UK film producer Futamura and Dutch labelstock maker Bio4life have introduced a pressure-sensitive adhesive label that is certified for both home and industrial composting.
The product combines two components: Futamura’s NatureFlex cellulose film as the facestock and Bio4life’s certified home compostable adhesive.
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The label is designed for fresh fruit and vegetables, including apples, citrus fruits, avocados and kiwis.
Futamura said it is renewable, food-safe and can be processed in both home and industrial composting streams.
According to the company, labels made with NatureFlex films can also go through anaerobic digestion, where they break down and do not contaminate the process.
Futamura sales manager Gerard Benthem said: “Compostable fruit and vegetable labels are a great innovation that supports a truly circular economy. Bio4life and Futamura have a shared vision for the future of labelling, and we hope to help brands and retailers’ transition away from conventional plastics to renewable and compostable label materials.”
The label has been developed in response to demand for packaging materials intended to replace conventional plastic fruit stickers.
Labelstock is certified for home and industrial composting while maintaining printability, performance and application efficiency.
NatureFlex films are cellulose-based facestock materials made from responsibly managed wood pulp.
According to Futamura, the films’ mechanical characteristics support die-cutting and dispensing.
The material’s stiffness allows use at lower grammage than other bio-based and compostable options while retaining machineability.
The cellulose films are naturally anti-static and provide a strong barrier against oils and chemicals, limiting transfer through the label and helping maintain label quality over time.
Bio4life co-owner Marcel de Oude said: “Our home compostable adhesive technology, BioTAK, is designed to work hand-in-hand with renewable home compostable substrates like NatureFlex.
“This partnership showcases how collaboration can accelerate the shift toward packaging that supports a circular economy. We’re proud to bring this innovation to market with Futamura.”
