Coveris, a leading European packaging company, and TIPA, an innovator in compostable packaging materials, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at transforming the produce labelling landscape by launching a home-compostable label for fruits and vegetables. This move responds directly to both increasing retailer demand for reduced plastic content in packaging and tightening regulatory mandates requiring compostable produce stickers in several markets, including the EU, New Zealand, and Australia.

The partnership leverages Coveris’ advanced printing technology alongside TIPA’s proprietary compostable film to create a high-performance label that sticks securely to a variety of produce surfaces, from smooth apples to textured avocados. According to Coveris, their market and technical evaluations identified TIPA’s materials as the only commercially viable solution that delivers robust clinging capability while fully complying with home-compostability requirements. Unlike many traditional stickers made from fossil-fuel-derived plastics, the new solution is engineered so that both the facestock and adhesive break down under typical home composting conditions, without leaving microplastic residues or contaminants in municipal composting operations.

This joint initiative is not only a response to mounting environmental concerns about plastic pollution in the food sector but also serves as a proactive measure to support retail and supply chain partners in achieving compliance with evolving legislation. The new EU regulations, soon entering into force, will require produce stickers to be compostable, while similar laws in countries like New Zealand and Australia are driving changes across continents. These labels, designed for versatile usability on moist or rough produce, are manufactured to maintain print clarity, durability during handling, and ease of removal during processing or household composting.

Industry experts note that the pervasive use of plastic labels has posed a long-term hurdle for circularity in the fresh produce sector, with a 2024 Environmental Science & Technology study listing produce stickers as common contaminants found in composting facilities. By facilitating the adoption of home-compostable alternatives, supply chains are positioned to more easily integrate organic waste streams and benefit from smoother operations within public and private composting schemes—reducing landfill burden and supporting corporate sustainability commitments.

Will Mercer, R&D Director for Coveris’ Paper Business Unit, emphasized the operational and environmental breakthrough of this development: "By combining the proprietary compostable films from TIPA with our scalable, high-performance flexo printing, we’ve designed a robust label system that meets the stringent environmental goals of our retail partners and the regulatory requirements ahead." He noted that this reduces the operational complexity for growers, packers, and distributors navigating a rapidly shifting compliance landscape.

TIPA’s Gary Tee, Vice President Global Converting, says the breakthrough is about eliminating unnecessary plastic—pointing to the proven compostability and supply chain performance of the new labels as evidence that scalable sustainable solutions for produce identification are now both possible and accessible. Tee highlighted that with this launch, global produce brands can opt for a sustainable solution that protects their business from looming legislative risks and meets consumers’ growing expectations on packaging sustainability.

Corporate actions such as this are becoming increasingly prevalent, as both regulatory pressure and public scrutiny accelerate innovation throughout the packaging sector. Industries are now tasked with harmonizing investments in performance, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship—a balance exemplified by the Coveris-TIPA partnership. Retailers, food brands, and packaging converters seeking to differentiate through sustainability can look to home-compostable labelling as a clear pathway for competitive and legislative readiness in the evolving food packaging market.