(VIC) Ban Single-Use Plastic Produce Stickers

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Author: Roma Heanly, Vittoria Galgano, Prachi Sharma, Aryanshi Singh, Ketut Divya S Bhavani, Siva Nandhana P, Siahn Fraser, Oneli Hewawithana, Virginia Wills, Abbey Bailey, Blake Allan, Bridie Long, Natalie Chung, Urvee Sarkar, Meghna Mallik, Felicity Hall & Muhamad Fajar | Publish date: 3/9/2026

• P: In VIC, produce stickers are not among the items currently listed under the single-use plastics ban.

• S: The VIC Minister for Environment should amend Part 5.5 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2021 (VIC) to classify plastic produce stickers as single-use plastic items, thereby prohibiting their use on fresh produce.

• E: Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) (2023): ‘Eliminate single-use … plastic produce stickers.’

  
  

Problem Identification: 

Part 5.5 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2021 (VIC) bans the sale or supply of listed single-use plastic products. However, plastic produce stickers are not listed.

According to the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA), plastic stickers remain a widespread contaminant in organic processing, as they ‘are almost impossible to remove and compromise end-product quality.’ Green Industries South Australia (GISA) stated that this ‘cause[s] environmental impacts’ through the contamination of compost and reduction of soil-nutrient recovery.

Context: 

Single-use plastic refers to an item that is ‘either wholly or partly made of plastic, whether or not that plastic is biodegradable, degradable or compostable; and is not reusable.’ 

Price Look-Up Codes (PLUs) refer to stickers ‘manufactured from single-use plastic or vinyl’, often placed on fruit and vegetables. PLUs are not legally required to be attached to fresh produce in any Australian jurisdiction. However, they are known to be extensively used by retailers for ‘price and variety identification, aiding inventory management, traceability, and quality control.’ Clean Up Australia stressed that there is ‘currently no effective way to recycle PLU stickers’. 

Commercial composting facilities refer to ‘large-scale composting facilities designed to handle a high volume of organic materials … [that] rely on tipping fees, contracts with local governments and compost sales to support their operations.’

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition identified PLU stickers as a ‘very common contaminant’.

Arguments:

Clean Up Australia noted that single-use PLUs ‘pollute soil and waterways.’ GISA explained that ‘once in compost, [PLUs] enter the environment, including in home gardening, landscaping and agricultural applications.’ Greene Economics elaborated that stickers entering the soil ‘degrade into smaller microplastic pieces’ and pollute the environment ‘with demonstrated toxicity’. Sustainability Victoria stated that such pollution can ‘negatively affect soil fauna, such as earthworms and other microorganisms’ and can ‘cause permanent damage to the soil’. Clean Up Australia further warned that PLUs can end up in waterways ‘where they are consumed by marine life.’ Total Environment Centre reported that microplastics ingested by marine and freshwater species can result in ‘internal injury, reduc[ed] nutrient intake … [and] reproductive problems’.

Sustainable Packaging Coalition stated that PLUs ‘make it challenging to accept and process large quantities [of produce]’. AORA argued that higher contamination in organic waste streams creates ‘a higher cost associated with … the disposal of contamination’ for commercial composting facilities. GISA found that ‘addressing sticker contamination necessitates significant investments in infrastructure and additional operational procedures, both of which incur substantial costs.’ A stakeholder consulted by GISA estimated that ‘produce stickers could be as much as 10% of contamination and put the estimated cost of fruit sticker contamination alone as $160,000 per annum.’ 

Sustainable Packaging Coalition stated that this results in ‘truckloads of produce being turned away from composting facilities and instead sent to landfills, where it will generate methane emissions.’ The Climate Council noted that ‘the waste sector produces about 11 per cent of Australia’s methane pollution, which is mostly from organic matter decay.’ AORA stated that ‘when organics material is disposed … it ends up in landfill where the decomposition of this material produces methane gas which is 28 times more potent a greenhouse gas (GHG) than carbon dioxide.’

Advice/Solution Identification:

AORA, AMCS and the Boomerang Alliance have called for a ban on single-use plastic produce stickers. AORA has stated that this ‘can positively contribute to food production and supply as well as take care of the health and well-being of our soils.’ 

Precedent:

There is domestic and international precedent for the banning of plastic produce stickers. NSW has committed to phasing out non-compostable plastic fruit and vegetable stickers by 2030. In France, non-compostable stickers are prohibited on fresh produce. 

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Public Support of the Solution: 

(This list reflects publicly stated positions and should not necessarily be taken as endorsement of this specific brief.)

1. Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA)

2. Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) 

3. Boomerang Alliance 

4. Clean Up Australia

Broad Support: 

1. Australian Fresh Produce Alliance - They have called for a transition to compostable produce stickers. However, they have not explicitly called to ‘ban “fruit stickers” outright’ but ‘recognise that industry and other states are moving towards compostable produce stickers’.  

2. National Retail Association - They have called for the ‘phase-out of single-use, unnecessary and problematic plastics’. However, they have not explicitly called for the elimination of single-use plastic produce stickers.

News Coverage:

• Good Fruit & Vegetables - “What’s in store for fruit stickers? Industry works to solve a sticky issue”. This article explored the shift away from plastic fruit stickers in Australia toward compostable alternatives and laser etching. By: Kate O'Neill | 27 September 2025 - Read the article here.

• Packaging Insights - “South Australia delays plastic sticker ban amid producer pushback”. This article detailed the challenges of implementing a state-specific ban, including industry concerns over supply chain fragmentation and the higher cost of certified compostable adhesives. By: Libby Davis | 22 July 2025 - Read the article here.

• The Guardian Australia - “Fruit stickers are annoying and bad for the environment. So why did an Australian ban come unstuck?”. This article explained the delays in banning PLU stickers in SA, and explored how the labels disrupt industrial composting processes and contaminate soils. By: Petra Stock | 29 June 2025 - Read the article here.

• Waste Management Review - “Council sticker campaign to improve FOGO”. This article explained how VIC councils are struggling with organic waste contamination caused by non-compostable PLU labels. By: Lisa Korycki | 15 February 2024 - Read the article here.

Where to go to learn more: 

1. (2023) Unwrapped: Plastic Use in Australian Supermarkets | Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS and Boomerang Alliance) - This report examined Australian supermarkets’ 2022 plastic reduction and sustainability practices and identified areas for improvement. The report recommended the elimination of single-use plastic produce stickers as part of a broader strategy to protect marine environments from microplastic pollution. This included the recommendation for the elimination of plastic produce stickers. Read the full report here. 

2. (2024) Litter Report FY24 | Clean Up Australia - This report analysed volunteer-collected data showing that plastics dominate Australian litter, led by soft plastics, cigarette butts and packaging. The report suggested eliminating single-use plastic produce stickers. Read the full report here. 

3. (2024) Action on Single-Use Plastics | National Retail Association - This webpage outlined the current and proposed legislation around single-use plastic bans across Australian jurisdictions. It supported the ‘phase-out of single-use, unnecessary and problematic plastics’ when underpinned by fair, practical and nationally consistent processes. Read the full article here. 

4. (2025) Plastic Produce Sticker Impacts on Compost | Green Industries SA - This report outlined the legislative pathway for banning non-compostable stickers and detailed the technical requirements for certified compostable alternatives. Read the full report here. 

5. (n.d.) Packing without Packaging - what does that mean | Australasian Institute of Packaging - This article showcased ‘Natural Branding’ laser technology as a viable, zero-waste method for fruit traceability that eliminated the need for physical adhesive labels and inks. Read the full article here. 

6. (2025) Microplastic in Australian processed organics: Abundance, characteristics and potential transport to soil ecosystem - This study found microplastics in processed organic wastes like compost from 11 sites in VIC. It reported thousands of particles per kilogram, estimating that billions to trillions could spread to farmland annually. Read the full study here. 

7. Environment Protection Regulations 2021 (VIC) - Read the full list of Regulations here.

Human Perspective: 

Mia had recently begun composting the food scraps produced by her household and using them as compost in her garden. However, while emptying the compost onto the garden, she noticed that there were several small produce stickers in the compost that hadn’t degraded. Investigating further, Mia searched online for ‘composting guidelines for fruit and vegetable stickers’ and found that these were predominantly made of plastic and were not compostable. She learned that the stickers often fragmented into microplastics, contaminating the compost and soil. Mia decided to remove all the plastic produce stickers she could see from the compost. Over the next few months, she diligently peeled off all produce stickers from her food scraps before composting. However, when emptying the next batch of compost onto her garden, she noticed a few produce stickers that her housemates had missed. She was immediately frustrated, but upon reflection, she realised it was easy to miss these plastic stickers even when looking for them because of their size and texture.

To protect the anonymity of those involved, this is a fictionalised account drawn from an amalgamation of real-life stories, experiences and testimonials gathered during the research process for this brief. Any resemblance to actual individuals is purely coincidental.

Conflict of interest/acknowledgment statement: 

N/A.

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