Sinclair’s T55 compostable fruit label has been named a finalist in the ‘Sustainability Initiative of the Year (Products & Services)’ category at The Grocer Gold Awards 2025.
The label is the first for fresh produce to achieve certification for both home and industrial compostability, meeting international standards EN 13432, AS 5810 and NFT 51-800. According to Sinclair, the product is designed to break down safely into usable, soil-enriching compost while meeting food safety and operational requirements.
Duncan Jones, senior marketing manager at Sinclair, said the development responds to “one of the industry’s most persistent packaging issues, plastic waste at end-of-life”, and that it offers a minimal packaging alternative that can meet “retail, marketing and consumer requirements”.
Sinclair said the T55 label has been in development for over 17 years and is already being adopted by major produce companies globally. It is available in multiple shapes and sizes, and is compatible with Sinclair’s existing high-speed labelling systems.
Mark Blake, director of Customer Support & Technical Service at Sinclair, explained that ensuring the label performed as well as conventional produce labels was crucial. “It had to work on the types of fresh produce we label and be durable enough for all types of environments in the packinghouses and supply chains,” he said.
Sinclair said this product is intended to align with anticipated requirements under the upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), positioning the label as a forward-compatible option for industry players.
Winners of The Grocer Gold Awards will be announced in July at a ceremony in London. The awards, organised by UK industry publication The Grocer, recognise achievements in the grocery sector, including sustainability efforts.
