Australia annually removes 5.62 billion plastic labels from fresh produce, leading to 110 tons of plastic waste, primarily ending up in landfills. While South Australia planned to ban these stickers from September, it delayed the prohibition after growers requested more time. This would have marked the first jurisdiction in Australia to enact such a ban, aligning with efforts to reduce problematic plastics alongside items like soy sauce fish.
Though resident support for the ban was strong, the enforcement has been deferred. "These are so bloody annoying and unnecessary," and "I hate these stickers and consider them totally unnecessary on my fruit products" were comments submitted by citizens. Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand's similar ban, set for 2023, is now postponed.
The presence of plastic fruit labels becomes an issue when they contaminate home compost or curbside organics bins. Ryan Collins, head of research at Planet Ark, explains that these labels, if left on scraps, become contaminants for organic processors, posing a cost and quality issue. Additionally, they risk becoming litter. Cip Hamilton, plastics campaign manager at the Australian Marine Conservation Society, noted that in compost bins, these stickers can eventually soil ecosystems with plastic fragments.
These labels typically serve practical functions, according to the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance. They carry PLU codes for price and variety identification, aiding inventory management, traceability, and quality control. Despite the availability of compostable sticker alternatives, these are not yet commercially viable. Fruit tattoos, involving laser labeling, are considered elsewhere, such as in Europe and the UK.
Australian states are eyeing fruit sticker removal as part of phasing out single-use plastics, although coordinated efforts are needed. Dr. Susan Close, South Australia's environment minister, affirmed commitment to reform, emphasizing public dissatisfaction with handling these stickers. It's a brief pause to refine compliance, expected to involve collaboration with stakeholders over the next year.
New South Wales proposes mandating compostable labels by 2030, while Tasmania includes fruit stickers in its single-use plastic phase-out. New Zealand, deferring its bar to 2028, indicates readiness for the transition, focusing on alternatives and managing adaptation to limit economic impacts.
Source: The Guardian
