###### Abstract  
Food loss and waste from the European Union's dairy supply chain, particularly in the management of fresh milk, imposes significant environmental burdens. This study demonstrates that implementing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-enabled digital decision-support tools can substantially reduce these impacts across the region. A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to quantify both the additional environmental burdens from RFID (tag production, usage, and disposal) and the avoided burdens due to reduced milk losses in the farm, processing, and distribution stages. Within the EU's fresh milk supply chain, the implementation of digital tools could result in annual net reductions of up to 80,000 tonnes of CO\({}_{2}\)-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions, 81,083 tonnes of PM\({}_{2.5}\)-equivalent particulate matter, 84,326 tonnes of land use-related carbon deficit, and 80,000 cubic meters of freshwater-equivalent consumption. Spatial analysis indicates that regions with historically high spoilage rates, particularly in Southern and Eastern Europe, see the greatest benefits from RFID enabled digital-decision support tools. These environmental savings are most pronounced during the peak months of milk production. Overall, the study demonstrates that despite the environmental footprint of RFID systems, their integration into the EU'S dairy supply chain enhances transparency, reduces waste, and improves resource efficiency--supporting their strategic value. 2025158062025  
carbon footprint of FLW in the EU is substantial, with approximately 170 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emitted annually due to inefficiencies along food supply chains. In economic terms, the cost of food waste is equally alarming, amounting to billions of euros in losses each year. With milk production and consumption being a staple across Europe, reducing waste throughout its supply chain presents a crucial opportunity to mitigate both environmental and economic impacts. Significant portions of the waste occur during post-harvest, processing, and especially at the consumer level. Addressing these inefficiencies requires a comprehensive approach, including improving storage conditions, enhancing supply chain logistics, and increasing consumer awareness about proper handling and consumption of dairy products. The widespread deployment of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology under Internet of Thing (IoT) framework offers promising solutions to address these inefficiencies [6]. RFID tags provide a means of tracking food products from production to retail, thereby enabling better coordination, reducing the risk of spoilage, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality food items [7]. RFID technology positively impacts milk quality by providing enhanced traceability, real-time monitoring, and improved inventory management throughout milk supply chains. Milk containers with RFID tags allow stakeholders to track milk from the farm to retail stages, ensuring that critical factors such as temperature and humidity are maintained within optimal ranges [8]. Additionally, RFID integration with the Global Positioning System (GPS) for real-time tracking, allows for immediate adjustments to storage conditions, further reducing risks of milk spoilage during production and initial transport. This real-time monitoring reduces spoilage by promptly identifying any deviations in storage or transport conditions, helping to mitigate issues that could compromise quality [9]. Moreover, RFID enhances supply chain efficiency, reducing the time milk spends in storage and transit, which is crucial for preserving freshness. The faster movement through the supply chain, enabled by better visibility and coordination among stakeholders, results in the delivery of fresher milk to retailers and consumers. RFID's ability to provide accurate data also helps reduce instances of improper stock rotation, which can lead to expired or spoiled milk reaching the consumer.