New Produce Sticker Rules coming to South Australia

If the South Australian Government’s plans go ahead, from the 1 September 2025 they will enforce a new regulation banning the use of non-compostable plastic stickers on produce sold in the state. This development is part of their broader Single Use Plastics (SUP) regulations aimed at reducing plastic waste and encouraging more sustainable packaging solutions.

What Does This Mean for Produce Suppliers?

For suppliers to retailers in South Australia, this change means transitioning to compliant produce stickers. These stickers must be either paper or certified compostable according to Australian or international standards or adopting Laser coding technology to replace the fruit sticker all together. The goal is to ensure that all produce sold in South Australia meets these new sustainability requirements.

The shift to compostable stickers is based on a desire to act in ways that are more beneficial for the environment but it presents a number of challenges. Produce stickers have long played a vital role in product traceability, identification, and inventory management. They help in tracking the chain of custody in case of a food safety concern and support accurate sales data collection, which is crucial for forecasting demand and supporting growers.

Find out more HERE.

This article is part of the 9 June 2025 edition of Guacamole, the enewsletter.

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