South Australia postpones fruit sticker ban 

AUSTRALIA – South Australia has delayed its planned ban on non-compostable plastic fruit stickers, initially set for September 2025, following significant pushback from producers citing high costs and supply chain challenges. 

According to industry stakeholders, the shift to compostable alternatives poses financial and logistical hurdles. 

At a recent roundtable hosted by Deputy Premier and Environment Minister Susan Close, representatives from Citrus SA, Citrus Australia, Bache Brothers, and Venus Fruits voiced concerns.

They highlighted the inconsistent labelling regulations and the limited availability of cost-effective compostable stickers. 

“We’re committed to reducing plastic waste, but we must ensure our producers aren’t unfairly burdened during tough economic times,” Close said in a statement.

The Australian Plastics Flows and Fates Study estimates that 5.62 billion plastic labels are removed from fresh produce annually, many of which end up contaminating compost bins.

“These stickers are small but problematic, often ending up in compost and polluting our soils,” said Cip Hamilton, plastics campaign manager at the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

“Once in the environment, they’re nearly impossible to recover and can harm wildlife and ecosystems.”

Growers argue that plastic stickers are critical for tracking, identifying, and pricing produce, streamlining supply chains and retail operations. 

However, Hamilton noted that Australia’s Food Standards Code does not mandate stickers for traceability, suggesting alternatives like laser etching could suffice. 

The delay has sparked calls for a national approach to harmonize regulations. 

“A state-by-state ban creates complexity and risks fragmenting the supply chain,” said a Citrus SA spokesperson. “We need a unified strategy to make compostable options viable.” 

Close confirmed collaboration with New South Wales, which plans to phase out plastic stickers by 2030, to align timelines and reduce costs through larger market demand.

A recent development reported by Green Industries SA indicates the state extended the pause to allow growers more time to transition and align with other jurisdictions. 

The government will also proceed with banning other single-use plastics, like soy sauce fish containers, from September 2025.

In 2024, UK supermarket Tesco partnered with Westfalia to engrave avocados with product details, eliminating plastic stickers entirely.

Companies like ATS Tanner and Huhtamaki are exploring technologies to extend produce shelf life while minimizing environmental impact, offering potential solutions for South Australia’s growers as they navigate this transition.

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