Montague Farms, Media Release, August 2025. Australian Rural & Regional News asked a few further questions of J-Tech Systems and Montague Farms, answered below the story.

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 of 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”.

Australian Rural & Regional News found out more Montague Farms / J-Tech

ARR.News: It seems such a little thing, the sticker on a piece of fruit.  What got your goat 17 years ago? What inspired you to go on this quest for a compostable sticker?

Montague Farms / J-Tech: It might seem like such a small thing—a sticker on a piece of fruit, but for over 40 years it has supported consumer choice through brand identification, and on a bigger scale, it ensures the utmost fresh produce quality, allowing us to track where each piece of fruit was grown and packed. But 17+ years ago, that tiny sticker represented something much bigger: unnecessary waste. It wasn’t just about the sticker—it was about the principle. If even the smallest parts of packaging in fresh produce can be rethought, imagine the ripple effect on all packaging. That’s what inspired the journey: a commitment to sustainability, starting with the fruit sticker. The compostable fruit sticker is now a symbol of what’s possible.

ARR.News: Do you have an idea of the volume of non compostable apple/ fruit and vegetable stickers produced and circulated in Australia? ie how much non compostable waste could compostable stickers potentially save?

Montague Farms / J-Tech: Right now, about 3 per cent of the fruit stickers we (J-Tech) supply in Australia are compostable – either for home or industrial composting. It is low, but it’s a start, and does mean fewer non-compostable stickers ending up in landfill or contaminating compost.

Every compostable sticker is a step toward a cleaner, more circular future—where even the smallest things, like fruit labels, break down safely and naturally with organic matter.

ARR.News: Broadly, what development have you been doing over the 17 years?  How has it taken so long?

Montague Farms / J-Tech: Creating a compostable sticker that works just as well as a regular one isn’t simple and requires many application trials on all fruit types, and compost testing which can take up to 365 days.

Fruit stickers need to:

• Stick securely to fruit that’s often wet, waxy, hairy, bumpy or treated;
• Survive long journeys from shed to store;
• Stay intact through refrigeration, handling, and display; and
• Compost at the end of their life in a timely manner the same as organic matter.

That’s a lot to ask from a tiny label!

After years of testing, the compostable sticker now meets Australia’s AS 5810 standard for home composting. It’s also food-safe for direct contact to fruit and won’t leave residue behind when peeled off. So, when an apple core is tossed into the compost bin, the sticker can go with it – no peeling required and no contamination of compost.

ARR.News: Are you yourselves producing the stickers?

Montague Farms / J-Tech: We work with Sinclair, a global leader in fruit labelling and pioneers behind this label. They’ve led the way in developing compostable sticker technology and are trusted by fresh produce brands all over the world.

Thanks to Sinclair, the compostable sticker on your fruit isn’t just food safe—it’s certified to break down naturally, helping to reduce waste and protect the planet.

ARR.News: What is the financial cost of using compostable compared to non compostable stickers?

Montague Farms / J-Tech: Right now, the compostable fruit sticker costs a little more than non-compostable ones. That’s normal for new, environmentally friendly products.

But the goal for Sinclair is simple: make compostable stickers cost the same as conventional ones—so choosing the sustainable option is easy for everyone.

At J-Tech, we want a future where 100 per cent of fruit stickers in Australia are compostable, helping reduce waste and for a cleaner planet.

ARR.News: Are there other Australian (or even overseas) growers producing or using compostable stickers?

Montague Farms / J-Tech: More brands are making the switch. Over 360 companies in 13 countries are now using the T55 compostable fruit sticker on a wide range of produce. That’s a lot of fresh fruit with a lot less waste or contamination.

It’s great to see so many brands choosing compostable stickers—and we hope even more will follow. Every switch helps reduce non-compostable waste and supports a more sustainable future for fruit labeling.

ARR.News: Has the trial and your research so far indicated that a significant or worthwhile proportion of people will choose fruit because it has a compostable sticker? If not, will you continue to use it?

Montague Farms / J-Tech: Across all food and produce industries, research shows consumers are more conscious of sustainable packaging. So far, the trial has indicated growing consumer support for sustainable fruit stickers via the feedback survey and online sentiment. As members of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), Montague Farms is committed to implementing sustainable packaging and meeting regulatory requirements for packaged goods, and trials like this one are one step toward fulfilling that.