Beauty Packaging: Industry Trends and Opportunities
• 9 Ways to Make Your Cosmetics Packaging More Eco-Friendly
  
  
  
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions About RFID in Cosmetics Packaging

Last Updated on September 17, 2025