Representatives from fresh produce business and composting organisations welcome ‘unprecedented’ agreement to secure sustainable future for fresh produce labels
A landmark agreement between the fresh produce business and composting organisations is set to accelerate the development and introduction of certified compostable PLU stickers from 2025 onwards.
As a result, industry associations and leading label providers have agreed to launch an action plan by the end of 2024, one that will “promote and accelerate” a universal switch to fruit and veg stickers that biodegrade fully in a natural environment.
According to those involved, all parties will work together to create and adopt a single global standard for those compostable labels – one which is compatible with compost standards around the world.
The European Union has called for a transition to certified compostable PLUs by 2028.
Recycling hurdle
The key issue at play for the fresh produce industry is the fact that stickers made with non-biodegradable plastic prevent waste fruit and veg from being used to make compost.
“Moving to a certified compostable format for PLUs is a priority for organics recycling facilities,” said Susan Antler, executive director of the Compost Council of Canada.
“The current plasticised format is not compatible with producing quality compost, nor can the stickers be easily removed during the organics recycling process, and [this] can result in the collected organics being sent to landfill or incineration, contributing to climate change and diminishing an important resource to build soil health.”
CPMA president Ron Lemaire said PLUs remained an integral part of global fresh produce supply chains, which made the collaboration agreement so crucial.
“Accelerating the adoption of compostable PLUs is a global priority given the risk that compostable PLU requirements will increasingly diverge from country to country,” he said.
“The coming together of fresh produce and composting industries will help reduce the burden on complex fresh produce supply chains, while also ensuring that food waste is increasingly recycled into value-added products.”
Earlier this week, kiwifruit marketer Zespri announced it will apply fully home-compostable labels developed by Sinclair International to all of its products within the next 12 months.
