Why Produce Businesses Want Global Compostable Stickers Standard

When you think about the major contributors to plastic pollution, what comes to top of mind? Probably not those miniscule stickers on produce that display pricing information and other product details—but these labels are beginning to draw international attention as a huge plastic problem.

Price look up stickers (PLUs) wreak havoc for compost facilities—they may be tiny, but they get around. There’s one clinging to almost every piece of produce sold in grocery stores across the globe, and they are nearly impossible to remove once they land in compost piles. They slip through screens, and peeling the sea of stickers off by hand would be beyond tedious.  So, the bulk of organics they ride in on ultimately end up landfilled, too contaminated to turn into quality products.

The European Union has proposed a law that could require these labels to be certified as compostable beginning in 2028. That same year, a global standard is expected to come online. And France has already cracked down, having banned sales of fruits and vegetables bearing non-compostable stickers, a policy that threatens multibillions in exports.

Composters are typically seen as providers of an alternative home for rotting organics that would otherwise be landfilled. That means compost facilities have a tough gig, because they also have to turn what comes their way into a quality product free of contamination and foreign materials.

“But PLU stickers compromise the ability of compost and digestate to do what they have to do, and that’s return valuable organic matter back to the soils,” says Susan Antler, executive director, Compost Council of Canada.

From where the produce businesses stand, there is more to consider.  They have long relied on PLUs for traceability, inventory control, and pricing.

This past October, compost and produce industry players as well as packaging suppliers from around the world met to try and hammer out a solution that would work across sectors. They ultimately decided on a framework for a global standard for certified compostable stickers.

Antler, a lead facilitator, had already been in conversations with the Canadian Produce Market Association (CPMA) about a doable strategy.

CPMA’s buy in was key; the group represents international and Canadian members who sell 90 percent of the fresh fruit and vegetables grown in, or coming into, Canada. Transitioning to compostable PLUs would be a massive transition for this industry.

CPMA did not respond to Waste360’s interview requests, but Antler says the group clearly recognized the need to make the shift; though it wanted certainty that an agreed upon standard would meet criteria to allow international acceptance. Produce companies had to be able to ship to any country in the world, and without having to switch out their lines to make different labels for different destinations.

Rather than take on the complex undertaking of developing a standard that encompassed every country’s requirements the group turned to the E.U.’s standard for compostability as a guideline. Europe’s requirements around trace elements are tight and robust and would likely stand up around the world. 

There were plenty of questions to ask packaging suppliers to gauge their readiness for a complete transition by 2028.

“This was an important conversation because if the whole global industry transitions, there will be an enormous bump in demand. We heard this would be achievable because we have certainty now,” Antler says.

There was a will to make it work. Produce businesses and organic recyclers are sister industries that are part of the same chain. And they are connected by the soil.

“Growers need the soil to grow produce. And the unavoidable food waste comes back to us to be turned into organic matter to feed that soil,” she says.

In a press release CPMA President Ron Lemaire said, “We are pleased to see the government of Canada committed to supporting the industry’s efforts to develop a global standard for compostable PLU stickers.”

He went on to refer to the adoption of compostable PLUs as a CPMA priority and to reiterate the value in collaboration.  “This must be a global effort … Individualized or unique national efforts would only add burden to a complex supply chain and potentially disrupt food security efforts.”

Already a few products with varied compostable certifications have made their way to market. Elevate Packaging has actually sold packaging with compostable PLUs for years. Its adhesive labels are designed to meet the needs of both the food industry and organics processors, ensuring durability during use and complete biodegradability during composting, says Rich Cohen, CEO, Elevate Packaging.

“Adoption of products like this will accelerate if we establish a unified global compostable standard for produce labeling. A single standard would simplify acceptance across countries and composting facilities, encouraging uniform practices worldwide,” he says.

Sinclair, a developer of fruit labeling technology, and kiwifruit marketer Zespri launched a compostable fruit label proven to biodegrade completely without leaving residues. The companies say it performs as well as conventional plastic stickers.

Zespri CEO Jason Te Brake said in a statement, “Exploring more sustainable fruit label options has been an area of considerable focus for Zespri over a number of years with our labels providing an important assurance to consumers that the fruit they are purchasing is authentic, safe, and high-quality.”

Te Brake says Zespri plans to change all its fruit to the compostable label over the next year.

There is more work to do in reach of a global standard.  As the stakeholders finalize an implementation plan and timeline they are having discussions over details such as ensuring that certifying bodies around the world are aligned with the European standard to be used as a framework.

Antler sees what’s transpiring in Europe now as a magic moment.

“With the regulations Europeans [plan to] implement, if apple producers in Canada want to trade in Europe, they have to have their stickers conform to certification requirements there. That’s already half the battle, so they might as well make sure those stickers are available for the rest of the world.”