QR codes help people find their lost items

One startup has created a community to help owners reclaim lost belongings

Spotted: According to one study, people in France lose 35 million items a year and replacing all of those lost items would cost around €5 billion. As well as potentially being expensive, losing your belongings is inconvenient and can be upsetting when the items have sentimental value. French startup FindR hopes to transform the way we search for lost items with its innovative platform.

The company has created personalised QR code stickers that customers attach to valuable objects to make it easier for them to be returned to the rightful owner when lost, whether that’s your smartphone, a suitcase, or your pair of favourite sunglasses. These UV-resistant and waterproof stickers are available in different sizes and a range of colours and limited edition designs, or FindR also sells metal QR code keyrings.

Users set up an account on the FindR app and register their QR codes and linked personal items by scanning the stickers with a smartphone. Users can switch between ‘modes’ depending on where they want their QR code to direct a scanner.

If an item gets lost, users can switch a QR code to ‘Private Mode’, which means that when someone else finds the item, they scan the sticker and can message the owner directly to organise getting the item returned. Alternatively, users can choose to remain anonymous, and the FindR concierge will communicate with the finder instead and then send the item back to you.

Co-founder and CEO Vittorio Strigari told Springwise: “Our stickers not only make it easier to find your belongings but also create a network of kindness and mutual aid. By participating in this initiative, we also help reduce the ecological footprint associated with mass consumption. Fewer losses mean less waste, bringing us one step closer to a more sustainable world.”

Although the company is currently focused on using its system to help owners find lost items, Strigari says the company might extend its products and services to other potential industries like the art and cultural sectors.

Written By: Matilda Cox