Get the right balance of brown and green composting materials in your bin with our expert guide.
Produce stickers — the small, seemingly harmless labels adhered to fruits and vegetables at grocery stores worldwide. Yet, these stickers are far from benign, especially when it comes to environmental sustainability and home composting systems. The bane of an eco-friendly household, these tiny pieces of adhesive paper or plastic pose a considerable challenge to the composting process and raise questions about the larger issue of single-use plastics in our food supply chain.
A typical home compost pile thrives on the balance of nitrogen-rich green waste, like vegetable scraps, and carbon-rich brown waste, such as dried leaves or shredded paper. However, amidst the peels and greens, there exist intruders that do not break down — the notorious produce stickers, which are mostly made of vinyl or plastic and are far from compostable. Not only do they survive the composting process, but they can also end up as microplastics, further contributing to environmental pollution.
The issue extends beyond the backyard compost bin. At a larger scale, composting facilities experience difficulties due to these small but pervasive labels. The stickers can contaminate entire batches of compost that otherwise would have provided nutrient-rich soil for gardening and farming. With mandates for composting increasing, the incompatibility of these stickers with eco-friendly waste management systems is a growing problem that needs addressing.
The question arises — why are produce stickers still not environmentally friendly despite the recognized problem they pose to composting facilities? Regulations and industry standards have been slow to change. While there are certified home compostable options available, adoption has been limited. Innovation is needed to create labeling solutions that are both functional for the supply chain and meet the standards for home compostability.
The demand for biodegradable produce stickers is on the rise. Companies and researchers are exploring alternatives, like labels made of paper or bio-based materials, which can decompose along with fruit and vegetable waste. However, these solutions must be durable enough to withstand the journey from farm to supermarket without losing their adhesive properties or becoming illegible.
One particularly innovative approach bypasses the need for stickers entirely. Laser etching technology can inscribe the necessary PLU codes and branding directly onto the produce's skin. This method eliminates the issues of sticker waste and contamination in compost piles, making it an attractive plastic-free alternative.
Yes, most produce stickers are made from non-biodegradable plastics or vinyl, contributing to microplastic pollution. Their inability to decompose also causes issues in composting systems.
Unfortunately, current produce stickers are not compostable. They need to be removed from fruit and vegetable scraps before they can be added to a compost heap.
There are emerging compostable produce labels made from bio-based materials or paper that are designed to break down in compost systems. While not yet widely adopted, these compostable labels offer a more sustainable alternative.
Meta Description: Discover the environmental challenge posed by non-compostable produce stickers and explore the innovations in biodegradable labelling that offer a solution to plastic waste in composting.