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Washington Produce Sticker Technologies Status Assessment
Updated: Oct 29
Compostable stickers are the most viable replacement for plastic, but Washington should wait for global standards before a ban
Plastic produce stickers are a persistent contaminant in Washington’s compost. They lower its value and add microplastics to soil. Compost facilities already spend about 21% of operating costs on contamination, yet no system can remove stickers effectively.
As Washington expands food waste collection under its Organics Management Law (HB 1799 and HB 2301), the problem will grow. n 2024, the Legislature considered a ban on plastic produce stickers and directed the Department of Ecology, in consultation with the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), to study alternatives and recommend next steps.
Ecology engaged us to evaluate produce labeling options, such as compostable stickers, laser etching, and ink-based printing, and their effects on compost and recycling facilities. With Ecology and WSDA, we reviewed legislative requirements, prior studies, and research from other states and countries. We interviewed growers, packers, distributors, sticker and adhesive manufacturers, the International Compost Alliance, and other experts. We assessed each technology for compostability, toxicity, cost, printability, performance, legal barriers, and production logistics, and evaluated how emerging international standards could shape growers’ labeling and export decisions.
Compostable stickers are the most viable alternative. They work with existing packing equipment, two major manufacturers already produce them, and the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada have chosen them. Costs and adhesive supply remain barriers. Laser etching and ink-based printing are not yet feasible: neither is in commercial use, both would require new equipment, and laser etching can break produce skin and raise food safety risks.
Our study informed Ecology’s recommendation to delay a ban pglobal compostable-sticker standards develop. If Washington joins the international conversation on those standards, it can help shape solutions that work for growers, composters, and the environment.
