Always ahead of the curve, Montague Farms is implementing industry-leading sustainable innovations in this year’s JAZZ
apples harvest. JAZZ apples are the first of their kind to undergo a groundbreaking compostable sticker trial, reaffirming a commitment to reducing environmental impact and paving the way for an eco-friendly future.
Apples are considered a generally environmentally friendly snack, as their trees help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and are mostly sold as ‘loose’ apples, which means without bulky or unnecessary plastic packaging.
However, in Australia, the majority of apples sold must have a sticker, which is important for traceability and quality purposes. These stickers are typically manufactured with single-use plastic, which means they cannot be recycled or be used for home or industrial composting. This is where Montague Farms aim to change the game.
Australia’s packaging reform began with the National Waste Action Plan (2019) and National Plastics Plan (2021), which set goals for recyclable, compostable, and reusable packaging. Responsible for leading this progress is the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), which oversees industry compliance and collaboration, and in which Montague Farms is a member. As an APCO member, Montague Farms is committed to implementing sustainable packaging and meeting regulatory requirements for packaged goods.
Over the past 18 months Montague Farms has been working with its sticker supplier, J-Tech, to launch a home compostable fruit sticker onto the Australian market. A revolutionary sticker, Sinclair – T55 is officially certified safe for home composting by the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) and compliant to global composting standards. In February this year, Montague Farms conducted an initial trial on a range of plums sold through Coles and Woolworths, which proved successful.
“The Sinclair – T55 sticker is over 17 years of research and development. It has only been recently possible with the advancement of technologies and environmentally conscious materials. As well as ensuring the compostable end-of-life performance of the sticker, key to ensure the application performance was equivalent to conventional fruit stickers and worked on existing labeling systems a viable choice.” said Duncan Jones, Senior Marketing Manager, Sinclair.
The JAZZ apples compostable sticker trial is set to commence in August 2025, to last about three months in retailers. The trial is taking place at Montague Farms’ state-of-the-art packing facility in Narre Warren North, which has capacity to pack over 350 million pieces of fruit a year. At your local Woolworths, Coles, Costco or independent greengrocer, look out for the JAZZ apple sticker with the green border, which indicates it is a compostable sticker.
To Montague Farms, exploring JAZZ as the first Australian grown apple to trial a home or industrial compostable sticker was a no-brainer. Since its introduction to the market in 2009, Australians have loved JAZZ for its distinct refreshing sweet-tangy flavour and unbeatable crunch and is universally loved as the apple that makes you love apples.
“This innovative trial of the T55 compostable sticker met our expectations, with sticker retention on the fruit performing in line with supply chain requirements”, said Montague Farms’ Head of Strategy and Innovation, Rowan Little.
“While still in the early stages, the success of initial trials represents a promising step forward in Montague Farms’ ongoing efforts to improve sustainability within the fruit industry”.
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