Composting is a cornerstone of sustainable living, transforming kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich soil. But there's a small, often overlooked problem in our compost bins: those teeny, tiny plastic produce stickers.
What Are Produce Stickers and Why Do They Exist?
Stickers on fruits and vegetables are more than just pesky bits of plastic. Known as Price Look-Up (PLU) stickers, they serve an important role in retail by helping cashiers identify and price produce. Introduced in the mid-1980s, these stickers carry numeric codes – four digits for conventionally grown and five for organic produce.
Produce Stickers Create Challenges for Composters
Despite their small size, PLU stickers pose a big problem for composting. Unlike organic waste, these stickers are typically made from vinyl or other plastics and don't decompose.
PLU (Price Look-Up) stickers do not break down due to their plastic composition and intentional design. These stickers are made from vinyl or other synthetic polymers that were specifically engineered for durability and resistance to environmental factors:
Purposeful Durability: The polymers used in PLU stickers have long, stable chains with strong covalent bonds. These materials are designed to be durable and withstand handling and environmental conditions, making them resistant to natural degradation.
Lack of Microbial Processing: PLU stickers are made from materials that microorganisms cannot easily decompose. The synthetic polymers do not break down because they lack the chemical structures that microbes can process, which was a deliberate choice to ensure longevity and functionality.
Environmental Resistance: The materials used in PLU stickers are resistant to environmental factors such as UV radiation, moisture, and temperature fluctuations. This resistance is a key feature, as it prevents the stickers from deteriorating under various conditions.
Chemical Inertness: PLU stickers are chemically inert, meaning they do not react with other substances in a way that would lead to decomposition. This characteristic ensures that the stickers maintain their integrity over time.
The Environmental Impact of Plastic Produce Stickers
Plastic produce stickers aren't just an inconvenience; they have environmental ramifications. A stark example of this issue is the incident where a compost center in British Columbia rejected a truckload of rotting avocados, all because they still had their PLU stickers.
When food waste, laden with non-compostable stickers, ends up in landfills after being rejected from composting facilities due to plastic contamination, the rotting food and plastic contribute to methane emissions – a potent greenhouse gas. Methane production is minimal in composting because it occurs in the presence of oxygen, unlike in the anaerobic environment of landfills.
What Can Consumers Do About Produce Stickers?
Although compostable produce stickers and laser-etched markings are emerging as sustainable alternatives, they’re not yet mainstream. However, there are practical steps consumers can take to help accelerate this shift while reducing waste in their own compost systems:
Remove Stickers Before Composting: Always check and peel off produce stickers before tossing peels and scraps into your compost bin. These conventional stickers are typically made from non-compostable materials like plastic and vinyl, which contaminate your compost.
Advocate for Change: Reach out directly to brands, grocery stores, and suppliers to request compostable or laser-etched labeling. Consumer demand can drive industry-wide changes, making eco-friendly labeling a priority.
Support Companies Making the Switch: Choose brands and retailers that already offer compostable stickers or laser-etched produce. By aligning your purchases with more sustainable options, you support businesses prioritizing environmentally friendly practices.
Spread Awareness: Educate your friends, family, and community about the impact of non-compostable stickers on waste management. The more people understand the issue, the stronger the push will be for change across the supply chain.
Consumer Behavior Drives Change
Remember just a few years ago when the world seemingly all came together to talk about the plastic straw epidemic, and how many brands soon switched over to compostables or lids that didn't require straws at all? It's up to each of us as consumers to advocate for packaging solutions we would like to see, whether that means speaking about it online, calling a brand hotline, or emailing them directly. When we work together using a collective voice, we can make an impact and shape a world that benefits us all.
Let's Go Compost is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to make composting free and accessible throughout the United States. Our goal is to revolutionize waste management, reduce landfill waste, and combat harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Our programs are community-led with a focus on supporting school gardens and community gardens, all working to ensure composting and free food waste drop off sites reach all, irrespective of location or income.