UK film manufacturer Futamura and Dutch labelstock producer Bio4life have developed a certified home- and industrial compostable pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) label for fresh fruit and vegetables.
The label combines Futamura’s NatureFlex cellulose films as the facestock with Bio4life’s BioTAK adhesive technology. The companies say it is suitable for produce including apples, citrus fruits, avocados and kiwis, and can be processed through home and industrial composting systems.
NatureFlex films are cellulose-based and derived from wood pulp, while BioTAK is a certified compostable adhesive designed for use with compostable substrates.
The companies said conventional produce stickers typically use fossil-based plastics and non-compostable adhesives, which can enter organic waste streams when consumers dispose of the stickers with fruit and vegetable skins.
Labels made with NatureFlex films are also suitable for anaerobic digestion, according to the companies.
The development comes ahead of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which is due to apply from 12 February 2028. Futamura and Bio4life said the fresh produce industry has one remaining harvest cycle to trial and test compliant labelling solutions.
Gerard Benthem, sales manager at Futamura, said: “compostable fruit and vegetable labels are a great innovation that supports a truly circular economy.”
“Our home compostable adhesive technology BioTAK is designed to work hand in hand with renewable home compostable substrates like NatureFlex™,” said Marcel de Oude, co-owner of Bio4life. “This partnership showcases how collaboration can accelerate the shift toward packaging that supports a circular economy.”
Futamura produces plastic and cellulose films, including NatureFlex and Cellophane films, with production sites in the UK, US and Japan.
